Verizon offers free year of Disney Plus in swipe at Netflix

Verizon is offering new and current customers a free year of Disney's new video streaming service.

The offer is worth nearly $84, based on $6.99 monthly subscription fee for the Disney Plus service, which debuts Nov. 12. It extends to certain new and existing unlimited 4G and 5G customers at Verizon, as well as the vast majority of new home-internet customers.

The promotion will potentially give millions of people free access to a highly anticipated streaming service that will feature acclaimed films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and popular TV series, such as "The Simpsons."

Disney Plus plans to release more than 25 original series and 10 original films and documentaries in its first year, including a remake of "Lady and the Tramp."

The promotion is the latest volley in an escalating attack on Netflix, which has amassed 158 million subscribers since launching its streaming service 12 years ago.