WEATHER ALERT
Disney names Gorman to serve as next chairman; anticipates naming new CEO in early 2026
Read full article: Disney names Gorman to serve as next chairman; anticipates naming new CEO in early 2026The Walt Disney Co. is tapping Morgan Stanley executive James Gorman to serve as its next chairman, beginning early next year.
Disney names Gorman to chair its succession planning committee
Read full article: Disney names Gorman to chair its succession planning committeeThe Walt Disney Co. has tapped James Gorman to lead its succession planning committee as the entertainment company continues to work toward finding someone to take over the helm from Bob Iger.
Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett, Miley Cyrus and more honored as Disney Legends in emotional ceremony
Read full article: Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett, Miley Cyrus and more honored as Disney Legends in emotional ceremonyDisney has bestowed “legends” status on 14 artists who have shaped the company, including Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett and Miley Cyrus.
Disney thrills fans at D23 with 'Incredibles 3' announcement, footage from 'Moana 2'
Read full article: Disney thrills fans at D23 with 'Incredibles 3' announcement, footage from 'Moana 2'Disney used its D23 fan convention to tease upcoming movies and television series including “Moana 2,” “Incredibles 3” and the live-action “Snow White” in a rousing showcase Friday featuring sneak peaks, live performances and surprise appearances from actors.
Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger and journalist Willow Bay to become Angel City FC's new owners
Read full article: Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger and journalist Willow Bay to become Angel City FC's new ownersAngel City FC says Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger and Southern California dean for communication and journalism Willow Bay will be the new controlling owners of the National Women’s Soccer League team.
Disney's streaming business turns a profit in first financial report since challenge to Iger
Read full article: Disney's streaming business turns a profit in first financial report since challenge to IgerThe Walt Disney Co. moved to a loss in its second quarter, hampered by significantly higher restructuring and impairment charges, but its adjusted profit topped Wall Street’s view and its streaming business was profitable.
Disney reaches agreement with ValueAct, secures its support for company's board nominees
Read full article: Disney reaches agreement with ValueAct, secures its support for company's board nomineesDisney has a new ally in activist investor ValueAct Capital Management, garnering its support for the company’s board nominees as it continues to wage a proxy battle with Nelson Peltz.
Was 2023 a tipping point for movies? 'Barbie' success and Marvel struggles may signal a shift
Read full article: Was 2023 a tipping point for movies? 'Barbie' success and Marvel struggles may signal a shiftFor the first time in more than two decades, the top three movies at the box office this year didn't include a sequel or a remake.
Musk uses expletive to tell audience he doesn't care about advertisers that fled X over hate speech
Read full article: Musk uses expletive to tell audience he doesn't care about advertisers that fled X over hate speechBillionaire Elon Musk has said advertisers who have halted spending on his social media platform X in response to antisemitic and other hateful material are engaging in “blackmail.”.
Hollywood's strikes are over, but a painful industry-wide transition isn't
Read full article: Hollywood's strikes are over, but a painful industry-wide transition isn'tHollywood’s months of labor unrest are coming to an end, but the post-strike landscape that awaits actors and writers may be far from happy-ever-after.
Disney reports sharp profit growth in the fourth quarter; shares rise
Read full article: Disney reports sharp profit growth in the fourth quarter; shares riseWalt Disney Co. reported sharp profit growth for its fiscal fourth quarter, exceeding analyst expectations and sending its shares up more than 3% in after-hours trading.
Disney to acquire the remainder of Hulu from Comcast for roughly $8.6 billion
Read full article: Disney to acquire the remainder of Hulu from Comcast for roughly $8.6 billionWalt Disney Co. said it will acquire a 33% stake in Hulu from Comcast for approximately $8.6 billion, a deal that will give Disney full control of the streaming service.
Screenwriters wait to learn terms of deal with Hollywood studios to end historic strike
Read full article: Screenwriters wait to learn terms of deal with Hollywood studios to end historic strikeScreenwriters are waiting to learn what their five-month strike won and preparing for a possible return to work after their union reached an agreement with studio executives.
An end in sight? Striking writers and Hollywood studios spend second full day in negotiations
Read full article: An end in sight? Striking writers and Hollywood studios spend second full day in negotiationsHollywood studios and striking screenwriters have spent a second full day in talks that could potentially put an end to the nearly five-month dispute that has brought many film and television productions to a halt.
