Apple TV+ is currently enjoying a rather lengthy spell without competition from Disney+ in Europe. But that’s going to be cut short after Disney today announced it will expand earlier than planned.
Disney+ has gotten off to a spectacular start in the U.S., raking in almost $100 million from subscriptions during its first 60 days. Its mobile app alone has been downloaded more than 41 million times.
It’s likely the service will be just as popular on the other side of the Atlantic, which will give rivals cause for concern. That’s especially true for Apple TV+ and its tiny catalog of content.
Disney+ launches early in Europe
We don’t yet know exactly how many people are using Apple TV+ — and Apple might not tell us that for a while, if at all. It’s likely to be a lot less. And many of those who are signed up aren’t paying yet.
The one big advantage Apple TV+ has right now is that it’s available almost everywhere, whereas Disney+ supports just a handful of countries. But its arrival in Europe will come sooner than planned.
Disney today confirmed that Disney+ will expand its reach to Europe on March 24 — one week earlier than originally scheduled. And it’s going to come with hugely competitive pricing.
Disney+ will cost £5.99/€6.99
A monthly subscription to Disney+ will cost just £5.99 in the U.K. and €6.99 elsewhere in Europe (approx. $7.81). An annual subscription will cost £59.99 or €69.99, respectively (approx. $78.26).
That’s just £1 or €1 a month more than Apple TV+, and it makes Apple’s service an even harder sell. In fact, those prices even make Netflix look like a waste of money.
Disney boasts a significantly larger library of content than Apple, including big hits from the Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars universes. It also offers content from National Geographic.
What’s more, that subscription (there is only one tier) lets you stream on up to four devices simultaneously, download content on up to 10 devices, and enjoy over 100 titles in super-sharp 4K.
The best deal in streaming?
Disney+ might just be the best deal in video streaming so far. A March 24 release may seem like it’s still an age away for those of us in Europe. But you can be sure Apple will have preferred a delay instead.
Will you be signing up to Disney+ on launch day?
