The Walt Disney Company’s (NYSE:DIS) entry into the world of television and movie streaming did not go smoothly.
The company’s new streaming service, called "Disney Plus," went live Tuesday after months of promotion but encountered several problems in its debut. Only hours after its launch, customers across the United States and Canada were reporting technical difficulties, after receiving multiple “unable to connect” error messages when trying to watch various shows.
The service confirmed the glitches on Twitter, simply stating that demand "exceeded expectations." Disney added that they are working to resolve the problems. Most problems were focused in Eastern parts of Canada and the United States. Many Canadian users tweeted about the trouble — showing error messages alongside Disney characters like Mickey Mouse — or complained of long wait times when trying to contact Disney’s help desk.
The Disney Plus service comes stacked with an extensive library of animated and live action movies and television shows, including "The Lion King", "The Sound of Music" and "Home Alone". The new Star Wars series, "The Mandalorian", is among the most anticipated new Disney shows, but it too encountered hiccups. Some viewers say they were initially unable to play the episode, while others could only hear the audio.
At $8.99 a month, Disney is heavily invested in the service's appeal as the so called "streaming wars" ramp up. Apple TV Plus, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and more are all competing for audiences in a crowded field that in Canada also includes Netflix, Crave TV and CBC Gem.
