Arabic version: الرئيس التنفيذي لديزني دامارو يسلّط الضوء على المتنزهات والبث وESPN
According to Cnbc, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro said the company’s parks division was a “big surprise” in the last quarter, while describing greater “clarity” and “stability” inside Disney during his first months in the role. D’Amaro became CEO in March, succeeding Bob Iger after a closely watched succession race.
Speaking with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin on Friday at Disney’s annual D23 expo, D’Amaro said Disney was delivering on its commitments and that he felt positive nearly six months into the job. He also acknowledged dissatisfaction with Disney’s stock price, saying neither he nor investors were happy with its level, while arguing the company was in a strong position relative to the entertainment industry. Disney shares were down more than 8% over the prior 12 months.
D’Amaro pointed to parks and streaming as core growth areas. Disney’s latest quarterly results showed strength in both businesses, and Wall Street appeared pleased by growth in the theme-park segment despite macroeconomic uncertainty for consumers. He said Disney was not immune to pressures affecting theme parks, but said the company could respond if necessary and expected further investment in its destinations.
On streaming, D’Amaro said Disney+ had substantial and growing international scale, while identifying room for further expansion. He described a possible free, ad-supported offering as a “front porch” that could bring viewers into Disney+ before they become subscribers. He also outlined an opportunity to connect viewing and shopping through a seamless consumer experience that brings more Disney business elements together on one platform.
D’Amaro said he was not interested in spinning off ESPN, citing Disney’s sports rights, sports fandom and strong ratings. He also said Disney was not considering major corporate moves like those pursued by some media peers. Addressing scrutiny of Disney’s ABC network and its broadcast licenses, he said the company’s position was clear and that Disney would stand up for journalistic integrity.
