Disney+ has become available in 16 countries across the Middle East and North Africa. The Walt Disney Company is gaining momentum in the worldwide streaming industry (MENA) after its launch last month in South Africa.
Disney+ is getting closer to its goal of being available in more than 160 countries by 2023; according to the company. Disney+ announced the launch dates for 42 countries in March, including the 16 countries that would be included in this new MENA launch. On June 14, the service will be available in more European nations.
A variant version of the Disney+ Hotstar will now be available to subscribers in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya; and eight more countries, in addition to India and Southeast Asia. This means the service will have a different structure than in the United States; with a new user interface and a new login method that employs a cellphone number rather than a Disney ID.
The Indian streaming service Disney+ Hotstar delivers over 100,000 hours of entertainment in nine languages, as well as live sports (cricket, football, kabaddi, etc.).
Disney+ is expanding to 16 new countries in the Middle East and North Africa
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In addition to generic Hotstar content, the MENA version of Disney+ will be a destination for hundreds of films, series; and exclusive originals from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. “Ms. Marvel,” “The Mandalorian,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” “Moon Knight,” “Only Murders in the Building,” “The Dropout,” “The Kardashians,”; and more are among the titles included.
Subscribers will receive access to up to four concurrent streams, unlimited downloads on up to ten devices, and a maximum of seven user accounts (including children’s profiles with only age-appropriate material).
Disney+ has 137.9 million subscribers globally in the second quarter of the year, while Disney+ Hotstar had 50 million. The streamer’s latest expansion puts it on track to meet its goal of reaching 230 to 260 million members by 2024.
This wasn’t the only announcement of this week. Dana Walden has become the new chairman of the company’s General Entertainment Content, the firm said revently. She will report directly to Bob Chapek, the company’s CEO. Walden will succeed Peter Rice, the previous chairman who was in plans to become Chapek’s replacement; as part of Disney’s high-level management reorganization. This, however, will not be the case.
