Disney, who had threatened not to release the next Black Panther in the cinema, announces that it has won its case in its fight to reform the chronology of the media. Bluff or reality?
Did the Disney blackmail work? For several months, the American studio has been threatening not to release the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in dark rooms because of media chronology. Dissatisfied with its 17-month window (a film released in cinemas can only be put online on Disney+ a year and a half after its release), Disney wants to force the public authorities to go in its direction. To achieve this, he uses his fans. Disney tries to unite them against French cinema by suggesting that it would have no remorse to deprive the operators of a Marvel (we recommend this very good article from Liberation on the subject).
Unsurprisingly, Disney will not skip the dark rooms for its next blockbuster. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be released on November 9 in cinemas, as in other countries. But Disney France, through its president, suggests that this decision is the consequence of her victory.
A new media timeline in February 2023?
Since February 2022, there is a new media chronology in France. The 36-month window for SVOD services (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video) has been lowered to 17 or 15 months (Netflix is entitled to less, because it has signed a financing agreement with French cinema). This new media chronology is valid for 3 years, but a review clause has always been planned for the beginning of 2023. It should allow the services concerned to provide feedback on the new regulations.
According to Hélène Etzi, the president of The Walt Disney Company France, important changes will take place in February 2023. The boss of Disney says that “the majority of actors” of the sector wish “completely overhaul” the media timeline, which is “counterproductive” today. Meetings should get Disney what it wants…at least according to the company.
The completely revised media chronology, really?
Hélène Etzi’s tweets surprised. How is it that such an announcement is made by the president of a private group, when the whole industry knows that this subject divides the various players? Many imagine a new bluff from Disney, which would highlight the discussions of February 2023 to more easily justify the release of Black Panther in the cinema, without having the certainty that he will win his case.
As a reminder, the media chronology allows the financing of French cinema. To break it is to take the risk of causing the collapse of an entire ecosystem. It is not only about the question of choosing between cinema and television, even if this problem is clearly important today.
This is not the first time that Disney has attempted a coup de force to crack the “French exception” (which is not really one, similar systems exist in other countries). In recent years, the company has reserved several big productions (like its latest Pixar) for Disney+, while other countries have been entitled to a simultaneous release in cinemas and in streaming. Will Disney be able to overcome the media chronology? Along the way, in addition to exhibitors, he will have to deal with major lobbies, such as that of Canal+. The French group, with its 6-month window, has no interest in helping SVOD services.
