When Disney announced their new over the top (OTT) streaming subscription service DisneyLife in the United Kingdom earlier this year, many wondered how long until it would expand to another market. Today we got that answer as Disney and Alibaba announced that DisneyLife would be coming to China. Preorders for the service will begin today with a yearly subscription costing around $125 USD.
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A joint press release announcing the news read:
Alibaba Group and The Walt Disney Company announced today a multi-year license agreement for an OTT that for the first time connects customers, physical products and digital entertainment. Launched today, DisneyLife provides Alibaba customers in China with an all-encompassing and immersive family friendly digital experience.
DisneyLife is the only holistic home-based kids and family digital destination available in the Chinese market. It features a vast collection of Disney and Pixar’s most loved movies, animation series, games, e-books, songs, travel services and Disney theme parks and resorts information and much more. The Mickey Mouse-themed device will be available for pre-sale via Tmall.com from December 15th and will cost RMB799 (USD125.00) inclusive of a one year subscription of DisneyLife of a base package.
Set within an immersive Disney environment, families are transported into the magical world of Disney. Families can enjoy Disney and Pixar’s most popular family feature films including Frozen, Cinderella, Big Hero 6, The Lion King, Tangled, Toy Story, Monsters University, Cars, The Incredibles, and many more hit movies. Favorite animation series including Sofia the First, Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and My Friends Tigger and Pooh will also delight. As well as the great line up of games is a digital library of e-books for kids, and a song for every day with hundreds of tunes at launch. All content offered and served is via Wasu Media Network Co. Ltd.
At a touch of a button subscribers can access their favorite Disney merchandise. They can also obtain information about, and plan a visit to Hong Kong Disneyland as well as Shanghai Disney Resort when it opens in 2016. In addition to the DisneyLife experience, shoppers can access other Alibaba products and services.
“As we deliver on our goal to meet the needs of a consumers’ daily life, DisneyLife, launched by Alibaba Digital Entertainment Business Unit together with Disney, will provide the only holistic and trusted family friendly digital destination in China,” said Mr. Wei Ming, Co-President of Youku Tudou Business Group and General Manager of Alibaba Digital Entertainment Business Unit.
“For nearly a century, Disney’s focus on quality storytelling and innovation has delivered audiences around the world the best stories, shared moments and extraordinary experiences,” said Mr. Luke Kang, Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company, Greater China. “Disney and Alibaba share an ambition to exceed our audience’s expectations. DisneyLife directly connects us to China’s digital population and provides millions of kids and families the ability to explore and engage with Disney.”