Disney+ Unveils Exciting Shopping and Gaming Enhancements in Streaming Service

Disney is exploring the possibility of combining shopping and gaming with its Disney+ streaming service, according to Variety. Rita Ferro, Disney's president of advertising sales, has expressed interest in expanding advertising opportunities and exploring new features for the platform. "The world of advertising experiences on [advertising-based video on demand] is an important place to be involved in," Ferro said. Further details about the company's vision will be presented at a scheduled event in Las Vegas on January 10th.

The competition in the streaming ad space is intensifying as Amazon plans to introduce an ad-supported tier for Prime Video subscribers in early 2024, and Netflix is expanding into new territories by exploring offers to viewers through QR codes and content-specific sponsorships.

Meanwhile, Disney+ has rapidly expanded its client base to over 1,000 sponsors worldwide after introducing an ad-supported version last year. Since the start of 2023, Disney+ has experienced a 35% increase in time spent on the service, with half of new subscribers opting for the ad-supported version.

Disney recently introduced a new feature that enables Disney+ subscribers to stream Hulu content directly within the app in order to boost user engagement. CEO Bob Iger's goal is to create a more cohesive app experience that provides a wide range of general entertainment content to bundle subscribers. As of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023, Disney+ has reached 150.2 million subscribers.

You can check out our list of everything new coming to Disney+ this month, including Indiana Jones 5, Percy Jackson, and Marvel's What If Season 2.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of Disney+, I am thrilled about the exciting shopping and gaming enhancements that are coming to the streaming service. The possibility of combining shopping and gaming with the streaming experience is truly groundbreaking and has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with entertainment. I am particularly excited about the prospect of being able to purchase merchandise and access gaming experiences directly within the Disney+ app. This would make it so much easier to engage with my favorite Disney franchises and characters.

I am also impressed by Disney+'s rapid growth and expansion. The fact that the service has already reached over 1,000 sponsors worldwide and has seen a 35% increase in time spent on the service since the beginning of 2023 is a testament to its popularity and success. I am confident that the upcoming shopping and gaming features will only further enhance the appeal of Disney+ and attract even more subscribers. I can't wait to see what Disney+ has in store for us at the upcoming presentation on January 10th and I am eager to experience the future of streaming entertainment.