As actors restart talks and writers return to work, here are key players in the Hollywood strikes
Read full article: As actors restart talks and writers return to work, here are key players in the Hollywood strikesThe key players in the two strikes that brought Hollywood to a halt include little-known leaders, labor lawyers and entertainment tycoons.
Disney pouring $60 billion into theme parks, cruises over the next 10 years
Read full article: Disney pouring $60 billion into theme parks, cruises over the next 10 yearsThe Walt Disney Co. is planning to invest approximately $60 billion into its theme parks and cruise lines over the next decade, as the company looks to continue growing one of its more successful business segments.
Disney, Charter settle cable dispute hours before 'Monday Night Football' season opener
Read full article: Disney, Charter settle cable dispute hours before 'Monday Night Football' season openerDisney and Charter Communications announced a deal to settle a dispute that had cut some 15 million cable TV customers off from ESPN and other Disney-owned stations.
Disney to boost prices for ad-free Disney+ and Hulu services and vows crackdown on password sharing
Read full article: Disney to boost prices for ad-free Disney+ and Hulu services and vows crackdown on password sharingWalt Disney CEO Bob Iger vowed to make its streaming services profitable via a planned October price hike on its ad-free Disney+ and Hulu plans and a crackdown on password sharing expected to extend through next year.
Actor Max Greenfield urges studio CEOs to 'be the heroes' and make a deal in Hollywood strikes
Read full article: Actor Max Greenfield urges studio CEOs to 'be the heroes' and make a deal in Hollywood strikesThe co-star of the CBS sitcom “The Neighborhood” is urging the studios and their CEOs to return to the bargaining table two weeks into the Hollywood actors strike.
ESPN considers adding sports leagues as partners as it transitions from cable to digital
Read full article: ESPN considers adding sports leagues as partners as it transitions from cable to digitalESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro says the network could take on a sports league as a minority partner as the network continues its transition from a cable channel to a digital company.
Bryan Cranston, Jessica Chastain join star-studded Times Square rally of striking actors and writers
Read full article: Bryan Cranston, Jessica Chastain join star-studded Times Square rally of striking actors and writersSAG-AFTRA held its largest and most star-studded rally yet on Tuesday in Times Square.
Hollywood plunges into all-out war on the heels of pandemic and a streaming revolution
Read full article: Hollywood plunges into all-out war on the heels of pandemic and a streaming revolutionThree years after the pandemic brought Hollywood to a standstill, the film and TV industry has again ground to a halt.
Disney extends CEO Bob Iger’s contract 2 more years through 2026
Read full article: Disney extends CEO Bob Iger’s contract 2 more years through 2026Bob Iger will remain as CEO of The Walt Disney Co. through the end of 2026, agreeing to a two-year contract extension that will give the entertainment and theme park company some breathing room to find his successor.
Van Gundy, Kolber, Rose and Young are among roughly 20 ESPN personalities laid off
Read full article: Van Gundy, Kolber, Rose and Young are among roughly 20 ESPN personalities laid offJeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber, Jalen Rose and Steve Young are among roughly 20 ESPN commentators and reporters who were laid off on Friday as part of job cuts by the network.
Disney scraps plans for new Florida campus as fight with Gov. Ron DeSantis continues
Read full article: Disney scraps plans for new Florida campus as fight with Gov. Ron DeSantis continuesThe Walt Disney Co. says it's scrapping plans to build a new campus in central Florida and relocate 2,000 employees from Southern California to work in digital technology, finance and product development.
Disney CEO Bob Iger responds to DeSantis as company posts higher second-quarter earnings
Read full article: Disney CEO Bob Iger responds to DeSantis as company posts higher second-quarter earningsOngoing strength at its theme parks and an improving streaming business propelled The Walt Disney Co. to higher profits and revenue in its fiscal second quarter.
Disney updates lawsuit against DeSantis to add new events
Read full article: Disney updates lawsuit against DeSantis to add new eventsDisney has amended its free speech lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis to add recent developments in the tit-for-tat fight between the entertainment giant and the Florida governor.
