Central and Eastern Europe is waiting in anticipation for the launch of Disney+ in the region.
Earlier this week the publication Zive reported that the streaming service is likely to make its debut in Slovakia and the Czech Republic in the second half of 2021. It did so after speaking with executives at leading telcos aware of negotiations with Disney – in some instances through parent companies such as Deutsche Telekom and Canal+ – though without receiving direct confirmation from Disney. Furthermore, it claimed that Disney+ would be launched simultaneously in several CEE markets and that in the case of Slovakia it would cost €6.99 a month, or €69.99 a year, to receive.
Disney+ launched on November 12 last year in the US, Canada and Netherlands and later in the month in Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico. Its European debut came in March, when it became available in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland, followed by France the following month. Then in September it was launched in a further seven European countries, none of which were in CEE.
At one stage it appeared likely that Poland would be among the European launches this autumn. Indeed, several Polish media publications pointed out that its name appeared in, and was then hastily removed from, a Disney release on upcoming launches. They also observed that Disney was systematically withdrawing some of its content from HBO Go ahead of the possible appearance of Disney+ in Poland.
Disney has in fact previously announced that it will introduce the streaming service in the region in fiscal year 2021, which started in October. Given the delays it has encountered in launching Disney+ in other markets, its CEE debut before the end of this calendar year can probably be ruled out. Disney may nevertheless provide more details when it releases its latest results, in which a first-year report on Disney+ is likely to feature prominently, this coming Thursday, November 12.
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