DC Universe (streaming service)

DC Universe is an American video-on-demand service operated by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Digital Networks. It was announced in April 2017, with the title and service formally announced in May 2018. The service includes original television programming, access to select animated series and films from DC's back catalogue, a rotating selection of comics from DC Comics, forum discussion space, and a merchandise store. DC Universe launched in a beta state in late August 2018, with its full release on September 15, 2018. The service won the 2020 Webby People's Voice Award for Media Streaming in the category Web.[4]

DC Universe
Type of site
Video on demand
Available inEnglish
HeadquartersBurbank, California,
United States
Area servedUnited States
OwnerWarnerMedia[1][2]
Key peopleSam Ades (GM & SVP, Warner Bros. Digital Networks)
ServicesStreaming service, OTT
Parent
  • Warner Bros. Digital Networks[3]
  • DC Entertainment[3]
  • Warner Bros. Digital Labs[3]
URLwww.dcuniverse.com
RegistrationMonthly or annual subscription required to access content
LaunchedSeptember 15, 2018 (2018-09-15)
Current statusActive

History and development

On April 25, 2017, DC Universe was announced as an untitled service with original television programming,[5] with its title announced a year later on May 2, 2018.[6] 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.[7][8] Sam Ades, the general manager and senior vice-president at Warner Bros. Digital Network, manages the service.[8]

The service's first slate of programming, Titans and Young Justice: Outsiders, was revealed on April 25, 2017.[5] On November 21 of the same year, a Harley Quinn half-hour animated series was announced for the service.[9] On January 30, 2018, a Superman prequel series titled Metropolis was announced, focusing on Lois Lane and Lex Luthor.[10] In May 2018, the live-action series Swamp Thing and Doom Patrol were announced,[11][12] and Metropolis was being redeveloped.[11] On July 19, a live-action Stargirl series was announced, which would also feature additional members of the Justice Society of America.[13] A month later, the daily news program DC Daily was announced.[14]

Availability

DC Universe launched in the U.S. on September 15, 2018,[15] and is available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Xbox One in addition to web and mobile web access.[8] Each subscription to DC Universe can be used on two devices at a time.[16] Pre-orders for the streaming service became available starting on July 19, 2018,[17] while an early beta-version was made available to select users in August 2018.[7][18]

DC Universe is currently available only 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.[19] 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.[20][21][22]

Titans is currently being distributed internationally on Netflix.[23][24]

Content

Original programming
Title Genre Premiere Seasons Episodes Status Notes
Live-action
Titans Action, drama, superhero October 12, 2018 2 seasons 24 episodes Renewed[25] [lower-alpha 1]
Doom Patrol Comedy-drama, superhero February 15, 2019 2 seasons 24 episodes Ongoing[26] [lower-alpha 2]
Swamp Thing Horror, superhero May 31, 2019 1 season 10 episodes Ended[27] [lower-alpha 3]
Stargirl Action, drama, superhero May 18, 2020 1 season 13 episodes Ongoing[28][29] [lower-alpha 3]
Animation
Young Justice Superhero January 4, 2019 1 season (Outsiders) 26 episodes Renewed[30] [lower-alpha 4]
Harley Quinn Adult animation, action, black comedy, superhero November 29, 2019 2 seasons 26 episodes Pending[31] [lower-alpha 5]
Other
DC Daily News program September 15, 2018 N/A 442 (as of June 26, 2020) Ongoing,[32] ending July 3, 2020[33]
DC Universe All Star Games Game show February 28, 2020 1 season 6 episodes Ended[34]

In development
Title Genre
BizarroTV[35] Anthology

Films and television series

At launch, the service included the four live-action Christopher Reeve Superman films, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, animated television series Batman: The Animated Series, Static Shock, Young Justice, Teen Titans,[7] Batman Beyond, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Justice League,[17] live-action television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Wonder Woman, the last remastered in high-definition,[18] and animated films including Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Green Lantern: First Flight, and Wonder Woman,[7] among others. Content is updated on a monthly basis.[16] In March 2019, the service added the 1970s live-action series Shazam!.[36]

Notes
  1. Internationally distributed by Netflix after the completion of original airing
  2. Co-production and distribution with HBO Max starting with season 2
  3. Second airing on The CW
  4. Acquired from Cartoon Network starting with season 3
  5. Second airing on Syfy

