The Jungle Book 1967

Over the five decades since The Jungle Book 1967 came to the silver screen, there has been a complete technological revolution. While the 1967 film was only released on the one available platform – the cinema – the 2016 film is – one year on – already on multiple platforms for audiences to view globally, including online streaming.

Firstly Digitally convergent media platforms have had a large impact on movie production since 1967. For example while until recently film companies had to make individual copies of every film, which got passed around the cinemas for weeks at a time. Now synergies in production produce cost savings for Disney, for example copies of the 2016 Jungle Book can be shown across a number of convergent platforms e.g. smart phones, Netflix, TV channels and cinema. This is constantly developing, however: Disney announced it will end its streaming and distribution partnership with Netflix in the hopes of launching its own movie, TV and live sports streaming service in 2018. This means that Netflix subscribers will have to move over to Disney in order to watch films like ‘The Jungle Book’, giving Disney even more power over the movie market than it has already.

Convergence between social media platforms has enabled Disney’s audience to have an active voice in its on-going production through feedback and commentary through YouTube, Facebook and online fan communities. "The media landscape is increasingly defined by direct relationships between content creators and consumers," – Robert Iger, CEO of Disney.

The internet’s availability over a multitude of different platforms has acted as an enabler to movie companies in terms of how they distribute films, for example vastly cutting down on distribution costs and increasing audience. 

In some cases the impact of digitally convergent media platforms has also increased the risk of movie production for movie companies, for example through leaked content that is playable across a number of convergent platforms and online piracy – it is easy for audiences to illegally download Disney movies and TV shows, Through websites such as Netflix , 123 movies were you can even get subscritions t watch all the avalible films you wish to see at any time.

An additional monetisation feature exists to gain additional revenue and also capture further audience information to refine future products, such as Disney Life and Disney Universe.  Also investigating partnerships with other companies online such as Lego.