Alibaba, Disney sign deal to sell DisneyLife OTT service in China
Alibaba and Walt Disney Co have signed a multiyear licensing agreement to sell a new over-the-top service called DisneyLife in China, with immediate effect, so as to increase sales of movie-related toys, books and trips to Disneyland. The Mickey Mouse-shaped device will connect users to Disney content such as films and games. Disney is looking to expand its revenue in China beyond the box office, while Alibaba continues to expand its entertainment services.  

SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alibaba Group and The Walt Disney Company announced today a multi-year license agreement for an over the top service (OTT) that for the first time connects customers, physical products and digital entertainment. Launched today, DisneyLife provides Alibaba customers in China with an all-encompassing and immersive family friendly digital experience.

DisneyLife is the only holistic home-based kids and family digital destination available in the Chinese market. It features a vast collection of Disney and Pixar’s most loved movies, animation series, games, e-books, songs, travel services and Disney theme parks and resorts information and much more. The Mickey Mouse-themed device will be available for pre-sale via Tmall.com from December 15th and will cost RMB799 (USD125.00) inclusive of a one year subscription of DisneyLife of a base package.

Set within an immersive Disney environment, families are transported into the magical world of Disney. Families can enjoy Disney and Pixar’s most popular family feature films including “Frozen,” “Cinderella,” “Big Hero 6,” “The Lion King,” “Tangled,” “Toy Story,” “Monsters University,” “Cars,” “The Incredibles,” and many more hit movies. Favorite animation series including “Sofia the First,” “Little Einsteins,” “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and “My Friends Tigger and Pooh” will also delight. As well as the great line up of games is a digital library of e-books for kids, and a song for every day with hundreds of tunes at launch. All content offered and served is via Wasu Media Network Co. Ltd.

At a touch of a button subscribers can access their favorite Disney merchandise. They can also obtain information about, and plan a visit to Hong Kong Disneyland as well as Shanghai Disney Resort when it opens in 2016. In addition to the DisneyLife experience, shoppers can access other Alibaba products and services.

“As we deliver on our goal to meet the needs of a consumers’ daily life, DisneyLife, launched by Alibaba Digital Entertainment Business Unit together with Disney, will provide the only holistic and trusted family friendly digital destination in China,” said Mr. Wei Ming, Co-President of Youku Tudou Business Group and General Manager of Alibaba Digital Entertainment Business Unit.

“For nearly a century, Disney’s focus on quality storytelling and innovation has delivered audiences around the world the best stories, shared moments and extraordinary experiences,” said Mr. Luke Kang, Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company, Greater China. “Disney and Alibaba share an ambition to exceed our audience’s expectations. DisneyLife directly connects us to China’s digital population and provides millions of kids and families the ability to explore and engage with Disney.”

About Alibaba Group

Alibaba Group's mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. The company is the largest online and mobile commerce company in the world in terms of gross merchandise volume. Founded in 1999, the company provides the fundamental technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help businesses leverage the power of the Internet to establish an online presence and conduct commerce with hundreds of millions of consumers and other businesses.

Alibaba Group’s major businesses include:

Taobao Marketplace (www.taobao.com), China's largest online shopping destination

Tmall.com (www.tmall.com), China’s largest third-party platform for brands and retailers

Juhuasuan (www.juhuasuan.com), China’s most popular online group buying marketplace

Alitrip (www.alitrip.com), a leading online travel service platform

AliExpress (www.aliexpress.com), a global online marketplace for consumers to buy directly from China

Alibaba.com (www.alibaba.com), China’s largest global online wholesale platform for small businesses

1688.com (www.1688.com), a leading online wholesale marketplace in China

AliCloud (www.alicloud.com), a provider of cloud computing services to businesses and entrepreneurs

About The Walt Disney Company in China

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments. Disney's first animation screened in China in the 1930s and today our long association continues with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with over 3000 employees. The company is focused on creating high-quality entertainment experiences and effectively building local and Disney franchises in China. Disney currently has several established businesses in the country, including studio entertainment, parks and resorts, consumer products, media networks, interactive, and Disney English. In September 2005, Disney opened its doors to its first theme park in China, Hong Kong Disneyland and in 2011 announced ground breaking for Shanghai Disney Resort, a joint venture with Shanghai Shendi Group which is slated to open spring 2016. On May 19th 2015, the Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disney Resort was topped out, and on May 20th. Disney opened the doors of its first Disney Store in China, in Shanghai. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of US$52.5billion in its Fiscal Year 2015. For more information about The Walt Disney Company please visit: http://corporate.disney.go.com/.