#Disney+ adds GroupWatch party feature in social-viewing move

Disney+ is adding a feature to expand the platform to even more viewers.

Called “GroupWatch,” it will enable up to seven Disney+ subscribers to screen a show or movie simultaneously and react together. Similar apps like Netflix Party and Scener enable socially distanced pals to have viewing parties together on other platforms such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, but the other apps are browser extensions that require laptops. GroupWatch is unique in that it can be on as large a screen as the audience wants. Unlike similar apps, however, GroupWatch won’t allow for viewers to react with typed text; rather, they can only use emojis such as “funny” or “surprised.”

GroupWatch will appear as an icon (an outline of three people) on the “details” page of any given selection, and a viewer can simply tap it and invite others to join.

Disney+, which launched in November 2019, has more than 60 million global subscribers as of August 2020. Unlike Quibi, which has struggled to become relevant, it immediately established itself as a powerhouse — and a serious competitor to Netflix, Hulu and Amazon.

According to the company, this new feature was planned before the coronavirus pandemic. But amidst the uncertainty of movies releasing in theaters across the country, Disney+ has become a primary destination for flicks that were originally slated for splashy theatrical releases, such as “Hamilton” and “Mulan.” The streaming service is also home to Emmy-winning “Star Wars” spinoff “The Mandalorian,” starring Pedro Pascal and a little guy dubbed Baby Yoda, which returns for Season 2 on October 30.

The GroupWatch feature is now live in the United States.