In 2019, Disney+ and Netflix went head-to-head in the greatest streaming war in history.
Disney+ pulled their entire empire from Netflix - stealing Marvel, Star Wars, & Pixar!
But what Netflix did in response changed how we consume media forever.
Here's what happened: 🧵
For years, Netflix dominated streaming with hits like Stranger Things, The Crown, and House of Cards.
Their position was unparalleled - they were the undisputed kings of on-demand video.
Then in 2017, Disney dropped a bomb that would reshape entertainment:
They announced the end of their Netflix licensing agreement.
This wasn't just losing movies - this was losing cultural touchstones.
Marvel's empire, Star Wars' saga, and Pixar's classics - all vanishing from Netflix.
The stakes were massive...
In November 2019, Disney+ launched:
A vault of 500+ movies and 7,500 TV episodes.
They priced it at $6.99/month - less than half of Netflix's plan.
Day one results? 10 million subscribers.
Netflix had to respond or risk losing everything:
Netflix's strategy was brilliant:
Instead of trying to compete with Disney's multi-generational appeal and beloved franchises...
They executed 3 game-changing moves.
The first transformed the entire industry:
1. Original Content Revolution
Netflix invested billions in creating shows no one else could touch.
In 2019, they released 371 original titles.
Not random - pure strategy:
Create content for every possible audience segment..
2. International Expansion
While Disney focused on American nostalgia, Netflix went global.
They created worldwide hits:
• Money Heist (Spain)
• Kingdom (Korea)
• Dark (Germany)
By 2020, international viewers were 60% of Netflix's base.
3. Technological Innovation
Netflix pioneered algorithm-driven personalization, creating unique viewer experiences.
Then came Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
Choose-your-own-path storytelling - gaming and streaming had merged.
The competition intensified:
Disney created an irresistible bundle with Hulu and ESPN+.
Netflix countered by signing legendary creators:
• Shonda Rhimes brought Bridgerton
• Ryan Murphy created Ratched
• Martin Scorsese delivered The Irishman
The battle was reaching its peak:
Disney+ captured lightning with The Mandalorian and "Baby Yoda."
Netflix's response? Tiger King - a quarantine phenomenon that dominated global conversation.
This wasn't just about content anymore - it was about creating cultural moments that defined entire eras.
Even their release strategies revealed different philosophies:
Netflix championed the binge model - complete immersion.
Disney+ chose weekly releases - building anticipation.
The result? Shows like WandaVision became weekly events, sparking theories and discussions worldwide.
Their approaches targeted different behaviors:
Netflix fed our desire for immediate gratification.
Disney+ tapped into our love of shared experiences and speculation.
By the end of 2020:
Disney+ reached 86M subscribers
Netflix maintained leadership with over 200M.
The competition created an entertainment renaissance:
• Unprecedented investment in original stories
• Multiple pricing options for consumers
The streaming war revealed something crucial:
Systems beat talent.
Netflix didn't just survive - they built a machine that could:
• Analyze viewer preferences globally
• Predict content performance
• Scale production efficiently
But here's what most missed:
The real innovation wasn't the content.
It was the processes behind it.
Netflix built systems to:
• Standardize content creation
• Maintain quality at scale
• Ensure compliance across regions
Sound familiar?
This is the challenge every growing company faces:
How do you maintain consistency while scaling?
How do you standardize processes across multiple teams?
How do you ensure compliance without killing innovation?
The answer isn't hiring more people...
It's building better systems.
Just like Netflix automated their content machine, modern companies need to automate their operations.
This is exactly why we built Process Street:
COOs & Operational Leaders:
We help private equity firms standardize processes across portfolio companies while maintaining compliance.
Want to see how?
It's time to simplify success:
Join the 3,000+ innovative companies building the future.
From Salesforce to Slack, leaders trust Process Street to transform their operations with our revolutionary AI-powered automation.
See why: process.st
I am Vinay Patankar:
• Systems builder & automation pioneer
• Founder of Process Street, leader in workflow automation
• Passionate about making work flow effortlessly
Follow for insights on building systems that scale
Repost to help others grow ⚡️
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.