Disney Changes On-Demand Strategy
As of March 1, the Disney Channel networks have changed their on-demand approach to new episodes. Instead of adding new episode the day after they premiere on the linear television network, they will be added the day of their premiere.
That began today for tonight’s new episodes of Disney XD’s Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything, Kirby Buckets, Star Wars Rebels and the series premiere of Lab Rats: Elite Force.
New episodes seem to be added after midnight on the day they are scheduled to premiere. This now allows viewers to view new episodes up to 20 hours before they air on TV.
For a while, Disney has placed new programming on their WATCH apps up to one week before their TV premiere. The WATCH apps are subject to television provider’s availability (for example, Time Warner Cable customers still do not have access). There has also been a premium version of Disney Channel On-Demand for many years that also posts new episodes up to a week before their premiere.
This new strategy will be applied to new episodes on Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior.