Disney recently revealed that several live channels will debut on Disney+ later this year, which could be a boon for theMarvel Cinematic Universe. According to Bloomberg, these channels will be calledHallowstream,Hits and Heroes,Throwbacks,andReal Life.Hits and Heroesis specifically geared towards Star Wars, Marvel, and other action-oriented Disney properties.Of course, Marvel’s inclusion implies that the many MCU shows will be part of the programming block.
While it will undoubtedly include previous MCU shows, the Disney+ live channel presents an exciting opportunity: the return of live premieres. Nowadays, it’s commonplace for streaming shows to drop so that people can watch them at their leisure. This model prioritizes convenience, but it eliminates some of the fun that comes with live viewing, such as social media responses.Utilizing this strategy with future MCU shows could turn them into “event television” and drive up Disney+ viewership.
Disney’s Live TV Channel Could Make MCU Show Releases More Exciting
Making Marvel Premieres Live Could Make Them More Of A Group Experience
Being on Disney+,previous MCU shows have seen mixed receptionand online presence.WandaVisionkicked things off with a bang, and audiences eagerly awaited each new episode, theorizing and making memes within hours of their premiere. Unfortunately, these other series rapidly lost steam. WhileLokiwas a success,Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel,andShe-Hulk,among others, underperformed in terms of ratings.
Why Changing Up The MCU’s Series Release Strategy Could Be Good For The Franchise
With Many Releases On The Horizon, Disney+ Needs Its Marvel Shows To Succeed
The MCU’s shows aren’t reaching the same audience numbers as its movies, despite the prevailing belief that streaming television is the more convenient approach. Part of the reason for this disparity could be rooted in films being viewed as an event, while the television series are a comparatively mundane experience. Disney+ experimenting with the way Marvel shows air could yield positive results both in terms of audience retention and social media reactions.
If Disney+ plays its cards right, these live premieres of MCU shows might increase its standing in the Nielsen ratings.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
