Last summer, Disney announced that it would be ending a licensing deal it has with Netflix. In addition, the company said they would be launching their own video streaming service in 2019.
According to a new report from Variety, former Apple and Samsung executive Kevin Swint has been hired to build up and run the new service. Swint will be joining BAMTech Media as the SVP and general manager of the streaming service.
With his prior experience, Swint is no stranger to the world of streaming content. In the early 2000s, he helped Walmart’s e-commerce team launch its music downloads site. From there, he joined Apple’s iTunes team where he was in charge of expanding the store to an international audience, in addition to launching its HD Movies and iTunes Extra features.
In 2013, Swint left Apple and joined Samsung where he helped build up its Milk line of streaming video and music services.
While Netflix is a major player in the streaming service world, it’s been working to develop its own content as studios have increasingly invested in their own content delivery mechanisms. Disney will have a major advantage when it launches its streaming service because it will include its Marvel and Star Wars franchises, in addition to content from 20th Century Fox.
As the company behind the streaming video tech for sports organizations like the MLB, Disney acquired a majority stake in BAMTech Media last year with plans to expand its platform into new services for both the Disney catalogue and ESPN.
[via Engadget]
