Walt Disney Company's streaming platform Disney+ surpassed 100 million paying subscribers mark across 59 countries just 16 months after it launched operations.
Disney+, which saw its subscriber base expand to 87 million paying members in the first year of operations, is fast emerging as one of main challengers to the global dominance of Netflix that boasts more than 200 million customers.
"The enormous success of Disney+ … has inspired us to be even more ambitious, and to significantly increase our investment in the development of high-quality content," Walt Disney's chief executive, Bob Chapek, said in a statement to the company's virtual meeting of shareholders on Tuesday.
“In fact, we set a target of 100+ new titles per year.”
Disney+ is home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. It is available on most internet-connected devices and offers programming including films, documentaries, animated series and short-form content. It also exclusively streams films from The Walt Disney Studios.
“Our direct-to-consumer business is the company’s top priority, and our robust pipeline of content will continue to fuel its growth,” Mr Chapek said.
The service was launched in the US in November 2019 before becoming available to viewers in Canada, Australia Singapore, Mexico, Japan and India. Last September, the company rolled out its services to additional European markets, launched Disney+Hotstar in Indonesia and started Disney+ streaming in Latin American markets in November. Disney plans additional launches in a number of Asia-Pacific territories this year, according to its 2020 annual report.
The service has yet to be rolled out in the Middle East where Netflix competes with regional streaming platforms including OSN and Starzplay.
Walt Disney hopes to reopen its California theme parks to limited attendance in late April, Reuters reported, citing Mr Chapek. The parks were closed a year ago due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
California officials have set guidelines that allow for theme parks in the state to reopen as soon as April 1. However, Mr Chapek said it would take a few weeks to call back 10,000 furloughed employees to its two theme parks at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim and train them in new virus safety procedures.
Disney may also be able to resume some cruise ship operations in the fall. The company is hoping for a comeback at cinemas this year and intends to release Marvel movie Black Widow in theatres on May 7, Mr Chapek said.
Disney’s executive compensation plan was also approved at the meeting with 68 per cent votes in favour, a contrast from three years ago when investors rejected the plan, according to Bloomberg.
Mr Chapek, 61, earned $14.2 million in the last fiscal year, less than the $21.9m his predecessor Bob Iger earned in his first year as chief executive in 2006. Disney has eliminated bonuses for its mostly highly compensated executives in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
More on animal trafficking
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
'The%20Alchemist's%20Euphoria'
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Company%20profile
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)
Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)
Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)
England Test squad
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jamie Porter, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
