Disney+ was partly a response to an ending: Disney's distribution deal with Netflix was due to finish in 2019. After taking a controlling stake in the streaming-technology company BAMTech in August 2017, Disney announced a Disney-branded service of its own, and production of films and series exclusively for it started in late 2017. The Disney+ name was revealed in November 2018.
The service went live on 12 November 2019 in the US, Canada and the Netherlands, and its flagship was ready on day one: The Mandalorian, the first live-action Star Wars series. Ten million people had subscribed by the end of the first day.
Franchise television
The pattern since has been film franchises stretched into serials, released weekly rather than all at once. Marvel Studios' first series, WandaVision, began on 15 January 2021; Loki followed in June, moving new episodes to Wednesdays; and Lucasfilm's Andor premiered on 21 September 2022. The animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars also returned for a seventh and final season in 2020.
The UK service
UK subscribers got Disney+ on 24 March 2020, when it replaced DisneyLife, a smaller streaming service Disney had been testing in Britain since late 2015. On 23 February 2021 a section called Star brought in grown-up drama and comedy, including series made for Hulu and FX in the US — Only Murders in the Building arrived there on the same day as its American debut. On 8 October 2025 Disney retired the Star name and made Hulu its general-entertainment brand inside Disney+ outside the US. Closer to home, Disney and ITV agreed in July 2025 to share a selection of each other's shows.
Key dates
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Disney+ launches
The service goes live in the US, Canada and the Netherlands with The Mandalorian.
Source: Wikipedia: Disney+
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UK launch
Disney+ arrives in the UK, replacing the DisneyLife service.
Source: Wikipedia: Disney+
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WandaVision begins
Marvel Studios' first television series premieres with two episodes.
Source: Wikipedia: WandaVision
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Star arrives
A general-entertainment section opens in Europe and other markets, bringing more mature series to Disney+.
Source: Wikipedia: Disney+
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Andor premieres
Tony Gilroy's Star Wars spy drama releases its first three episodes.
Source: Wikipedia: Andor
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Hulu replaces Star
Disney swaps the Star brand for Hulu inside Disney+ outside the US.
Source: Wikipedia: Disney+