As part of its ongoing cost-cutting strategy, Disney removed The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers from Disney+ worldwide as of May 27.
It was announced that the series was canceled after two seasons in February 2023.
Set in present day Minnesota, the Mighty Ducks have evolved from scrappy underdogs to an ultra-competitive, powerhouse youth hockey team. After 12-year-old Evan Morrow (Brady Noon) is unceremoniously cut from the Ducks, he and his mom, Alex (Lauren Graham), set out to build their own team of misfits to challenge the cutthroat, win-at-all-costs culture of youth sports today. With the help of Gordon Bombay, they rediscover the joys of playing just for love of the game.
Why Was ‘Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’ Removed From Disney Plus?
Disney decided to remove ‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’ from Disney+ because of its low viewership. The company didn’t see the cost of maintaining the show as justified, particularly while it’s aiming to save $5 billion through cost-cutting measures.
Disney still bears ongoing costs to keep shows like ‘Game Changers’ on Disney+. By eliminating certain titles, Disney can save money, as it no longer needs to make residual payments and pay licensing fees.
Additionally, removing content also opens up opportunities for Disney to establish licensing agreements for these shows with other companies, like Netflix or HBO, which could generate additional revenue.
Will Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Come Back To Disney Plus?
Due to a content impairment charge that Disney has implemented, which serves as a write-off for tax purposes, ‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’ is unable to return to Disney+.
Once the impairment period ends, Disney technically has the option to reintroduce The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers to Disney+. However, given that Disney has deemed the ongoing costs of maintaining the title on Disney+ as not worthwhile, the possibility of such a return is extremely low.
Where To Watch The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers
Currently, there are no alternative streaming platforms or purchase options available for The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.
Disney’s decision to remove content parallels a preceding action by Warner Bros. Discovery, headed by David Zaslav, which also pulled a selection of titles from HBO Max. The company subsequently granted Roku and Tubi the rights to many of these shows through a number of licensing agreements, thereby further monetizing programming that had previously failed to achieve expected success.
It’s unclear whether Disney will license the show to another streaming service, as that would depend on the interest of other platforms. However, it’s certainly a possibility that Disney will follow a similar path to Warner.
Similarly, there’s uncertainty about if or when Disney might offer The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers for digital purchase.
If and when The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers is made available either or another streaming service or available to purchase, we’ll be sure to update this article.
What Other Titles Have Been Removed From Disney Plus?
Disney has pulled over 100 titles in total from Disney+ shows such as Willow, Turner & Hooch, Big Shot, Just Beyond, Diary of a Future President, The Mysterious Benedict Society, and The World According To Jeff Goldblum, and many more.
You can see the full list of removals right here.
Darn you, Disney! Did I miss a warning about dropping Mighty Ducks Game Changers? We had one more show to finish Season 2, and now we’ll never know how it ends.
Ridiculous Disney! I loved that show!
Ughhh!!! My son and I were watching a couple episodes a day after he got home from school. Things came up in between. We just went to finish up the last couple episodes we needed to finish and now we can’t. He looked forward to this bonding time with me. Now the utter disappointment on his face that this show was pulled without warning is heartbreaking.
I liked that show re add it!
I at least got to finish it unlike you people I watched it at least 1 million times over and over again. That was one of my favorite shows please bring it back Disney my dad, my brother pretty much my whole family watched it with me. We loved it please bring it back. Come on Disney.