See also

References
  1. Donnelly, Matt (October 10, 2018). "WarnerMedia to Launch Direct to Consumer Streaming Service in Late 2019". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  2. Andreeva, Nellie (December 14, 2018). "Kevin Reilly Named Head Of Content & Strategy For WarnerMedia's New Streaming Service". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  3. "Introducing DC UNIVERSE: A First-of-Its-Kind Digital Subscription Service Designed Especially for Fans" (Press release). DC Entertainment. Business Wire. June 28, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  4. Kastrenakes, Jacob (May 20, 2020). "Here are all the winners of the 2020 Webby Awards". The Verge. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  5. Andreeva, Nellie (April 25, 2017). "DC Digital Service To Launch With Titans Series From Greg Berlanti & Akiva Goldsman And Young Justice: Outsiders". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  6. Petski, Denise (May 2, 2018). "DC's New Digital Service Gets A Name". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  7. Ramos, Dino-Ray (June 28, 2018). "DC Universe Streaming Service Set To Launch With Live-Action 'Titans', 'Doom Patrol', & 'Swamp Thing'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  8. McMillian, Graeme (June 28, 2018). "DC Unveils Details of DC Universe Streaming Service". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (November 21, 2017). "Harley Quinn: DC Digital Service Orders Animated Series About Comic Book Villainess From Powerless Trio". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  10. Otterson, Joe (January 30, 2018). "Superman Prequel Series Metropolis Lands 13 Episode Order at DC Digital Service". Variety. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie (May 2, 2018). "Swamp Thing Drama Series In Works At DC Digital Service, Metropolis Heads To Redevelopment". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  12. Goldberg, Lesley (May 14, 2018). "'Doom Patrol' Live-Action Series From Greg Berlanti Set at DC Digital Service". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  13. Patten, Dominic (July 19, 2018). "Geoff Johns To Write & Produce 'Stargirl' Series For DC Universe – Comic-Con". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  14. Pedersen, Erik (August 22, 2018). "'DC Daily' Set For DC Universe Streaming Service; Kevin Smith To Host Kickoff Show". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  15. Ramos, Dino-Ray (August 29, 2018). "DC Universe Digital Subscription Service To Launch On Batman Day; Sets 'Titans' Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 30, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  16. Liptak, Andrew (August 29, 2018). "DC's streaming video service will launch on September 15th". The Verge. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  17. "'DC UNIVERSE Pre-Orders Open at $7.99/Month". Newsarama. July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  18. Polo, Susana (June 28, 2018). "DC Comics unveils streaming service with a lot more than just shows". Polygon. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  19. Barr, Calvin (September 16, 2018). "DC Universe is Coming to Canada (Eventually)". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  20. "Corus Entertainment's Powerful Specialty Portfolio Announces Lineup of 2019-2020 Orders". Newswire (Press release). May 30, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  21. "When Will Young Justice: Outsiders Release Internationally?". Screen Rant. January 24, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  22. "Doom Patrol". Bellmedia.ca. November 21, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  23. Andreeva, Nellie (October 1, 2018). "Titans: Netflix To Distribute New DC Universe Series Internationally". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  24. Sorrentino, Mike (December 21, 2018). "Titans season 1 is now on DC Universe, international Netflix release on Jan. 11". CNET. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  25. Lovett, Jamie (November 11, 2019). "Titans Renewed for Season 3 on DC Universe". ComicBook.com.
  26. Petski, Denise (July 20, 2019). "'Doom Patrol" Renewed For Season 2 By DC Universe Via Deal With HBO Max – Comic-Con". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  27. Roots, Kimberly (June 6, 2019). "Swamp Thing Cancelled at DC Universe". TVLine.
  28. DC Universe [@TheDCUniverse] (December 27, 2018). "Coming to #DCUNIVERSE in 2019. (Dates subject to change) [video highlighting the 2019 series with release months]" (Tweet). Retrieved December 28, 2018 – via Twitter.
  29. Webb Mitovich, Matt (March 29, 2019). "DC Universe Reveals Stargirl Costume, Sets Swamp Thing Premiere Date". TVLine. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  30. YJ Wiki (July 20, 2019). "Young Justice panel (SDCC19) - Q&A w/ Greg Weisman & Brandon Vietti". YouTube. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  31. "DC's Harley Quinn Animated Show Gets Season 2 Renewal, Will Release In Less Than Two Months". Screen Rant. February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  32. Sottile, Alexis (September 15, 2018). "DC Daily Launches on Batman Day With New Look At The Titans Show". SyFy.
  33. Sneider, Jeff (June 8, 2020). "Exclusive: 'DC Daily' Canceled on DC Universe Streaming Service". Collider. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  34. "DC UNIVERSE ADDS SIXTH EPISODE OF "DC UNIVERSE ALL STAR GAMES," MAKES MINI-SERIES AVAILABLE TO NON-SUBSCRIBERS". DC Comics. March 27, 2020.
  35. "DC Universe Announces Bizarro World Anthology TV Show". screenrant. October 3, 2019.
  36. "Watch Shazam!". DC Universe. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
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