Disney to Make a Marvel/Star Wars Cable Channel?
Recent financial talk at Disney suggests that the corporate giant might just be planning on making a cable channel or two for their Marvel and Star Wars properties. The source on this line of thought? None other than Disney CEO Bob Iger!
From DailyFinance:
“We have said that with these channels and these brands — ESPN, ABC, Disney, maybe even down the road something related to Star Wars and Marvel — we do have an ability as a company to take product, specifically filmed entertainment, television, movies, directly to consumers,” CEO Bob Iger said during last week’s conference call when asked about Disney’s chances to roll out its own streaming service.
Wait a minute. Disney is starting to talk up the potential of Star Wars or Marvel television channels being on the same level as its ESPN, ABC, and Disney Channel juggernauts? This could get interesting.
Presumably, this hypothetical channel would constantly feature the films of the Star Wars franchise, along with the movies set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (and possibly other Marvel Comics films not made by Marvel Studios). The channel might also air existing Star Wars and Marvel shows. Might there be original programming on this channel? Only time will tell.
Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.
This could be big… As both a marvel and Star Wars fan, I certainly hope they do this, it would be pretty great! Could be the launching pad for the Star Wars Underworld series And Detours as well, honestly between Star Wars and marvel, there’s so much material this could be really fantastic!
Detours…err yeah
Not sure why people are still psyched to see Detours – there was a reason why they never aired it. It looked terrible.
You know, terrible or not I’m still curious to see.
Yeah I forgot that was a show, Hell, I think Lucasfilm is trying to forget that was a show. Eeek, that trailer was awful.
Star Wars Christmas Special anyone?
The Star Wars franchise hasn’t been on the best of footing in the aftermath of the PT.
Disney maybe oversaturating a market that’s just not as in to SW as it used to be.
That’s got to be one of the most asinine comments I’ve ever read from a PT hater/basher. The ignorance is sad
Like it or not, the PT was so bad it did serious damage to the SW franchise and the last memory many fans have of the GFFA is a negative one.
So right now, what’s important, critical really, is for Star Wars to regain lost credibility.
This has to be priority number one. Everything, TV shows, comic books, a dedicated cable channel.
All this stuff comes after confidence in the franchise is restored.
The box office numbers and rankings and ratings say otherwise. Furthermore, PT haters/bashers like you are in the minority (you just have the loudest voices in being so local).
There’s a reason why Lucasfilms was bought for $4 billion and it wasn’t just because of the OT’s worth and related material. Face it, the PT brought in a new set of demographics and a new generation and you seem to have failed to recognize that due to your misguided nostalgic views.
Next time do some research before spewing out negative opinions like if they were facts; stop forcing your negative views onto others and stop trying to make people that like the PT feel bad for liking it.
I guess one can’t expect much from PT haters/bashers. Ridiculous!
You know the prequels were bad when no one mentions them when promoting the new movie.. avoiding like the plague they are..
Incorrect.
I am going to go out on a limb and say you have not read any of the books or comics that have come out within the new canon. Why do I say that? Because the PT/CW/R is woven THROUGHOUT these stories, bridging everything together. But you wouldn’t get it since your head is still stuck in 1983.
Boy, you’re really reaching here…
The ignorance is really appalling here. You must really be lacking intelligence on the concept of time to make a comment as such. The ST comes after the OT time-wise so what do you expect? The fact that there is more OT talk right now is because Disney and Lucasfilms are trying to get the younger generations up to speed in the story of the Star Wars saga since the OT is much older for those movies to be considered “films of their generation” and these young folks are not familiar with it. And don’t even try to spin this around because the facts of what I’m stating are out there (look at the upcoming Infinity 3.0 game as an example; it’s talked about how the younger generation understands mostly the recent Star Wars material http://makingstarwars.net/2015/05/could-disney-infinity-3-0-save-the-clone-wars/).
This might be hard to understand since it seems like you don’t know but let me lay it out for you son simplest terms: the PT comes 1st, then the OT, and then the ST. Did you get all of that, or are you still lacking the intelligence of how time works? Try not to hurt your brain so much in trying to grasp this concept of time.
