DISNEY HAS A GREAT QUARTER — EXCEPT FOR ABC

Overall, Disney had a spectacular second quarter with net income soaring 32 percent. But conspicuously absent from the celebration was the company’s ABC television network, which finished the quarter dead last among the key 18-49 age group. Not only did the company take a hit from lower ratings — and a commensurate drop in ad […]

DISNEY PROFITS DIP — BUT NOT AS BADLY AS EXPECTED

The Walt Disney Co. on Tuesday reported a 6-percent dip in profits to $1.38 billion for its first quarter, down from $1.46 billion during the year-ago period. Analysts had predicted a somewhat steeper decline. Disney blamed it principally on lower revenue from home-video titles and on $321 million in charges related to a lawsuit brought […]

“STANDALONE” STAR WARS EPISODES IN THE WORKS

It was something for Yoda to ponder deeply: In addition to Star Wars episodes VII, VIII, and IX there will be “a few” stand-alone films that will depart from the overall story line. Walt Disney chairman Robert Iger made the disclosure Tuesday during an interview on business channel CNBC. “There has been speculation about some […]

DISNEY BUYS LUCASFILM; MORE STAR WARS MOVIES COMING

In an announcement that surprised — if not astonished — the movie industry, the Walt Disney Co. announced today (Tuesday) that it has acquired George Lucas’s Lucasfilm LTD in a stock-and-cash deal worth $4.05 billion. The deal calls for the unit, which will be headed by longtime Lucas collaborator Kathleen Kennedy, to roll out at […]

DISNEY LATEST TO JOIN BAN-THE-SUGAR-AND-FAT LEAGUE

Disney chief Robert Iger has unveiled what it calls “Magic of Healthy Living” guidelines to be applied to all of its broadcast and cable programs. In effect, the guidelines will bar makers of sugary and fat-laden products from buying ads on Disney programs. However, the ban does not take effect until 2015. Several companies that […]

DISNEY HIRES HOLLYWOOD VETERAN HORN TO RUN STUDIO

Former Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox president Alan Horn has been named chairman of Walt Disney Studios, succeeding ousted boss Rich Ross. In a statement, Disney CEO Robert Iger said that Horn has “earned the respect of the industry for driving tremendous, sustained creative and financial success, and is also known and admired for […]

JOHN CARTER BOMB CLAIMS DISNEY STUDIO CHIEF

Disney Studios chief Rich Ross has been ousted following the failure of John Carter, regarded as the costliest flop in Hollywood history. The studio plans to take a $200-million write off on the picture. Although not referring directly to the damage that occurred on his watch, Ross did acknowledge in his letter of resignation, “I […]

DISNEY CFO DUCKS QUESTION ABOUT POSSIBLE CARTER WRITE-OFF

Disney’s chief financial officer is unwilling to join the speculation about how costly John Carter will be to the studio if it bombs as badly as most analysts expect. With numerous predictions that Disney will take a $100-150-million writeoff on the movie (it reportedly cost $250-300 million to produce and market and will therefore need […]

DISNEY SHAREHOLDERS MEET FOLLOWING CARTER DISASTER

Disney shareholders are holding their annual meeting in Kansas City, MO today (Tuesday), just days after the studio suffered one of the worst box-office disasters in history. Analysts said that the company could face a write-off of $100-150 million for John Carter, which reportedly cost more than $350 million to produce and market but which […]

DISNEY’S IGER JOINS APPLE’S BOARD

Cementing the strong bond between the Walt Disney Company and Apple Computer, Apple named Disney chief Robert Iger to its board on Tuesday. At the time of his death, Apple’s Steve Jobs was an outspoken member of Disney’s board — and also the company’s largest stockholder, the result of a bold move by Iger in […]

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