Disney plans to roughly triple the number of local original series on Disney+ over the next three years. The company also plans to bring Formula E to Disney+ and ESPN+ in December and add select college football games and College GameDay simulcasts to Disney+ in the United States.
The August 17 update follows a D23 panel with leaders from Disney+, Hulu and ESPN. It covers new programming plans alongside changes to how Disney packages short videos and sports across its streaming services.
Disney+ Local Originals Will Expand Over Three Years
The expansion will focus on series made for local audiences in international markets. Disney expects some of those productions to travel beyond their home regions through the service's global distribution.
Hulu's general-entertainment catalog will remain part of that international strategy. Disney is pairing recognizable brands with stories developed by local creative teams and regional partners.
Formula E and College Football Are Coming to Disney+
Formula E coverage will begin on Disney+ and ESPN+ in December. Disney did not publish a race-by-race schedule in the announcement.
Disney+ will also carry select college football games and College GameDay simulcasts in the United States. The move gives some ESPN programming another home inside Disney's broader streaming bundle.
Verts Short Videos Will Reach Beyond Discovery
Disney launched the vertical-video Verts format on Disney+ in March after introducing it in the ESPN app. The next phase may include creator communities, original short-form stories, podcasts and other interactive features.
Source: The Walt Disney Company's August 17 D23 streaming showcase report.
Images: The Walt Disney Company.