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Disney plans to shut down most of its networks' mobile and connected TV apps, a bold move to drive more subscribers to Disney+ and Hulu.
shutdown It will take effect on Sept. 23, 2024 and will affect Disney's standalone CTV and mobile apps, including FX Now, ABC, Disney Now, Nat Geo TV and Freeform..
The change also means that users will no longer have access to one of the most common ways to access the “TV Everywhere” features included in many of these apps.
TV Everywhere is a protocol that allows subscribers to pay-TV packages to log in with their provider credentials and access streaming content, the same content they can watch for free at home, without needing a separate streaming subscription. TVE will continue to be available on the networks' websites and the channels' linear feeds will remain unaffected.
Perhaps the most notable app heading into the digital future is the ABC app (the network’s own app).
Disney has been exploring ways to add free, ad-supported streaming TV to its app: Channels will be available as playlists within Disney+, but users will have to pay a subscription fee to watch them, unlike before.
ABC station feeds will also continue to be available for free over the air and on Hulu in select markets.
It's hard not to see the move as a way to boost subscriber numbers for either Disney+ or Hulu, or both (Disney has been promoting the two streamers as a bundle, first and foremost, in many of its campaigns).
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The main groups of people likely to be most affected by this change are those who still pay for traditional TV plans from their cable or satellite companies and watch network streams on their mobile devices or internet-connected TVs.
Another group that may be affected are users who have smart TVs in multiple places in their homes with only an internet connection, avoiding the need to pay their TV provider for additional hardware. Travelers and viewers on the go may also find themselves having to pay for Hulu or Disney+ to watch these networks.
Disney's latest move adds another item to the “disadvantages” column of continuing to pay for traditional cable or satellite TV packages, and it's unclear whether MVPDs will respond and how much of an impact it will have on their already declining numbers.
That said, there's likely some overlap between traditional linear pay-TV subscribers and Disney+ and Hulu subscribers, so these users likely already have access to at least some of their favorite content.