DisneyLife streaming comes alive in UK

Disney has rolled out its direct-to-consumer streaming service in the UK, offering more than 2,000 TV episodes and 5,000 music tracks, ahead of a wider international push.

Frozen will be made available next year on the DisneyLife app

The DisneyLife app will include Disney Pixar movies, Disney Channels TV box sets and books, with shows such as The Lion King, The Jungle Book, Toy Story, Cars and Pirates of the Caribbean all available.

Global hit Frozen is set to become available next year while further titles will also be added, with the service set to be rolled out globally in the coming months.

DisneyLife is available on iOS and Android for tablets and mobiles, and follows the launch of YouTube’s kids’ app in the UK and Ireland last week.

The opening subscription price is £9.99 (US$15.45) a month and content will be available for temporary download to be watched offline. Each membership will come with up to six member profiles, which can be personalised using classic Disney characters.

Parental controls on time limits for weekday and weekend use will be included.

“Disney means something different to every parent and child and now, with Disney Life, we are handing over the keys to them to explore the ever-expanding digital world of Disney – wherever they are and whenever they want,” said Paul Brown, general manager of DisneyLife UK.

The launch follows similar moves from the likes of HBO and Showtime in the US as individual media firms attempt to stop their audience slipping away from linear to online aggregating streamers like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu.