Disney + has no plans to enter the live sports arena in Europe anytime soon, according to the European chief executive at Mouse House, which means that the streaming giant will not be competing for Premier League rights in the UK.
Speaking at a Disney + press event to mark the launch of the international Star service on Wednesday, Disney president in EMEA, Jan Koeppen, said sport is not a priority for Disney + in the territories he oversees, while unlike India, for example, where live cricket is helping the streamer make his mark with the local audience.
“We currently have no plans to have live sporting events at Disney +. As you can imagine, with all the amazing content that we just announced in December, and now with the launch of Star, we have enough to keep us busy, at least in the short term, here in Europe, ”said Koeppen.
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The observation occurs at a time when the auction of Premier League rights is underway in the UK. Currently, live rights are shared between Sky, BT Sport and Amazon, but there are reports that other streamers, like DAZN, may be interested in securing a game package.
Disney, of course, knows about the Premier League broadcast in the UK after ESPN held the rights to the football competition in the past decade. ESPN finally closed its operations in the UK in 2013, after losing to BT Sport in the race for the rights of the Premier League in 2012.
For now, Disney + is focused on successfully launching Star on February 23. The general entertainment brand, aimed at a more adult audience, will go on air (with parental control) as a block within Disney + and is designed to raise the level of service in the increasingly fierce wars.
Deadline released Star’s first eight European originals on Tuesday, while other UK producer projects are due to be announced in the coming weeks. These originals will complement 300 films and 75 TV titles, including Lost, 24, Grey’s Anatomy, The favorite, and Brave Heart.
The next series of Disney’s general entertainment studios will also feature, with Big sky, I love Victor, and Solar opposites being made available on Star. Other programs, such as FX spinoff American horror stories, are in the pipeline.
Luke Bradley-Jones, senior vice president of direct customer service and general manager of Disney + EMEA, said it will become the “exclusive streaming home” of Disney’s iconic catalog, meaning that licensing agreements will eventually be transferred to the streamer as it seeks to grow its 95 million subscriber base.
Bradley-Jones also confirmed that each episode of the classic comedy The Golden Girls will come to Disney + later this year. The program is currently available on Hulu in the United States. “I have been working on it a lot. Arriving this summer, you will have all seasons The Golden Girls, with each episode, ”he said.
The Disney + price will increase in the UK from £ 5.99 to £ 7.99 next week.