Look Tim’s got issues but it doesn’t appear that you actually READ the post you’re responding to.
The PT was a Hit, Yes.
It was also Bad.
Making money on a trailer isn’t the same as the film being something worth replicating.
The PT had it’s high points [the model work in Phantom especially on the spacecraft is SUPERB] at the end of the day they’re just not that good.
As a Star Wars viewer I felt honor-bound to see Anakin’s downfall / VAder transformation to the end [I wish I hadn’t, the end of ROTS is still the ONE reason I dislike the PT above all other reasons]
However, if I heard in the news “Guess what? We’re bringing back Hayden Christensen as a force ghost and we’re gonna have the most cutting edge full rendered worlds where even the jedi cloaks will be in CGI, in Living 3D!”, I would say “@#$k it” and go watch something else instead, San Andreas looks like a good film.
All this considered, I think it’s wise that they down-play the PT aspects / divergences for a bit, just simply because that’s not what the majority of Star Wars fans were asking for IN THE FIRST PLACE.
All considered we really don’t know what were getting with the ST.
I’m thinking it’s one of those “you’re BOTH right” scenarios.
Totally agree on this point.
Money doesn’t necessarily translate to a film actually being good. All of that money generated from the PT was due to a bunch of factors:
– Millions of Star Wars fans
– Star Wars’ as one of the “elite” movie franchises (almost always guarantees a nice box office return)
– Kids wanted to see them (let’s face it – the PT was geared and catered to a younger generation and it worked)
The PT lovers seem to always point out the obvious – those movies made money, they are essential to the overall storyline, and they are responsible for the Clone Wars cartoon and other properties. They never seem to acknowledge the fact that all three films have poor acting (worse than the OT), poor dialogue (worse than the OT), plot holes (worse than the OT), poor story structure, and suffer from an over-abundance of CGI effects.
The list above proves that they are bad movies. Do the movies have cool, good, sometimes great moments in them? Yes, they do. But there are so many more negatives than positives. How can the PT lovers not see that? Sometimes I really can’t understand it.
They get really angry and pissed at the OT community for bashing the PT. It clouds their minds. It doesn’t let them truly see the PT movies for what they are. And why the OT lovers don’t like them, and also why a lot of general movie-goers didn’t like them.
FINALLY some people standing up for the Prequels. I am SO sick of the hate for those movies… people need to quit comparing them to the OT. They never had a chance to be as good as the first three movies – those films were legendary and had 15 years to build up an untouchable status in people’s memories. Nothing could have touched those.
There’s so much good about the Prequel trilogy… oh well. To each their own.
Exactly. Popularity does not equal quality. The prequels are mediocre.
“Furthermore, PT haters/bashers like you are in the minority”
& JJ is among them. THANK GOD
So is the letter C, I use it on a my tests!
This is Star Wars so I like to keep politics out of it but come on. You start your post with
“You sound like a Conservative Republican who’s afraid of change and is out of touch with society – someone that is too stubborn to listed.”
And then end with:
“Next time do some research before spewing out negative opinions like if they were facts; stop forcing your negative views onto others.”
As an open minded conservative who also loves Star Wars – Ot, PT, Clone Wars and Rebels, you sir or madam, are an ass.
No, he is not in the minority.
The PT sucked bad, real bad. Everyone I know who liked the OT as a child really dislikes the PT. That’s literally dozens people. And those who like the PT I can count on one hand.
Hate to say it but Tim’s got a point here, it IS a little premature for them to be making an entire Channel, the movie hasn’t even been seen yet so seeing the cashcowing THIS early is a bit frightening.
it only did damage to older nostalgic fans.the prequel triligy brought in a whole new generation of fans and starwars wouldnt be nearly as big as it is now if it was just laft as three movies from the 70s and 80s. the new movies will bring yet another generation. remember that children have most the power when it comes to a franchise profiting. i was a child when the phantom menace came out and i loved it. i even loved jar jar as did many other children which shows by sales of merchandise. dont yet your nostalgia and the loud voices of the vocal minorty affect actual facts
I hate the PT as well and I still think he’s crazy 😛
Star Wars has a massive fandom and if he thinks a trilogy will damage it forever… all I can do is direct him to the celebration numbers and views of the trailers.
