Disney’s New TV Changes Could Be A Major Win For The MCU’s Next Shows

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Disney recently revealed that several live channels will debut on Disney+ later this year, which could be a boon for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to Bloomberg, these channels will be called Hallowstream, Hits and Heroes, Throwbacks, and Real Life. Hits and Heroes is 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 Close Being on Disney+, previous MCU shows have seen mixed reception and online presence. WandaVision kicked 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. While Loki was a success, Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk, among others, underperformed in terms of ratings.
Beyond the MCU, Disney+ lost over one million subscribers after increasing subscription prices in late 2023. Adjusting their model to include live programming could drum up interest in Disney+ exclusive content. Part of why events like the Super Bowl and the Olympics draw large audiences, including non-sports fans, is the excitement around watching as a community. The streaming era somewhat took away the ability for viewers to share the experience, but Disney+ adding a live channel could inspire a larger fan community to form around MCU shows.
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

Custom image by Felipe Rangel 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.
The MCU shows no signs of stopping its production of television series in spite of Disney+"s lack of growth in subscriber numbers. Agatha All Along recently premiered on September 19, with Eyes of Wakanda, Ironheart, Daredevil: Born Again, Vision Quest, and more set to follow. 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.
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