The Walt Disney Company is one of the largest media companies in the entire world. They produce multi-million dollar animated children’s movies through Pixar, popular children’s television shows on Disney Channel, and the movies that crush the box office year after year with the Star Wars series and Marvel superhero films. Disney’s power in media has grown exponentially since Disney’s current CEO Bob Iger took over in 2005, their power has become overwhelming. Where and when Disney makes their money has always been controlled by themselves as opposed to third party entertainment companies. Disney continues to flex their wealthy muscles with their new exclusive streaming service.

  Before streaming service like Netflix and Hulu became popular, Disney movies on DVD were withheld from the public for years in what’s referred to as the Disney vault. Classic Disney films are held back from customers, along with popular present day films after their initial release.They are released in short bursts to the public. The releasing of their films in short bursts over long periods of time gives Disney more money very quickly and rejuvenates older films to cement the brand as a producer of classic films. As the medium of DVD has died, streaming services have become the way we consume films. Disney’s new streaming service still controls when films are available to watch.

  Until now, some Disney films have remained in the vault while some have been released to streaming services that pay the right price. Come 2019, Disney’s own streaming service will be the only service to stream any of their films and is expected to cost close to the same as Netflix or Hulu. Following the announcement by Disney’s CEO, Netflix stock dropped five percent and other streaming services were shocked by the announcement. Big money is made through Disney’s studios, and come 2019 it will be interesting to see how consumers deal with many of their favorite movies and shows being Disney streaming exclusives.