Disney parks at the forefront after Iger’s return
Read full article: Disney parks at the forefront after Iger’s returnIt’s been six months since Bob Iger canceled his retirement and stepped back into the top role at Disney to right a number of perceived wrongs under his handpicked successor, with one hovering right near the top: reconnecting with the Disney theme park die-hards and restoring their faith in the brand.
Amid layoffs, Disney touts upcoming film slate at CinemaCon
Read full article: Amid layoffs, Disney touts upcoming film slate at CinemaConThe leadership team of the Walt Disney Company’s film arm gathered in Las Vegas Wednesday to tout its successes and upcoming slate of films to a crowd of theater owners and exhibitors amid a week of massive layoffs at the company.
Disney-DeSantis war of words heats up at annual meeting
Read full article: Disney-DeSantis war of words heats up at annual meetingDisney CEO Bob Iger on Monday said any retaliatory actions by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature against the company that threaten jobs or expansion at its Florida resort is not only “anti-business but anti-Florida.”
Disney-DeSantis war of words heats up at annual meeting
Read full article: Disney-DeSantis war of words heats up at annual meetingDisney CEO Bob Iger has said any retaliatory actions by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature against the company that threaten jobs or expansion at its Florida resort is not only “anti-business.
Peltz, citing changes at Disney, ends push for set on board
Read full article: Peltz, citing changes at Disney, ends push for set on boardActivist investor Nelson Peltz is calling off a proxy fight with Disney one day after newly returned CEO Bob Iger announced a major restructuring of the company that includes thousands of job cuts.
Disney faces proxy fight as Peltz pushes to join board
Read full article: Disney faces proxy fight as Peltz pushes to join boardActivist investor Nelson Peltz is fighting for a seat on the board of Walt Disney Co., claiming that the theme park and media company is struggling with self-inflicted problems.
Iger back on top in a Disney plot twist that few saw coming
Read full article: Iger back on top in a Disney plot twist that few saw comingBob Iger, the enterprising entertainment executive who brought Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel under the Disney marquee and challenged the streaming dominance of Netflix, will replace his handpicked successor, CEO Bob Chapek, whose two-year tenure has been marked by clashes, missteps and a weakening financial performance.
Steve Pagliuca's bid for Chelsea adds more sports executives
Read full article: Steve Pagliuca's bid for Chelsea adds more sports executivesThe bid for Chelsea launched by Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca has added Canadian sports tycoon Larry Tanenbaum ahead of Thursday’s expected deadline for improved offers for the Premier League club.
Alan Horn, longtime film executive, to retire from Disney
Read full article: Alan Horn, longtime film executive, to retire from DisneyAlan Horn, the film executive who helped turn Walt Disney Studios into the most powerful movie studios in Hollywood and whose 50-year career has touched films from from “When Harry Met Sally.
Academy Museum to honor Sophia Loren, Haile Gerima at gala
Read full article: Academy Museum to honor Sophia Loren, Haile Gerima at galaDirector Haile Gerima appears at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sept. 2, 2008, left, and Sophia Loren arrives at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles on Oct. 27, 2019. Loren and independent filmmaker Haile Gerima will be honored with special awards by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. (Photos by Andrew Medichini/AP, left, and Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is assembling a star-studded cast for its opening gala in September. Italian screen legend Sophia Loren and independent filmmaker Haile Gerima will be honored with special awards, and Tom Hanks, Annette Bening and Bob Iger are being saluted for their efforts to raise $388 million for the long gestating museum, the organization said Monday. Designed by architect Renzo Piano, The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is located at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in the historic Saban Building.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos may step down without stepping away
Read full article: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos may step down without stepping awayAmazon announced Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, that Jeff Bezos would step down as CEO later in the year, leaving a role he's had since founding the company nearly 30 years ago. Amazon says Bezos will be replaced in the summer by Jassy, who runs Amazon's cloud business. (Isaac Brekken/AP Images for NFL, File)Even after stepping aside as CEO, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will likely keep identifying new frontiers for the world's dominant e-commerce company. Tuesday's announcement that Bezos will hand off the CEO job this summer came as a surprise. “Being the CEO of Amazon is a deep responsibility, and it’s consuming," Bezos wrote.
