BrandWikiReturn

DC Universe (streaming service)

DC Universe was an American subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) and digital comics service operated by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Digital Networks, both divisions of WarnerMedia. Launched on September 15, 2018, the service featured a streaming library of animated series and films based on DC Comics properties, new original television series adapted from DC properties, as well as a rotating back catalogue of DC Comics publications, and online community features. In 2020, the service won the Webby People's Voice Award for Media Streaming.

In June 2020, WarnerMedia began to phase out DC Universe in favor of its new flagship streaming service HBO Max, initially by offering a promotional offer via DC Universe for new subscribers. DC Universe was relaunched as DC Universe Infinite—which is solely a digital comics subscription service—on January 21, 2021. DC Universe's original series and future streaming productions were moved to HBO Max and became Max Originals.

History and development

In April 2017, DC Universe was announced as an untitled service with original television programming, with its title revealed a year later in May. The next month, the features of the service beyond original programming were revealed, including access to older DC live-action and animated films and animated series for a select period of time, a rotating selection of comics, forum discussion space, a merchandise store, and DC encyclopedia. Sam Ades, the general manager and senior vice-president at Warner Bros. Digital Network, managed the service.

Several original series were announced and developed for DC Universe: Titans and Young Justice: Outsiders, premiered in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Harley Quinn, a half-hour animated series, premiered in 2019. A Superman prequel series titled Metropolis was announced in January 2018, focusing on Lois Lane and Lex Luthor. Two live-action series Swamp Thing and Doom Patrol were released in 2019, while Metropolis was being redeveloped. A live-action Stargirl series was released in 2020, which features additional members of the Justice Society of America.[4] DC Daily was released in September 2018, ending in July 2020.[5]

In May 2020, WarnerMedia launched a new streaming service, HBO Max. The following month, DC Universe subscribers became eligible for a promotional discount on HBO Max for new subscribers.[6] At the end of July, DC Universe no longer offered the yearly subscription option for the service.[7] In August, DC Comics publisher Jim Lee revealed that all original programming would be migrated over to HBO Max. Speaking to the community aspect of DC Universe, as well as the ability to access the backlog of comics titles, Lee said "there is always going to be a need for that" and that DC was looking at ways to transform the platform so that content would not go away.[8]

Sibling broadcast network The CW (which has carried its "Arrowverse" dramas adapted from DC Comics characters) has also carried selected DC Universe programs, including Stargirl (which aired new episodes on The CW on a one-day delay from its release on DC Universe), and Swamp Thing (acquired for its 2020 fall schedule, amid the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television in the United States).[9]

DC announced in September 2020 that the service would change its name to DC Universe Infinite and become solely a digital comics subscription service on January 21, 2021. DC Universe subscriptions would automatically transfer over to DC Universe Infinite.[10] Young Justice seasons 1–4, Titans season 1–3, Doom Patrol seasons 1–3, the first season of Stargirl, and Harley Quinn seasons 1–3 moved to HBO Max to become Max Original series, with new DC series and "key DC classics" also being available there.[11] Stargirl was renewed exclusively by The CW for a second season.

Availability

DC Universe launched in the U.S. on September 15, 2018, and was available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Xbox One in addition to web and mobile web access. Each subscription to DC Universe could be used on two devices at a time. Pre-orders for the streaming service became available starting on July 19, while an early beta-version was made available to select users in August. Live-action series were produced in 4K with HDR.[12]

DC Universe was only available in the United States. At Fan Expo Canada 2018, DC editor Dan DiDio claimed the service was being beta tested in Canada with plans to launch at an unspecified date.[13] Meanwhile, several original shows from the service were acquired by Corus Entertainment (for broadcast on its Teletoon, Adult Swim, and Showcase cable networks), while Doom Patrol was acquired by Bell Media for its CTV Sci-Fi Channel.[14][15][16] Titans was distributed internationally on Netflix.[17][18]

