Disney has announced plans to remove several series and films from its streaming platform, Disney Plus, as part of its cost-cutting measures. South African and American subscribers are urged to catch up on their favourite shows quickly, as these removals are scheduled to take effect on May 26th, 2023. This decision follows Disney Plus’s recent loss of 4 million subscribers in the first quarter of the year.
According to a report by Deadline, the list of titles to be removed includes popular series such as “Willow,” “Y: The Last Man,” “Turner & Hooch,” and many others. These shows were heavily promoted by Disney, making their removal surprising to both viewers and the creators involved. John Bickerstaff, the writer of “Willow,” expressed his disappointment on Twitter, stating, “They gave us six months. Not even. This business has become absolutely cruel.”
During Disney’s Q2 earnings call, CEO Bob Iger and CFO Christine McCarthy acknowledged the need to align the content offerings on Disney Plus with the company’s strategic changes in content curation. McCarthy mentioned that Disney expects a content impairment charge of $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion due to these removals. This move is part of Disney’s broader effort to achieve $3 billion in savings for 2023, following significant investments of nearly $30 billion in content for the Disney Plus streaming service last year.
However, Disney has recently faced backlash over its decision to remove the documentary “Howard” from the platform. The documentary explores the life and work of Howard Ashman, a gay man who played a vital role in writing songs for beloved Disney films such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid.” In response to the public outcry, Disney has reversed its decision, and the final list of titles set to be taken down from Disney Plus is still being determined.
The removal of these series and films comes as Disney grapples with a challenging economic outlook. The company recently laid off 7,000 employees and announced restructuring plans to navigate the evolving market landscape. Furthermore, Disney has been hesitant to acquire Comcast’s 33 percent stake in Hulu, a deal that was originally intended in 2019. The closure of the extravagant Star Wars-themed hotel experience was also recently announced, further highlighting the need for financial adjustments.
South African and American subscribers of Disney Plus should take note of the following shows that are anticipated to be removed from the platform on May 26th, 2023:
As Disney reevaluates its content offerings, South African subscribers eagerly await the company’s updated lineup and future announcements concerning Disney Plus.
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