Hey everybody, welcome back to the Elon Musk Podcast.
This is a show where we discuss the critical crossroads that
shape SpaceX, Tesla X, The Boring Company, and Neuralink.
I'm your host Will Walden. Tesla has seemingly removed
Disney Plus from its in car entertainment options.
This development follows a recent public spat between Tesla
CEO Elon Musk and Disney's own Bob Iger, raising questions
about the motives behind this decision.
Tesla owners recently reported the absence of Disney Plus from
Cars theater app Now. This change left other streaming
services like YouTube, Netflix and also Twitch untouched,
highlighting Disney Plus's specific exclusion.
Now, this incident isn't isolated, though.
It comes in the wake of several major companies, including
Apple, IBM, and Walmart, pulling their advertisements from Musk's
social media platform Ex, formerly known as Twitter.
And Disney's decision to join this group seems to have
possibly escalated tensions between Tesla and Disney.
Now, the removal of Disney Plus from Tesla vehicles appears to
be more than just a technical update.
It suggests A retaliatory move by Tesla, potentially in
response to Disney's advertising pullback.
This action could signify a new phase in the relationship
between these two iconic brands. Now, Disney Plus was integrated
into Tesla's entertainment system in 2021, and its removal
could inconvenience many, particularly parents who relied
on the service to entertain their children during car trips.
The impact of this decision may extend beyond mere
inconvenience, though. There's a potential for a
decline in Disney Plus subscriptions, as some parents
might cancel the service if their primary use was in test
the vehicles. Others might drop the
subscription out of loyalty to Tesla and also to Elon Musk.
And for those still keen on using Disney Plus, a workaround
exists. The whole Mars blog, a prominent
voice in the Tesla community, and an ex formerly known as
Twitter demonstrated that Disney Plus can still be accessed via
the Tesla browser, although it's in a less integrated manner now.
Tesla's move carries a significant message, though
Musk's recent criticisms of Bob Iger, including a controversial
remark about Walt Disney, under score the tensions between the
two executives. The latest action might be seen
as a direct challenge to Iger's leadership, and reports first
emerged from Tesla Rati, noting the disappearance of Disney Plus
from Tesla's interface. Now Tesla later clarified that
the Disney Plus icon was removed only for users who hadn't
accessed it, but this explanation has done little to
quell speculation about the underlying reasons.
Now the Musk Iger feud has been public and also very abrasive.
Musk's harsh words towards advertisers withdrawing from X,
including a direct insult aimed at Iger, have only fueled the
fire. And this ongoing drama has cast
a shadow over both Tesla's and Disney's corporate strategies.
The public reaction to Tesla's decision has been pretty mixed.
Notable response came from a Tesla owner and influencer known
as the Tesla Hoe, the hottest owner's experience, and she
criticized the move, highlighting the inconvenience
it poses to Tesla owners, especially parents.
The Tesla Ho's comments on social media platform X garnered
significant attention. She expressed disappointment in
both Musk's and Iger's actions, perceiving them as petty and
detrimental to customers. Now, her criticism reflects a
broader sentiment amongst some other Tesla owners.
And despite the initial backlash, the Tesla Ho later
posted a more positive spin on the situation, suggesting that
the removal of Disney Plus might actually encourage more family
interaction during car rides. Now this change in tone reflects
the complex reactions among Tesla's own user community.
Now the true reason behind Tesla's removal of Disney Plus
remains very unclear. Whether it's a direct result of
Musk feud with Eiger or strategic decision with
different motivations, the actions have certainly sparked
debate and speculation. And the situation highlights
Musk's reputation for being unpredictable and often
controversial. And his decision making is
sometimes way out there. And his actions, while sometimes
seen as innovative, can also be perceived as impulsive or driven
by personal vendettas. Now this development between
Tesla and Disney is a new chapter in the ongoing narrative
of tech companies and entertainment giants.
They have to work symbiotically. They have to work together, and
it illustrates how corporate decisions can have immediate and
tangible impacts on consumer experience and market dynamics.
The removal of Disney Plus from Tesla vehicles is pretty huge,
and it also reflects the contentious interactions between
major corporations and their leaders.
The consequences for both of these companies, customer
relations and the tech companies working with entertainment
companies. It's a mix up that may be able
to be fixed if they can all get along.
Thank you for tuning into the show of the day.
I really do appreciate your support.
If you could take a second and hit the subscribe or the follow
button on whatever podcast platform that you're listening
on right now, I greatly appreciate it.
It helps out the show tremendously and you'll never
miss an episode and each episode is about 10 minutes or less to
get you caught up quickly. And please, if you want to
support the show even more, go to patreon.com/stagezero.
Please take care of yourselves and each other and I'll see you
tomorrow.