SW fans are alive and well… with good reason. How many sci-fi fantasy space sagas are there on the big screen? I rest my case.
I remember when i first came across Tim, i got in a fight with him about how he thought having a black lead protagonist in a Star Wars movie was the same as having a black actor play Benjamin Franklin in a historical film.
It’s hard to tell if this is even that same person.
Everyone has had the kind of encounters of the Tim Snow kind.
I’ve learned, Don’t Feed The Snow!
Really? THAT is the most asinine comment you’ve read? Has your head been under a rock? Do you need an adult?
He was merely saying that oversaturation of a franchise may be bad, as Disney is trying to shovel out as much franchising materials as possible.
I guess Clone Wars just came out of thin air…
Clone Wars/Rebels actually have restored my love for Star Wars, seriously awesome series’
Clone Wars sustained the love of SW for a lot of people who were a bit disenchanted after the PT.
I guess the market you are referring to isn’t the one that viewed the latest teaser trailer 88 million times. OR the market of 1.6 million viewers for the season 1 premiere of Rebels which is the highest premiere viewership for Disney XD in 15 years. Or the 60,000+ people who attended Celebration this year (which is half of the turn out for San Diego Comic Con that features just about every pop culture property and Star Wars is just one franchise). That can’t possibly be the market that you’re talking about because then you wouldn’t be making any sense.
Actually over 200 million views now but good point 🙂
That number can’t be realized based on the viewing habits of myself.
You’re talking about a trailer? A 24 hour channel dedicated to just trailers then?
The viewer ratings for Rebels have ranged from a high of 1 million viewers in its debut episode to around 0.7 million viewers. This is good for cable but put it on ABC TV and it won’t float. Disney XD has plans to eventually end the show in a few years. It doesn’t have the same numbers as Clone Wars on Cartoon Network in the early years. Cartoon Network has a lot more households. Compare it to other networks like The Hub and Disney XD even. But Cartoon Network is also notorious for killing its 3rd party programming dating back well over a decade.
THE IGNORANCE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE!
Can someone ban Tim Snow? I dont like his opinion…
Please be sarcasm!
I agree with the saturation part, of course there is market and we all love SW, but to fill a 24 hr. channel they will certainly will have to come up with a lot of stuff, and in there will be some crap for sure
I’d say the hype for 7 shows it’s as engaging as ever. Lucas being gone seems to have raised people’s spirits.
I doubt over saturating the market will be just fine for kids. I’m sure they won’t mind having all the star wars and marvel fun they can get.
That might be a cool idea… a few decades from now.
Maybe.
Not a bad idea. But it has to be done right.
Star Wars overload and saturation coming up.
I think the post is misreading Iger’s statement. They’re actually talking about cutting out the cable middleman and taking the content straight to consumers, which likely means apps for cord-cutters like HBO Now.
Yeah, that’s what the quote sounds like to me.
Ding Ding DING!
So,
They’re making Toonami, but with Marvel – StarWars stuff instead of Dragonball Z and Justice League.
Huh, ok, makes sense.
I could see spending a lot of time with my brother watching this channel.
What would really be cool is if Cartoon Network gets spooked by Marvel Star Wars, and relaunches Toonami in time for the new Dragonball Z follow-up series.
Between the two channels I’d hardly get anything useful done.
In a way, it’s good foresight to jump right into TV this early, because I think we can all agree that Marvel CU’s downhill shift has begun, so it’s good they’re going into TV for a smooth transition.
I do miss Justice League though, that was a good show, and I really hope they use the same African American Green Lantern [forgot his name] in the DCCU, for me, that Green Lantern is THE Green Lantern. And Superman was cool, hell even Supergirl and Green Arrow were awesome, and those are characters I tried really hard to hate.
However, they’re probably thinking more in terms of online, like Netflix or whatever, which – as a Non-Credit-Card-Holder – would SUCK.
