Disney+ Goes Bold: Venturing Into Mature Content Territory

Disney+ Expands Content Horizons

Disney+ subscribers, brace yourselves for a bolder viewing experience! The streaming giant is stepping up its game by rolling out more mature programming options. This strategic shift aims to allure viewers beyond its typical family-focused audience. The head of Disney Television Studios and Global Original Television Strategy, Eric Schrier, shared exciting insights into this content expansion at the recent Content London summit.

Navigating Disney's Dual Identity

Disney's challenge is a balancing act – maintaining its cherished image of wholesome entertainment while venturing into adult-oriented content. The acquisition of 20th Century Fox brought edgier titles like "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy" under its umbrella, pushing Disney to rethink its content strategy. At the London event, Schrier highlighted the company's initial ambition to transform Disney+ into a broader demographic powerhouse, which evolved into a more sophisticated approach by leveraging Hulu's edge in mature content.

“Disney is one of the most well-known brands in the world, and so changing and going full on FX-HBO was the instinct,” Schrier said. “And we made some very good shows I’m very proud of. But as we got more mature and we looked at, ‘Okay, what’s our next phase? We said, ‘Let’s be a little bit more complementary. Let’s be entertaining. We’ll still do edgy things.'”

Future Content Strategy

Disney's recalibrated approach, driven by CEO Bob Iger, shifts focus from quantity to quality. The emphasis is now on fewer, high-impact projects that promise better financial returns. This shift has prompted changes across Disney's creative divisions, including a notable decision by Walt Disney Animation Studios to forgo producing limited series exclusively for Disney+. Instead, Hulu will serve as the hub for adult content, while Disney's flagship studios continue producing family-friendly fare.

Schrier elaborated on the integration of the Hulu brand for curating adult content globally, distancing it from the traditional Disney brand. "We’ve now been able to integrate the Hulu brand as the brand for all of our original content globally," he noted. "We’re not really developing shows for kids and family — that’s really done by global brands and IP. So we’re really looking to do Hulu Originals across the world and showing people that there’s content for adults on Disney+."

Encouraging Creative Exploration

While Disney+ explores new revenue avenues, including increased subscription costs and ad-supported models, Schrier assures that creativity and innovation remain at the forefront of content creation. He emphasized the importance of experimenting and taking risks in developing adult-targeted shows. "I really try to give my creative leaders room to experiment and take risks, and failure is okay," he expressed. This philosophy embraces risk-taking, acknowledging that some initiatives may not succeed but ultimately contribute to a successful creative ecosystem.