I can only give an outsider’s perspective but it seems as if the entertainment industry is experiencing a time of great uncertain with regards to its future. Its an extremely transitory time for both film and television and with the advent of countless streaming services and social media outlets, the way people consume and share content is completely different from what used to be the norm. 

It’s the same story we’ve all been hearing for a while except that now, we are reaching the tipping point of the streaming wars and once Fall 2019 rolls around, we’ll be living in a world where two of the biggest corporate superpowers have entered the battle. I’m of course referring to Apple and Disney. 

After this past weekend’s D23 expo, Disney proved that it’s not only eager to plunge into the fray but prepared to do so with plenty of exciting content. Apple, on the other hand, is a bit of a question mark. The lackluster presentation in March of this year seems to have left people questioning whether or not the company can truly make a dent in the already crowded field of entertainment. The plus side for them, is that they have the resources and money to create something extraordinary. Their disadvantage, is that they have no real experience in Hollywood. Even as seasoned entertainment executives join the team, Apple has made it clear that it’s a tech company first and foremost. I must admit that last week’s trailer for The Morning Show did look very promising. However, Apple has really only given us little snippets here and there of the things to come. Maybe its just them playing coy but Apple has never seemed like the company that hold things back. It’s been floating around big time creators like Oprah, Steven Spielberg, and JJ Abrams without giving the public much to back those names up. Vague is the word that comes to mind. 

Disney is the exact opposite and it proved that again this weekend with all of its announcements at D23. There’s almost have too much content to look forward to. Overwhelming is the word that comes to mind in their case. However, that also brings along tons of excitement. Disney already has the established IP and it knows it. Its brand name in the entertainment sphere is long established and generations of people are mega fans of countless properties. Disney is well aware of that fact, as proven by the development of multiple Star Wars and Marvel shows as well as new retellings and reboots of some of their most beloved characters and stories. The possibilities for Disney seem all the more endless with its acquiring of Fox and ability to take advantage of even more well known properties. That’s going to give Disney the edge because it automatically has plenty of content to satisfy almost every demographic. 

Apple doesn’t have that just yet. It may be able to build to that but at the end of the day, with so many other streaming services already available, the tech giant may be trying to enter the film/tv streaming world to late in the game. One thing is for sure in my opinion. If Apple isn’t able to get a few “Stranger Things type” hits right of the bat, then Apple Plus could be dead on arrival. 

Only time will tell but this fall is sure to be an extremely pivotal moment for entertainment and streaming. We’ll start to get an idea of who the major players will be that survive this overcrowded streaming landscape as well as get a clearer idea of where film/tv production and consumption is headed. It’s going to be an exciting yet nerve wracking time for many and I for one can’t wait to watch from the sidelines.