Disney chief executive officer and chairman Bob Iger has resigned from Apple’s board of directors as the streaming wars between the two companies begins to heat up. Apple announced the move today in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Iger resigned on September 10. Apple’s streaming service, Apple TV+, will launch November 1 and will cost $4.99 per month. Disney’s service, Disney+, will also launch in November and will cost $6.99 per month.
The Iger resignation had been expected, as Disney+ will be a major Apple TV+ competitor. Both services will offer original televisions shows and movies.
Iger commented back in April that he didn’t believe his seat on the Apple board was problematic, and that he would leave board meetings whenever the subject of streaming services came up. Iger first joined the Apple board back in 2011, a month following the death of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs.
In a statement to The New York Times, Iger said he had the utmost respect for Apple.
“I have the utmost respect for Tim Cook, his team at Apple and for my fellow board members. Apple is one of the world’s most admired companies, known for the quality and integrity of its products and its people, and I am forever grateful to have served as a member of the company’s board.”
Apple in a statement referred to Bob Iger as a friend.
“More than anything, Bob is our friend. He leads with his heart, and he has always been generous with his time and advice. While we will greatly miss his contributions as a board member, we respect his decision, and we have every expectation that our relationship with both Bob and Disney will continue far into the future.”