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Like a slew of other streaming services have done, Disney+ has introduced live channels that will broadcast the platform’s content on a continuous shuffled loop. Here’s what that might look like (and what we hope to see).
24-Hour Channels on Disney+
If you thought Disney was done making changes to its streaming services after it recentlybundled Disney+ and Hulu, you’d be wrong. As it turns out, the mass media company has more in store for its flagship streamer. According to an exclusive report fromThe Information, Disney+ is planning to introduce 24-hour nonstop streaming channels to its already busy interface.
Think of it like cable but with channels dedicated to highly specific types of content already found on Disney+. Presumably, we can expect to see channels focused on Marvel movies and shows, Star Wars content, Disney/Pixar, and so on. That said, my hope is that Disney gets a little more creative with its channels than just the obvious.
The 24-Hour Disney+ Channels I Want to Watch
The Simpsons
With over 750 episodes and 35 years ofThe Simpsonsto choose from, it’s probably the one entry in the Disney+ library that makes the most sense as a streaming channel. It’s practically made for a concept like this one. (It comes straight from broadcast television, after all.)
ShondaLand
On a similar note, Shonda Rhimes’s extensive catalog of ABC shows would make the perfect streaming channel on Disney+. FromGrey’s AnatomytoScandaltoHow to Get Away with Murderand all the other spinoffs and standalones in between, these so-called ShondaLand productions definitely deserve a spot in the guide.
’90s Disney Cartoons
Remember all those spinoff shows of classic Disney animated movies from the late 1990s and early 2000s?Buzz Lightyear of Star Command,Hercules: The Animated Series,Jungle Cubs,Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series… it’d be a real throwback to see all of these streaming on Disney+ on one channel. Even original productions such asGargoyleswould fit right into the rotation.
National Geographic
The Muppets
As the most criminally underrated, underused, and undervalued Disney property in history, here’s hoping The Muppets can at least get a 24-hour streaming channel on Disney+. There are so many Muppets shows, movies, and specials that deserve to be introduced to a whole new generation of fans.
ESPN 30 for 30s
Just like a potential National Geographic streaming channel, ESPN’s30 for 30documentaries get plenty of airtime on cable proper. That’s what makes them so fitting for this, though. They’re already meant to be shown on television one after the other, so they’d be right at home with a streaming channel of their own.
Classic Mickey Mouse Cartoons
Lastly, a real throwback: I’d love to see a Disney+ streaming channel dedicated entirely to classic Mickey Mouse cartoons. Yes, all those ones from the 1920s and ’30s. “Steamboat Willie,” “The Haunted House,” “Magician Mickey,” the list goes on. It’d be like a film history lesson and a genuinely entertaining offering rolled into one.
The Larger Trend of 24-Hour Channels on Disney+
As you might have guessed, scrolling through Max or Discovery+ or the Criterion Channel in recent months, Disney+ wouldn’t be the first streaming service to add 24-hour channels to its platform. It’s part of a much larger trend in the world of streaming.