Content

Original programming

BizarroTV, an anthology series, was announced in October 2019 as being in development, and had an expected release date in 2020.[27] It was unclear if it would have migrated to an HBO Max Original series when the service became DC Universe Infinite.[11]

Films and television series

At launch, the service included the four live-action Christopher Reeve Superman films, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, the animated television series Batman: The Animated Series, Static Shock, Young Justice, Teen Titans, Batman Beyond, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Justice League, the live-action television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Wonder Woman, the last remastered in high-definition, and animated films including Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Green Lantern: First Flight, and Wonder Woman, among others. Content was updated on a monthly basis. The service added the 1970s live-action series Shazam! in March the following year.[28]

Accolades

DC Universe won the 2020 Webby People's Voice Award for Media Streaming in the category Web.[29]

External links

References

  1. Introducing DC UNIVERSE: A First-of-Its-Kind Digital Subscription Service Designed Especially for Fans DC Entertainment, June 28, 2018, retrieved January 26, 2019^
  2. Matt Donnelly. WarnerMedia to Launch Direct to Consumer Streaming Service in Late 2019 Variety, October 10, 2018, retrieved January 26, 2019^
  3. Nellie Andreeva. Kevin Reilly Named Head Of Content & Strategy For WarnerMedia's New Streaming Service Deadline Hollywood, December 14, 2018, retrieved January 26, 2019^
  4. Dominic Patten. Geoff Johns To Write & Produce 'Stargirl' Series For DC Universe – Comic-Con Deadline Hollywood, July 19, 2018, retrieved July 19, 2018^
  5. Erik Pedersen. 'DC Daily' Set For DC Universe Streaming Service; Kevin Smith To Host Kickoff Show Deadline Hollywood, August 22, 2018, retrieved August 22, 2018^
  6. Greta Bjornson. DC Universe Pairs up With HBO Max for New Streaming Bundle Decider, June 30, 2020, retrieved August 14, 2020^
  7. Samuel Gelman. DC Universe No Longer Offering Yearly Subscriptions Comic Book Resources, July 21, 2020, retrieved August 11, 2020^
  8. Borys Kit. DC's Jim Lee on the Company's Future: "We Are Still in the Business of Publishing Comics" The Hollywood Reporter, August 14, 2020, retrieved August 14, 2020^
  9. Samantha Highfill. CW announces Supernatural return in October, series finale set for November Entertainment Weekly, August 17, 2020, retrieved August 17, 2020^
  10. Graeme McMillian. DC Universe Rebranding as Comics-Centric Platform The Hollywood Reporter, September 18, 2020, retrieved September 18, 2020^
  11. Matt Webb Mitovich. DC Universe to Relaunch With New Name, as All Original Shows Migrate to HBO Max — Get Pricing Details TVLine, September 18, 2020, retrieved September 18, 2020^
  12. Alex Cranz. The Excellent DC Universe Is Dead, and a Comics-Only Service Is Taking Its Place io9, September 18, 2020, retrieved September 18, 2020^
  13. Calvin Barr. DC Universe is Coming to Canada (Eventually) Screen Rant, September 16, 2018, retrieved October 1, 2018^
  14. Corus Entertainment's Powerful Specialty Portfolio Announces Lineup of 2019-2020 Orders Newswire, May 30, 2019, retrieved August 26, 2018^
  15. When Will Young Justice: Outsiders Release Internationally? Screen Rant, January 24, 2019, retrieved August 27, 2019^
  16. Doom Patrol Bellmedia.ca, November 21, 2019, retrieved December 28, 2019^
