PARIS, Jan 21 — US entertainment behemoth Disney said today that it would begin rolling out its Disney+ streaming service in Europe on March 24, its latest challenge to established on-demand television and movie providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple.

The launch will begin in Austria, Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, The Walt Disney Company’s French subsidiary said in a statement.

Other countries will be added "this summer,” including Belgium, Portugal and in Scandinavia, it said.

Disney jumped into the hotly-contested streaming market with a splash last November, when it racked up 10 million subscribers within 24 hours of going live in the US, Canada and the Netherlands.

Since then it has launched in Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico, with analysts estimating it now has several tens of millions of clients.

Disney is betting its extensive catalogue of kid-friendly movies, as well as the hugely popular Marvel comics and Star Wars franchises will help it elbow into a crowded market that has upended the traditional TV business model.

It has also priced its offering well below those of most rivals in its bid to sell directly to viewers, without going through third-party distributors.

Monthly subscriptions will be €6.99 (RM31) or £5.99, with yearly packages for €69.99. — AFP