Disney+ Sets March 2020 Launch Date for Five Major European Markets
Disney confirms that its new streaming service will arrive in the U.K., Germany, Italy, France, and Spain on March 31, 2020. Viewers should expect the available content library to vary by region due to existing licensing agreements.
Disney+ expands its global reach by setting a March 31, 2020 launch date for five major European markets, including the U.K., Germany, Italy, France, and Spain. This rollout follows the initial November launches in the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand. Expanding into new countries requires complex navigation of local privacy laws, tax regulations, and pre-existing content licensing agreements.
While this announcement brings highly anticipated original content like The Mandalorian to European viewers, the service looks slightly less novel for U.K. residents. Consumers in the U.K. already access a large volume of Disney content through DisneyLife, a streaming platform that serves as an ongoing test run for the company since 2015.
Subscribers across these new European territories need to manage their expectations regarding the exact catalog of shows and movies. Because of the complicated rights and licensing deals already established in different regions, Disney warns that available titles vary by territory. This means the Disney+ library in Europe will not be an exact mirror of the North American version.