Is Disney+ Going Live?

📺 The streaming platform ran its first-ever test of live streaming capabilities in the US this week, broadcasting the Oscar nomination ceremony on Disney+. It was also streamed simultaneously on Disney-owned Hulu and ABC.

• The company hasn’t shared any specific livestreaming plans, but internet sleuths have allegedly uncovered clues – for instance, the link https://www.disneyplus.com/espn/details/sport-event/ was added to the DisneyPlus.com sitemap.
• Per TechCrunch, the Disney+ Hotstar service in India already offers live sports to consumers, so it wouldn’t be a stretch for the company to consider doing something similar in the US. Disney also owns ESPN.
• In addition to sports, some speculate the platform could eventually play host to marquee events, like awards shows and live TV musicals, or live streams associated with existing Disney events like the D23 Expo.
• Others speculate the company will create its own channels for the platform, or make existing channels exclusive to Disney+. Last year, CEO Bob Chapek announced plans to close 100 TV networks around the globe in response to audiences transitioning to streaming.

+Zoom out: In December, Viacom added 18 “live” channels to its streaming service, Paramount+. The themed channels run 24 hours a day and include a curated list of shows and movies from the brands it owns, like CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, and the Smithsonian Channel.