All five seasons of the classic Jim Henson variety show starring Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the failed comedian Fozzie Bear are now available for broadcast. Disney noted that the fourth and fifth seasons “have never been released previously for home entertainment”. The show will join other Muppet media, including “The Muppet Movie” and “The Muppet Christmas Carol”, which is already on Disney +.
The streaming debut of “The Muppet Show”, arguably the most seminal work of the brand, may not have the fanfare of a new Pixar film like “Soul” or a new Marvel Studios series like “WandaVision”. And a 1976 series featuring guest stars like Liza Minnelli and Gene Kelly is unlikely to fully capture the frantic attention of the Gen-Zers.
But the series’s debut is important because it’s another showcase for the seemingly infinite depth of the Disney + content library.
While streaming services are trying to figure out how to build their libraries to get more subscribers, the already content-rich Disney + – a service that has everything from Mickey Mouse to Bart Simpson – gets even richer.
Muppets are more nostalgic than some other brands, but they are still loved by a loyal audience. Away from TV, the Muppets starred in movies, became internet memes, sang hit songs, won Oscars and had fun at 3D theme park attractions, though fragile, with their names.
They may not have the successful feats of Star Wars or even Disney Animation, but in streaming a recognizable name is sometimes all you need to make subscribers pay $ 6.99 a month. This is especially the case for one of the most important demographics in streaming: children.
Children’s programming has been a focal point for streamers for years. The prevailing theory is that if the services have mandatory content for children, parents will have to sign up. Plus, it can help build lifelong service loyalty as your child grows up – something Disney (DIS) knows everything, considering how many adults go to Disney World each year.
As streaming proliferated, so did children’s content. In just one example earlier this week, WarnerMedia, the parent company of CNN, announced that it will add more children’s programming to its streaming service, HBO Max.
The new programs and films will expand the already robust library of the children’s programming service – a library that also includes Muppets through WarnerMedia’s partnership with Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization that makes “Vila Sésamo”.
Disney + didn’t really need “The Muppet Show” to attract paying customers: the service is reaching 100 million subscribers and has become the crown jewel of the entire Disney media empire, which is currently besieged by the coronavirus pandemic.
Still, in the world of streaming, there isn’t much content, especially when it comes to children’s titles. By adding “The Muppet Show”, Disney + is trying to make a connection, rainbow or otherwise, that will reach old fans of the show and, hopefully, create new ones.
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