Reminder: Disney To Close Their Remaining Linear Channels Across Asia In The Coming Months, More Markets Likely To Follow

Disney is to close its six remaining linear TV

channels in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan

and Korea as the conglomerate puts a greater

emphasis on direct-to-consumer streaming.

The channels concerned are National Geographic,

National Geographic Wild, Star Chinese Movies,

Star Chinese Channel, Star Movies and Star World.

Linear services will end from September in

Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Korea, and by

December in Taiwan.

The group expects to retain a streamlined

television portfolio with channels in Japan, China,

Australia and New Zealand for the time being.

Consumers can continue to access content from

these channels on the conglomerate’s Disney+

and Disney+ Hotstar streaming platforms, which

are now fully rolled out within the Asia-Pacific

region, except China. The twin platforms carry

movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star

Wars, National Geographic and Star, Disney’s

general entertainment brand.

While the moves may help reduce costs and push

consumption onto its D2C businesses, sources

close to the group say that Disney still expects to

grow its media and entertainment businesses –

D2C, theatrical, consumer products and theme

parks – in the region.

The moves were foreshadowed by similar moves

in 2020 and 2021 . Disney closed its sports

channels in Taiwan in 2020. In September 2021, it

closed Fox, Fox Crime, Fox Life, FX, and Channel

V; movie channels Fox Action Movies, Fox Family

Movies, Fox Movies and Star Movies China; sports

channels Fox Sports, Fox Sports 2, Fox Sports 3,

Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2; kids channel Disney

Channel and Disney Junior; factual services Nat

Geo People and SCM Legend. Many of those

channels had been brought into the Disney group

by the 2018 acquisition of 21st Century Fox.

In the five largest markets of Southeast Asia

proper (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore

and the Philippines) SVOD subscriptions reached

49 million at the end of the first quarter, according

to data from research house Media Partners Asia.

It estimated that, in terms of subscription

numbers, the leading platforms in the first quarter

were Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar with 9.4

million, Viu with 8.5 million, Netflix with 8.0

million and Prime Video at 1.3 million. (A

categorization by revenue might produce a

different ranking.)

Other recent reports have pointed to U.S.-

produced content accounting for only 20% of

video viewing time in the region, eclipsed by

Korea content at 30%. However, since the launch

of the streaming platform, Disney has become a

significant investor in locally-made Asian content.

Amazon Reportedly In Talks To Buy Minority Stake In ESPN From Disney

Recently we learned that Disney was open to selling part of ESPN to a potential partner if the deal was right. This comes from a June interview with CNBC, where Disney CEO Bob Iger said he was open to partnering with other companies to make a new ESPN streaming service work including selling part of ESPN.

This comes as ESPN is working on launching a direct-to-consumer streaming service. This new service would let subscribers watch live ESPN without the need for cable TV.

Since that interview, reports have been flying about who Disney is talking to. Major sports leagues, including the NFL, and rivals like Comcast have all been suggested as potential ESPN Partners. Now, The Information is reporting that Amazon and Disney are in early talks to partner on ESPN’s streaming partnership.

According to the report, Amazon is in talks to possibly offer an ESPN streaming service, likely through its Amazon Channels service. This deal could also see Amazon take a minority stake in ESPN. Amazon has a lot to offer Disney with its ability to stream live events, and a customer base that Disney could use to promote ESPN’s new streaming service.

Amazon is not the only company Disney is reportedly talking to. A few weeks ago, the New York Post reported that Disney has been in talks with media companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Verizon, and T-Mobile, to name a few. The goal is reportedly to take advantage of their technology to help expand the reach of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service.

Last week The Information reported that Verizon and Disney have started talks about a possible partnership with Verizon and ESPN. Verizon could be a great partner for its technology and a possible bundle deal similar to the Disney+ bundle Verizon recently offered to its wireless subscribers.

Disney owns 80% of ESPN, and the rest is owned by Hearst. Disney would likely want to keep as much ownership as possible, but if the right partner comes along it may be open to selling part of the storied sports network.

Recap To The Decade: Disney Channel Resurfaced In The UK Prior To The Channel's 40th Anniversary

Disney Channel was ripped away from from the UK by the end of September 2020 alongside Disney Junior and Disney XD. This coincide with the channels termination in Africa alongside FOX Life with most feeds of Disney XD shuttered before the end of that financial year.

Unlike most Disney feeds across the world, Disney Channel was discontinued in the UK due to carriage disputes with cable providers. At the time, it was also stated that they plan extend distribution agreements for Disney channels in markets where Disney+ is also available.

Of course that may no longer be a priority as Disney is looking to sell their linear platforms in the U.S. which kind of proves several analysts theories about the brand moving away from cable TV so it's likely that more markets particularly in Europe will be joining the Disney Channels in the UK

Disney Channel was a teen centric channel featuring live-action productions like Hannah Montana, Jessie, Descendants and High School Musical alongside animation like Phineas And Ferb, Gravity Falls, Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir and Kim Possible. 

