Disney+ to become ‘super app’ that goes beyond streaming service: report

A Bloomberg report last week claimed that Disney intends to make Disney+ into a “super app” that features much more than just a streaming service. And today on Disney’s earnings call, that direction was strongly signaled by company leadership.

Disney signals plans for ‘super app’ in earnings call following Bloomberg report

The idea of “super apps” is starting to be a trend, with Disney reportedly following in the footsteps of OpenAI.

Thomas Buckley and Lucas Shaw, writing at Bloomberg:

Walt Disney Co. senior executives are discussing how to unify the company’s disparate mobile apps and turn its streaming service into the first stop for all things Disney, a place where users can book park tickets, buy merchandise, play games and watch movies, according to people familiar with the matter. 

Disney’s new CEO, Josh D’Amaro, is attempting to break silos within the company and simplify how customers interact with its brand. The new app would marry Disney+ with mobile platforms such as the Disneyland Resort and Disney Cruise Line Navigator apps into what’s internally being described as a “super app,” said the people, who asked not to be named as the information is private.

This report came out last Friday, but today it was not-so-subtly corroborated by Disney as part of the company’s quarterly earnings.

The company’s official shareholder letter, for example, says: “As we look to build Disney+ beyond a premium streaming video service…”

And during the earnings call, CEO Josh D’Amaro elaborated on his vision. Per Variety:

“Disney+ becomes the primary relationship between Disney and its fans, the place where everything comes together…[parks are] essentially the physical centerpiece of the company. And similarly, we’re building Disney+ to serve as the immersive, interactive digital centerpiece of the company. And in the long term, what you’ll see is those pieces of the company become increasingly connected.”

Disney is clearly signaling its ambitions for Disney+ to become much more than a streaming platform. Bringing together the company’s physical and digital centerpieces sounds an awful lot like merging Disney+ with Disney’s Parks apps, Disney Cruise Line, potentially the Disney Store, and more.

Bloomberg said these efforts are still “at an early stage,” so it’s a little surprising how much Disney is intentionally hinting at its direction.

But if efforts continue as planned, the Disney+ app could look drastically different in a couple years than it does today.

What do you think of Disney’s reported plans to make Disney+ into a ‘super app’? Let us know in the comments.

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