Disney goes on-demand in Spain

Disney will launch its subscription video-on-demand service (SVoD) in Spain, as it prepares to kill off its online movie store in the US.

In Spain, the Mouse House has paired with VoD website Wuaki.tv for a Disney-branded subscription-based service that will give users access to a revolving library of movies that includes Dumbo, Toy Story and Wall-E.

Simon Amselem, country manager for Disney in Spain and Portugal, said launching the SVoD service in Spain was the next “logical step” in Disney’s distribution strategy, following the service’s launch on the ZON platform in Portugal earlier this month.

Meanwhile, in the US, Disney has announced it will be shutting down its US-only Disney Movies Online (DMO) service on December 31. It cited the “rapidly evolving” digital environment in a statement to the Associated Press as the reason for the closure.

DMO, which launched in 2009 and allows users to purchase and rent Disney and Disney/Pixar feature films online, “does not have the flexibility that many users today demand. We made a business decision to close the service until we are able to provide the greatest value and experience to our customers,” Disney said.

The closure raises the likelihood of an early-2013 launch in the US for Disney Movies Anywhere, a planned service currently in development at the Mouse House that will enable Disney movies to be viewed on multiple devices.