Disney already has several networks.  In addition to owning ABC and ESPN, there are three kid-targeted stations, The Disney Channel, Disney Jr. for preschoolers and Disney XD, a more action-oriented channel for older kids and adults.  But as entertainment and the way people consume it evolves, Disney may be looking for new outlets for its products, like streaming services.  And they may be considering this as a means to create channels devoted to its properties Star Wars and Marvel.

Clearly Disney has no shortage of programing to sustain three cable channels.  But is there really enough Star Wars or Marvel footage to fill an entire network?  For more than one day?  Weeks?  Forever?

As of now, ‘Star Wars’ is pretty much limited to the six movies and the ‘Star Wars: Rebels’ cartoon series (which had an accompanying movie).  The previous ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ series aired on Cartoon Network, so Disney may not have the rights to use it on their networks.  And most people aren’t clamoring for reruns of the 80s cartoon duds ‘Ewoks’ and ‘Droids.’

The same rights issues hold true for Marvel.  The only movies that they would likely be able to access are ‘Iron Man’ and the ‘Avengers’-building movies that followed and TV series ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ and ‘Agent Carter’ as well as possibly the Netflix exclusive shows.  Prior to ‘Iron Man,’ all the Marvel movies were made by other studios.  The Fantastic Four and X-Men still remain the property of 20th Century Fox and Spider-Man‘s rights are being shared by Marvel and Sony.  But in the past, Disney has aired ‘Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends’ a cartoon series from the early 80s that has no connection with Marvel.  Surely, some negotiations can be worked out for more cartoons and movies to surface on a new platform.

Well, as of right now, that’s not an issue.  Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the issue by saying:

“We have said that with these channels and these brands — ESPN, ABC, Disney, maybe even down the road something related to Star Wars and Marvel — we do have an ability as a company to take product, specifically filmed entertainment, television, movies, directly to consumers.”

The key phrase here is “maybe even down the road.”  The “maybe” is a clear indicator that this is something that Disney is just considering and Iger clearly states that this is something that’s coming “down the road.”  So while there may not be a Jedi TV or the Squirrel Girl Network next year, perhaps after Disney accumulates enough material to fill days and days and days worth of programing, these things will become a reality.

Would you be interested in networks devoted to these properties?  Or do you think it would be too much of a good thing?

Source: Cinema Blend