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.
History and development
On April 25, 2017, DC Universe was announced as an untitled service with original television programming, with its title announced a year later on May 2, 2018. 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, manages the service. On June 30, 2020, it was announced that DC Universe would be offering HBO Max at a discounted price of $4.99 a month to customers who wish to add the service to their monthly bill. However, this deal does not apply to those who already have HBO Max, as this is meant for people who are new to the service. The service's first slate of programming, Titans and , was revealed on April 25, 2017. On November 21 of the same year, a Harley Quinn half-hour animated series was announced for the service. On January 30, 2018, a Superman prequel series titled Metropolis was announced, focusing on Lois Lane and Lex Luthor. In May 2018, the live-action series Swamp Thing and Doom Patrol were announced, and Metropolis was being redeveloped. On July 19, a live-action Stargirl series was announced, which would also feature additional members of the Justice Society of America. A month later, the daily news programDC Daily was announced.
Availability
DC Universe launched in the U.S. on September 15, 2018, 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. Each subscription to DC Universe can be used on two devices at a time. Pre-orders for the streaming service became available starting on July 19, 2018, while an early beta-version was made available to select users in August 2018. 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. Meanwhile, several original shows from the service were acquired by Corus Entertainment, while Doom Patrol was acquired by Bell Media for its CTV Sci-Fi Channel. Titans is currently being distributed internationally on Netflix.
Content
Original programming
In development
Films and television series
At launch, the service included the four live-action Christopher ReeveSuperman films, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, animated television series', Static Shock, Young Justice, Teen Titans, Batman Beyond, ', and Justice League, live-action television series ' and Wonder Woman, the last remastered in high-definition, and animated films including ', , and Wonder Woman, among others. Content is updated on a monthly basis. In March 2019, the service added the 1970s live-action series Shazam!.