I’m already paying for cable, and dammit, I really hope they just put it on cable like a normal people, because this dumpster-diver can not afford to be subscribing to nothing.
get a debit card already!
You can’t afford $8 a month for Netflix but you can afford overpriced and low quality cable? Get a card and catch up with the times. Don’t complain that you aren’t along for the ride when you refuse to walk out the door.
Look, i’m a victim of circumstance, I wouldn’t be bitching if I had the option of doing it.
Also I am the 70’s on general principle
Also Japan has a wacky idea of how – basically ANYTHING – works, so sometimes “just going and getting a subscription” is more of a hassle than you might think, remember, this is the country that until recently refused iPhone service because it’s “unnecessary”.
I’m a Netflix subscriber, and i dont have a credit card. I use a VISA *debit card*. Works just like a regular CC. You just have to make sure you have enough in your account to cover any purchases.
So use that to subscribe to Disney stream. 🙂
Bruh, it’s 2015. Al least get a debit card with the logo of a major CC company.
Accidentally reported your comment… sorry about that!
Anyways… I think that making it like Netflix would be good for a lot of people. I, for one, don’t have cable because there isn’t nearly enough programming that I enjoy to justify the $75 a month it would cost me… so if they offered this like Netflix, I’d sign up in a heartbeat. I’d get exactly what I want, and wouldn’t have to spend extra for a ton of crap I have NO need for.
A channel specifically for science fiction anad fantasy action and adventure shows… now that would certainly be something to see 😀
as long as its not JUST star wars and marvel… get some new properties in there, throw gargoyles on late at night…
Over-saturation 😛
“A channel specifically for science fiction an(a)d fantasy action and adventure shows…” That’s called Syfy and it isn’t as good as it used to be.
I didn’t know syfy aired Star Wars and Marvel content. Oh wait, it doesn’t. So your comparison is irrelevant.
Well shit, so far, we only have movies every fuckin year, a cartoon series, cannon books, a planned tv show, plus all the other shit out there…
Naaahhh, its not oversaturation at all (smh)
Why not add a separate worldwide 24hour channel and also let all countries around the world make SW movies too! Yay! I wanna see a Honduras version of Episode XIV
I think you are totally missing the mark on this article. He’s talking about combining the resources of Disney (Star Wars, Marvel, ESPN, ABC, etc) and creating a subscription based app like Netflix or HBO NOW.
That is exactly what he is talking about. But people like to take things out of context. I think it would be great to make a star wars based app tho. I wouldn’t be interested in the other junk.
perfect now lobot gets his own show.
He wouldn’t say much would he. Just kinda point authoritatively.
He would be sort of like the reality-competition equivalent to The Stig ™.
A full channel COULD work. But they’d have to be 100% committed. There would have to be tons of extras, such as video game previews and reviews, live-action shows, reality-shows, behind-the-scenes type shows, etc. It can’t just be the movies and tv shows and then the same thing with Marvel. Even with all the content out there, it would lose its appeal real quick.
If there plan were to just have the tv shows and movies, then they should just put everything on Netflix and call it a day.
I see them doing all of that accept the reality shows. That would make it a joke.
Are you kidding?
Sith Apprentice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2vIroE-1ZU and Cantina Band Auditions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ROl4LuyNQM are great Star Wars reality tv shows >_>
Would love this! They could also re-runs of Shield, agent carter, Clone Wars, etc. assuming logistics lets them.
All this is putting me off, let’s take something we love & ring the rag dry for every drop
the problem is that even wth two animated shows and six movies you don’t have enough material to cover a long time period, unless you don’t publish that ton of extras that I understand are in the digital editions…
not sure. they did in italian sky a Star wars temated channel that lasted a week. In a week they finished the movies and most of the extras, but without shoeing the clone wars. I guess the clone wars snd rebels could help.
If it’s a Both Star Wars and Marvel channel… well… you get an overwhelming of marvel films and cartoons, the wich not all the star wars fans care about.
Comments from people with inappropriate names will be deleted.
Way to go! thank you Viral! inappropriate names and stinkin thinkin lol inappropriate behaviour is so draining, drives me to over caffeinations!
