Thomas K. Arnold

August 19, 2019

The Walt Disney Co. on Aug. 19 said its much-ballyhooed new subscription streaming service, Disney+, will launch in Canada and the Netherlands on Nov. 12, the same day it launches in the United States.

The international rollout continues a week later with a push into Australia and New Zealand.

Initial pricing is similar to the United States, where the service will bow at what some analysts call a “Netflix-killing” low price of $6.99 a month.

In Canada, monthly subscriptions will cost CAD$8.99 per month or CAD $89.99 per year. In the Netherlands, subscriptions are 6.99 euros per month, or 69.99 euros per year.

In Australia, Disney+ will cost AUD$8.99 per month or AUD$89.99 per year and in New Zealand, the subscription price will be NZD$9.99 for a month and $99.99 for a year.

The Walt Disney Co. said more international territories will be announced on later dates, and that it expects to stream content through Disney+ in most major global markets within two years.

Disney also announced it has struck global agreements with most major platforms to distribute the Disney+ app across partner mobile and connected TV devices.

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At launch, consumers will be able to subscribe to Disney+ directly or via  in-app purchase and start streaming from the following partner platforms and devices (dependent on country):

• Apple (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV, and fully integrated with the Apple TV app; customers can subscribe to Disney+ via in-app purchase);
• Google (Android phones, Android TV devices, Google Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices);
• Microsoft (Xbox One);
• Sony / Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation 4 and all Android-based Sony TVs); and
• Roku (Roku streaming players and Roku TV models).

Last week, Disney+ said it has tapped former Luke Bradley-Jones, a former Sky executive, as SVP, Direct to Consumer, and general manager of Disney+ for Europe and Africa, starting in 2020.

Also last week, Disney struck a new distribution deal with cable giant Charter Communications that “contemplates Charter’s future distribution of Disney’s streaming services, including Hulu, ESPN+ and the soon-to-be-launched Disney+,” according to a press release issued by Charter.

Disney+ is targeting 60 million to 90 million subs globally by 2024.