To us geeks, it seems obvious that eventually all media will become on-demand and streamable over the Internet. But the large media companies that are often the gatekeepers to the content we want have been slow to adopt this method of distribution. Rumors have been circulating that Apple is working with TV and cable providers to try and “unbundle” the cable/satellite TV model, effectively creating an a-la-carte system where consumers can pick and choose the channels they want, instead of being forced to pay for a bunch of channels they don’t want in order to get they ones they actually like to watch. We’re probably still a few years away from that happening. Still, some content providers are stepping up and releasing their own apps that allow for on-demand streaming now. The latest high-profile name to jump into this arena is Disney.
This week, the media giant announced the launch of its DisneyLife streaming service. DisneyLife allows a family of up to six members to gain access to a comprehensive collection of Disney media including movies, TV shows, music, audiobooks, and e-books. It’s unclear at this point just how deep the DisneyLife library is. But considering how much intellectual property the company controls, DisneyLife’s potential seems almost infinite.
For now, DisneyLife is only available in the UK. There are plans to expand the service into other markets. Disney currently has licensing deals in place with Netflix for some of its properties, which probably explains why DisneyLife isn’t launching right away in the States. But it seems like only a matter of time before the service is available everywhere.