The Disney+ Magic Equation With the Man Who Built It
Manage episode 513564833 series 3596163
This week on We Fixed It, You’re Welcome, we’re diving deep into one of the most fascinating business stories in streaming: the Disney+ crisis. From explosive subscriber growth to public backlash and strategic pivots, Disney’s streaming platform has seen both magic and mayhem.
Joining us is Michael Cerdá, the former VP of Product at Disney Plus, who helped take the platform from concept to over 100 million subscribers. Michael gives us a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the service was built, why key decisions were made, and what Disney can do now to win back its audience.
We break down:
• The launch chaos that almost broke Disney Plus
• Why bundling Hulu and ESPN+ was a last-minute gamble
• The subscriber exodus and backlash over pricing
• How personalization and AI could reshape streaming
• And our fix for Disney Plus retention and acquisition strategies
Whether you’re a media strategist, streamer, or just love a good comeback story, thisone’s packed with insight.
✅ Key Takeaways:
• Bundling works—even when it’s messy—because it locks in lifetime value.
• Personalization is the next battlefield in streaming retention.
• Disney’s loyalty ecosystem is underleveraged but powerful.
• AI could usher in a new era of storytelling, putting the viewer at the center.
Guest Plug:
Michael Cerdá’s book Build Something is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It dives
deeper into Disney Plus’s launch and other major product stories.
Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.
Links:
• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com
• Follow us on:
Instagram – instagram.com/wefixeditpod
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod
YouTube – / @wefixeditpod
If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!
Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
45 episodes