When HBO Max launched, one of the most praised features to the new service was a tab called “Coming Soon.” This page reveals upcoming original and library titles coming in the current month as well as highlights from further out. This area gets users excited about content arriving as well as keeps it on their mind.
When Disney+ launched, they included pre-installed title pages with “Coming Soon” dates for over 100 titles. In the 19 months since, those title pages have dwindled and not been replenished. Only one “Coming Soon” page exists beyond December 2021. That’s disappointing. Fans initially applauded the transparency from Disney. However, people have been clamoring for these “landing pages” to be accessible from one location with others suggesting Disney stop surfacing them in search results because it gives the impression the titles are available. HBO’s Coming Soon page is the perfect example of how this could work.
All the coming soon content could be visible only through a new Disney+ Coming Soon page, or the thumbnails of titles with coming soon dates could have an indicator on them that says “COMING SOON” to warn subscribers the title isn’t streaming yet and save them disappointment before they click to watch.
HBO also posts upcoming theatrical film trailers on their Coming Soon page. There have been plenty of requests for Disney to share trailers to their upcoming movies on Disney+. They even have a listing for August’s The Beatles: Get Back (2021) on its own page. This would make much more sense on a dedicated coming soon page versus as an individual title page. It also would have been sensible to list the actual upcoming film’s title page and post the trailer sneak peek there instead of creating a brand new title page specifically for the sneak peek that will be deleted when the film releases.
If Disney+ implemented this feature it would be easier for the general public who don’t follow Disney’s social media or read their press releases to stay abreast of new titles and new cinematic releases. I would even suggest sharing promos for upcoming Disney Channel or National Geographic series on this hypothetical “Coming Soon” page.
For what it’s worth, HBO Max did not invent the concept. Netflix has a brilliant section as well that recently underwent a name change. It used to be New & Upcoming but now it is New & Popular and includes both their Top 10 list as well as rows dedicated to titles coming in the next few weeks and even big releases further out under the Worth the Wait row.
Why Disney has yet to pull the trigger on anything like this is a head-scratcher. Could a feature be in the works? It has to be. We wouldn’t know because Disney isn’t particularly forthcoming with future plans. It would be a great use of their Disney+ Tech blog if they did share timetables for feature releases the way Windows 10 has done for many years. The requests are certainly there and it couldn’t be very difficult to code together if HBO Max could pull it off so quickly.
One last thing – HBO Max has another featured often requested by Disney+ subscribers: a Leaving Soon page (or at least some form of warning). Disney+ is the only streaming service that doesn’t warn before titles are removed which is not a good look. Due to the ongoing nature of pre-existing contracts for title in the Pay One / Pay Two windows or Network / Free windows, adding these 2 features creates a product that provides transparency with users and could lessen churn for the company.
In the meantime, we’ve got you covered with a list of all titles Disney has removed without warning as well as expiration dates for titles leaving other services such as Starz, HBO, and Prime Video.
Is there a feature that we haven’t written about that you think would create a better streaming experience for all? This is where the DDV team needs your help. Comment down below and share why Disney+ needs your feature. Don’t forget to submit feedback for titles and features you would like to see added to Disney+ in the near future.
Drew Ryan is a film, TV, and Disney geek. He has degrees in English, Student Personnel Administration, and Library & Information Science from Lawrence University, Concordia University-Wisconsin, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Interested in the minutia and licensing of streaming service content, he is always publishing lists, suggestions, and advocating for Disney’s missing library to be added to Disney+. Drew subscribes to Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, and Paramount+. You can find him waxing nostalgic over classic Disney Channel or geeking out over Marvel, CW shows, & Disney on Twitter.
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