  17. Nellie Andreeva. Titans: Netflix To Distribute New DC Universe Series Internationally Deadline Hollywood, October 1, 2018, retrieved October 1, 2018^
  18. Mike Sorrentino. Titans season 1 is now on DC Universe, international Netflix release on Jan. 11 CNET, December 21, 2018, retrieved December 27, 2018^
  19. Denise Petski. 'Doom Patrol" Renewed For Season 2 By DC Universe Via Deal With HBO Max – Comic-Con Deadline Hollywood, July 20, 2019, retrieved July 21, 2019^
  20. Lesley Goldberg. 'Doom Patrol' Renewed for Season 3 on HBO Max The Hollywood Reporter, September 12, 2020, retrieved September 14, 2020^
  21. Kimberly Roots. Swamp Thing Cancelled at DC Universe TVLine, June 6, 2019, retrieved June 6, 2019^
  22. Nellie Andreeva, Denise Petski. 'Stargirl' Episodes To Air on the CW Network & Its Digital Platforms After DC Universe Debut Deadline Hollywood, November 21, 2019, retrieved November 21, 2019^
  23. Matt Webb Mitovich. DC's Stargirl Renewed for Season 2, Which Will Be Exclusive to The CW TVLine, July 6, 2020, retrieved July 6, 2020^
  24. Alexis Sottile. DC Daily Launches on Batman Day With New Look At The Titans Show SyFy, September 15, 2018, retrieved September 16, 2018^
  25. Jeff Sneider. Exclusive: 'DC Daily' Canceled on DC Universe Streaming Service Collider, June 8, 2020, retrieved June 9, 2020^
  26. DC UNIVERSE ADDS SIXTH EPISODE OF "DC UNIVERSE ALL STAR GAMES", MAKES MINI-SERIES AVAILABLE TO NON-SUBSCRIBERS DC Comics, March 27, 2020^
  27. Hannah Shaw-Williams. DC Universe Announces Bizarro World Anthology TV Show Screen Rant, October 3, 2019, retrieved September 18, 2020^
  28. Watch Shazam! DC Universe, retrieved March 13, 2019^
  29. Jacob Kastrenakes. Here are all the winners of the 2020 Webby Awards The Verge, May 20, 2020, retrieved May 22, 2020^
  30. <ref name="DeadlineApr2017Announcement"> Nellie Andreeva. DC Digital Service To Launch With Titans Series From Greg Berlanti & Akiva Goldsman And Young Justice: Outsiders Deadline Hollywood, April 25, 2017, retrieved May 2, 2018^
  31. Nellie Andreeva. Harley Quinn: DC Digital Service Orders Animated Series About Comic Book Villainess From Powerless Trio Deadline Hollywood, November 21, 2017, retrieved May 2, 2018^
  32. Joe Otterson. Superman Prequel Series Metropolis Lands 13 Episode Order at DC Digital Service Variety, January 30, 2018, retrieved June 28, 2018^
  33. Denise Petski. DC's New Digital Service Gets A Name Deadline Hollywood, May 2, 2018, retrieved May 2, 2018^
  34. Nellie Andreeva. Swamp Thing Drama Series In Works At DC Digital Service, Metropolis Heads To Redevelopment Deadline Hollywood, May 2, 2018, retrieved May 2, 2018^
  35. Lesley Goldberg. 'Doom Patrol' Live-Action Series From Greg Berlanti Set at DC Digital Service The Hollywood Reporter, May 14, 2018, retrieved May 14, 2018^
  36. Dino-Ray Ramos. DC Universe Streaming Service Set To Launch With Live-Action 'Titans', 'Doom Patrol', & 'Swamp Thing' Deadline Hollywood, June 28, 2018, retrieved June 28, 2018^
  37. Graeme McMillian. DC Unveils Details of DC Universe Streaming Service The Hollywood Reporter, June 28, 2018, retrieved June 28, 2018^
  38. Susana Polo. DC Comics unveils streaming service with a lot more than just shows Polygon, June 28, 2018, retrieved June 28, 2018^
  39. Dino-Ray Ramos. DC Universe Digital Subscription Service To Launch On Batman Day; Sets 'Titans' Premiere Deadline Hollywood, August 29, 2018, retrieved August 29, 2018^
  40. Andrew Liptak. DC's streaming video service will launch on September 15th The Verge, August 29, 2018, retrieved September 4, 2018^
  41. 'DC UNIVERSE Pre-Orders Open at $7.99/Month Newsarama, July 19, 2018, retrieved July 30, 2018^