It's popularity led to the creation of preschool brand Disney Junior and male oriented Disney XD. Brands which initially leveraged selected content from the main channel and after seeing a popularity boost included first run programming and films.

Since 2020, Disney has been closing several channels across the world with more territories set to join the UK Disney Channels by end of the current financial year - 31 March 2024. Unlike other parts of the world, the UK Disney Channels have shown some sign of life.

Although they don't exist on linear platforms, Disney Channel's YouTube page remains active featuring clips (if not full episodes) of past productions from their linear counterpart. Compared to other feeds, it's currently unknown whether or if Disney will be looking to close that area soon.

What To Expect On TNT Across Africa In September 2023?

BEYOND THE ILLUSION

Living in South Africa can feel a bit like a movie sometimes, with bizarre plot twists and surprise guest appearances – but our ‘Beyond the Illusion’ movie blocks each Saturday this month take that to another level! Transcend reality, delve into deception and explore a world where nothing is truly ever as it seems. Whether it’s Christian Bale as John Connor taking on T-800 in Terminator Salvation, Jim Carrey living a reality show in The Truman Show, or Arnold Schwarzenegger forced into a battle for his life in the classic The Running Man, this is altered reality on a whole new level.

TUNE IN DETAILS (channel premieres)

Saturday, 2 September         

18:05   –    Terminator Salvation (2009)

20:00   –    The Running Man (1987)

Saturday, 9 September

18:05   –    Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

20:00   –    The Truman Show (1998)

Saturday, 16 September

17:50   –    Last Action Hero (2016)

20:00   –    Minority Report (2002)

Saturday, 23 September

17:55   –    The 6th Day (2000)

20:00   –    Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)

CELEBRATE HERITAGE DAY

In South Africa, we celebrate our heritage with a public holiday – and this year, we get a bonus Monday break too! TNT has you covered with a fantastic comedy film lineup that takes you from the ridiculous to the absurd via the madcap and the strange. It’s the perfect blend of family fun for a well-deserved – and respected – holiday break.

TUNE IN DETAILS (channel premieres)

Sunday, 24 September

13:30   –    Mr Deeds (2002)

15:05   –    Beverly Hills Ninja (1997)           

16:40   –    The Legend of Drunken Master (1994)

18:20   –    Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)

20:00   –    Meet the Parents (2000)

Monday, 25 September

13:50   –    Surf Ninjas (1993)

15:20   –    Yes Man (2008)  

17:05   –    3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998)

18:40   –    Click (2006)

20:30   –    A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

DJIMON HOUNSOU FAN DAY

We celebrate the amazing talent of Africa’s Djimon Hounsou this month with a dedicated ‘fan day’ featuring some of his best-known work. The Beninese-born actor won acclaim in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad in 1997, and he’s continued to captivate fans for the last quarter of a century in star turns in films like the ones we’ve lined up on 17 September. Watch out for two channel premieres in Biker Boyz and The Legend of Tarzan!

TUNE IN DETAILS (channel premieres)

Sunday, 17 September

13:40   –    King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

15:50   –    Blood Diamond (2006)

18:10   –    Biker Boyz (2003)

20:00   –    The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

Pending Development: My Girlfriend's Father + Tickets + More Local Productions That Have Yet To Be Seen On eVOD

Below is a list of local productions some of which are currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. As advised during the year, eMedia Investments had been forming partnerships with various broadcasters to build some of the content viewed on eVOD and e.tv.

This list consists of titles that are awaiting release:

• My Girlfriend's Father: When a guy from the city finds a new girlfriend, he does not know that the fate of their relationship rests in the hands of a snooty patriarch from a royal family. The film debuts 14 September on eVOD.

• Tickets: Young lovers Crystal and Marlyn can’t keep their hands off each other. He dreams of rapping and she dreams of singing on the big stage. What they both actually want, is just a way out of the Flats. Phyllis, Crystal’s Mom, lives with a heavy secret, the burden of hiding it is driving a wedge between her and her daughter.

• Clean Job: Clean Job is the story of a grief stricken, broken young woman named Kimberly, who grows up to be the ruthless master mind behind a criminal syndicate of desperate, poor women from the township, who disguise themselves as domestic workers, to rob rich people living in the suburbs of Johannesburg.

• Klip Anker Baai: A young woman comes back to South Africa to run her late father's fishing company and save her community from losing their livelihood.

• Proof Of Payment: Set in modern day South Africa, Proof of Payment is the story of Themba, a disadvantaged, yet incredibly intelligent, charismatic, yet unscrupulous young man who has perfected the art of conning unsuspecting victims out of their valuables.

Still in development:

• Umbrella Men 2