Disney+ is reportedly planning to bring back cable-style TV watching on streaming platforms as it launches dedicated "channels" for "Star Wars" and "Marvel" franchises.
Anonymous sources told The Information on Monday, that the streaming giant may soon separate each of its shows and films by their brands in an attempt to extend viewers' time on their platform.
The entertainment giant currently owns a multitude of shows, movies, and franchises under Pixar animations, ESPN, Hulu, and Fox's former long-running shows like "The Simpsons," "Family Guy," and "Bob's Burgers."
According to the report, the new cable-style "channels" would roll out schedules when a series or movie would premier, rather than letting users decide which one to watch.
The foundation for the streaming service's move can already be seen on the Fox-owned Tubi and Pluto where users can watch scheduled shows ad-free.
The report did not disclose whether Disney+ intends to also keep the ad-free experience on its new "channels" features or roll out ad-supported version to extend viewer's time on watching its shows and movies.
Also Read : Disney Plus Starts Password-Sharing Crackdown This June Starting With Few Countries First
Disney+ Joins Roku, Tubi on FAST Streaming Competition
Disney's decision to introduce cable-style streaming on its platform to compete with rising sites offering similar services.
A Bloomberg report earlier indicated that more people are turning free ad-supported streaming TVs (FAST) over traditional streaming platforms amid increasing subscription costs.
This is reflected with more platforms, including Disney+ and Netflix, replacing their basic subscription tier with an ad-supported version, putting the ad-free experience at a much pricier membership level.
It did not help that the same sites have started implementing password-sharing crackdown policies, further pushing away customers from their services to much more affordable or free alternatives.
It remains uncertain, however, whether such a business decision will be received positively as it did with other streaming platforms.
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Digital Piracy on the Rise
With almost all streaming services raising their prices, introducing ad-supported versions, or cracking down on password sharing, more users have reportedly turned to the so-called "high seas" to watch their shows and movies.
So far, streaming companies have yet to address this trend of slowly losing subscribers to piracy as they continue to release exclusive titles on their platforms.