Stinking thinking? Please don’t ever get into politics.
Sorry
Do names like “IHateThePrequels” count as inappropriate? They should…
Really? People are free to say whatever they want about any film. If they hate the prequels enough to use that as their comment name, what is that to you?
Too much.
The Star Wars ‘Cash Cow’ lives on…
I don’t know how to contact any admins – simon peggg has confirmed Daniel craig plays a stormtrooper in TFA
Stormtrooper! Who are you? what’s your name and operating number? Bond!James Bond! 007 wtf Daniel! I have a bad feeling about this!
ST-007, I bet.
CRAZY NEWS!
http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/simon-pegg-accidentally-reveals-daniel-craig-will-play-a-stormtrooper-in-star-wars-10252192.html
One word: Overexposure.
Isn’t over exposure two words?
Hasbro Toys has something called the Hub they launched with the Discovery Channel. And in 4 years the Hub has been reduced to a 8 hour block of mostly reruns with some new shows but nowhere near the 24 hour network it once was.
If they made a channel like this when they already have Disney XD and Disney channel? An all Star Wars or Marvel channel means debuting very little new programming re-running movies readily available in other formats other than new episodes of animated shows.
Marvel has more previously aired shows in its library than Star Wars, but Disney doesn’t hold all the rights to these shows and thats where things get a little limited.
Lower ratings in the short term and while cable networks might carry it in the beginning, eventually most will drop it.
I’m actually a little worried about things like the Star Wars channel… I mean I’m sure the films will be great, but after the ST… what will become of Star Wars when they churn out a bunch of sub par TV shows & then decide to make Episodes 10 thru 12? Though I have a lot of concerns about that anyway… I’m sure John Williams won’t be around to score anymore & JJ might be too fatigued to take another trilogy on.
I’d rather see them plunk down cash to make a netflix masterpiece.
Netflix? Really, they dont make masterpieces exactly.
Yes… daredevil, house of cards… maybe don’t measure up to breaking bad but are very well produced.
It’s hard to believe you’ve left this article up considering Igar said absolutely nothing about a Star Wars channel. He talking about a Disney streaming service. Irresponsible click bait by SW7news.
Daniel Craig is playing a stormtrooper.
If they expanded this concept to include the entire Lucas-Spielberg sci-fi/fantasy oeuvre, this could be the biggest thing since ever.
FINALLY!!!!!!!!
I do not find it interesting that there might be a Star Wars / Marvel channel soon, I find it disturbing.
You’re lack of Faith I find Disturbing!
Television is an ancient religion.
Vader, you killed my father!
If Disney was able to acquire the rights to the Star Wars Holiday special it would all of this totally worth it!
This is awesome news! I can’t wait until Christmas time. Holiday Special 24/7! Yay!
Predicted this earlier. What we need is a live action series or two. Won’t have to cost that much. It can be shot mostly outdoors around L.A and just one soundstage. It could be as simple as two guys on the run from Stormtroopers (think 1980s Planet of The Apes style).
Who hasn’t thought of it, Al Gore.
Haven’t read all the comments so this may have already been pointed out, but he’s talking about a streaming service. Like Netflix or something. Feel free to join us in the 21st century when you’re ready.
I find that gorge lucas good movies making en so good sf she most more of so movies making
I think both OT and PT bashers lose the point when they become assholes just to prove theirs. Oh yeah … and the “but he started it” argument … is pathetic. Why does a difference of opinion have to turn into a childish name-calling tantrum? At that point, people deserve to be tuned out regardless of your stance.
I still can’t figure out why SW doesn’t make a non animated series for adults.
Quick poll, how many of you all live in your parents’ basement?
How many of you guys and gals have kids?
Trust me, they watch the same stupid Disney, Disney XD, Cartoon Network, etc. crap over and over and over again. A channel devoted to two HUGE and numerous franchises that have cartoons, movies, talk shows, and a bunch of other content (that I would mention INDIANA JONES) would absolutely work and not ‘oversaturate’ anything.
News flash: You don’t have to watch it 24/7. You don’t. Its not required. You can actually watch what you want, when you want. This is reality.