Can DC’s New Streaming Service Be a Success?
In April 2017, DC announced plans to launch its very own streaming service. Over a year later and the comic book company has finally detailed those plans, confirming that its streaming service will be called DC Universe. This streaming platform is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2018 and is described as an “immersive digital experience designed just for DC fans.”
The platform will also include a significant amount of content, including new shows such as Titans, which is based on the Teen Titans group of young superheroes, an adaptation of Swamp Thing, and it will potentially have some classics such as Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Batman: The Animated Series. But is this all enough to make the streaming service a success?
DC Comics Fans Love Technology
The DC Universe platform will benefit from the fact that fans of DC Comics already have a great appreciation for technology. This is evidenced by the company’s huge social media following as it has more than 4.3 million followers on Facebook and 2.78 million people following it on Twitter, which indicates that there are lots of tuned in fans who like to keep up to date with DC Comics. Meanwhile, the popularity of the Batman slots offered by William Hill, including the likes of Batman and the Batgirl Bonanza and Batman and Catwoman Cash indicates that DC fans are interested in interacting with DC franchises in new, interesting and interactive ways. Moreover, many DC Comics fans are already streaming content to their devices, with various Arrowverse shows (including Arrow) available on Netflix. So, they may be interested in using DC Universe, too.
How Many People Use Streaming Services?
But it isn’t just tuned-in DC Comics fans that DC Universe will have to appeal to. DC will also want to figure out how it can appeal to a wider audience of people who perhaps enjoy streaming content but haven’t necessarily engaged with any DC franchises. According to TV industry marketing body Thinkbox, the amount of time that UK viewers spent streaming TV in 2015 doubled. Although traditional TV still remains incredibly popular, it indicates a willingness to gain access to content in different ways. It also shows that UK viewers are interested in accessing content that is not available through traditional means, particularly the sort of older content that DC may well offer through DC Universe. DC could potentially leverage this, promoting its service to these big fans of streaming services. Off of the back of this, DC could turn these newfound fans into fans of its comics as well as fans of its movies, potentially tripling its revenue.
DC is not the only company looking to enter the streaming service in a big way. Other companies with plans to launch their own streaming platforms include Disney (which owns DC rival Marvel), while UK TV channels BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are also reportedly in talks to launch a streaming service together. That means that DC Universe faces some significant competition but it could well be a success because of the points outlined above.
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