The streaming wars continue to brew. With Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu currently feeling like cultural institutions at this point, you'd think it would be difficult for a newcomer to make an impact. Yet the Disney brand is strong. House of Mouse already owns the rights of Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel Entertainment, and National Geographic, which in itself opens the door to a wealth of excellent content. Now, with the upcoming Disney+ service set to launch in 2019, CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that bags will be dropped, $140 million to be precise, on licensing exclusivity.
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Such an investment ensures that all Disney-brand related content will remain exclusive to the service. Consider the vast repertoire of different films, from the classic Disney animation flicks, to the nineties golden era, to the current crop of Marvel and Star Wars content. Throw in a few exclusive series, and many will likely be tempted to join the ranks.
To make the prospect all the more enticing, Disney+ will also push the upcoming Captain Marvel film as the platform's first exclusive, following its theatrical release. While Netflix remains a tried and true juggernaut, remember that even the most battle-hardened elephant still fears the mouse.