Kingdom of Wakanda destined for Disney + streaming service
Read full article: Kingdom of Wakanda destined for Disney + streaming serviceDisney on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, announced a five-year exclusive TV deal with Cooglers Proximity Media company that includes development of a series based in the Kingdom of Wakanda from Cooglers Black Panther blockbuster. (Photo by Phil McCarten/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES – The Kingdom of Wakanda is staking out turf on the Disney + streaming service. A TV series set in the “Black Panther” kingdom will be developed as part of a five-year, exclusive television deal the Walt Disney Co. announced Monday with filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media company. Coogler wrote and directed 2018’s “Black Panther,” a box-office hit that turned Chadwick Boseman into a superstar. The Black Panther character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for Marvel Comics, which became part of Disney in 2009 when the media giant acquired Marvel Entertainment.
The pandemic is changing Hollywood, maybe forever
Read full article: The pandemic is changing Hollywood, maybe foreverThis combination photo shows Gal Gadot in a scene from the Warner Bros. Pictures film "Wonder Woman 1984," left, and Yifei Liu in a scene from Disney's "Mulan." A century later, during another pandemic, movies — quotes no longer necessary — are again facing a critical juncture. By streaming service, video-on-demand, virtual theater or actual theater, a steady diet of films have been released under COVID-19 every week. Yet until recently — with only a few exceptions — those haven’t been the big-budget spectacles Hollywood runs on. “Wonder Woman 1984” and “Soul” are essentially very expensive advertisements for those streaming services.
Film Academy Museum completes pre-fundraising goal
Read full article: Film Academy Museum completes pre-fundraising goalAfter 8 years and 13,000 donors including the likes of Barbra Streisand and Steven Spielberg, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has reached and exceeded its pre-fundraising goal. Academy Museum director and president Bill Kramer said Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, that the new museum has raised $388 million. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)It took eight years and 13,000 donors including the likes of Barbra Streisand and Steven Spielberg, but the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has reached and exceeded its pre-fundraising goal. Academy Museum director and president Bill Kramer said Friday that the new museum has raised $388 million. Located in Los Angeles at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, the Academy Museum is set to open on April 30, five days after the 93rd Academy Awards.
California wavers on theme park opening rules amid pressure
Read full article: California wavers on theme park opening rules amid pressureBut following industry criticism of the proposed rules, state health officials said no announcement was coming Friday as negotiations continue. Amusement park leaders saw a draft of the new rules Thursday and urged state officials to change them, said Erin Guerrero, executive director of the California Attractions and Parks Association. A Disney official said there have been no major reported outbreaks in Florida associated with the company’s theme parks and declined to say whether any cases have occurred there. Ian Henderson, a spokesman for Steel’s office, said county health officials have worked closely with Disney to prepare for the reopening of its parks. ___Taxin reported from Orange County, California.
Chadwick Boseman, who embodied Black icons, dies of cancer
Read full article: Chadwick Boseman, who embodied Black icons, dies of cancerFILE - In this March 4, 2018 file photo, Chadwick Boseman arrives at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Actor Chadwick Boseman, who played Black icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown before finding fame as the regal Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic universe, has died of cancer. When the former playwright suited up as Black Panther, he brought cool intellectual gravitas to the Marvel superhero whose Wakanda forever! salute reverberated worldwide. You dont have the same exact experience as a Black actor as you do as a white actor. Before an auditorium full of actors, Chadwick Boseman stepped to the microphone.
CEO pay has topped $12.3M. Can it keep rising post-pandemic?
Read full article: CEO pay has topped $12.3M. Can it keep rising post-pandemic?The 4.1% rise in median pay was a slowdown for S&P 500 CEOs, who had seen their pay jump 7.2% the year before and by even more in earlier years. SAY ON PAYThe slowdown in CEO pay across the S&P 500 is partly due to the increased voice investors have gotten on the subject, shareholder advocates say. The S&P 500 lost as much as a third of its value earlier this year, when worries about the recession were at their peak. Corporate profits, another key measure for CEO pay, are also expected to crater. Across the S&P 500, earnings per share will likely sink 33% this year, strategists at Goldman Sachs say.
AMDS Su, Discoverys Zaslav among highest paid CEOs
Read full article: AMDS Su, Discoverys Zaslav among highest paid CEOsChange from last year: 338%Her pay vs typical company worker: 604 times, up from 165Overall ranking: No. Virginia M. RomettyIBM$19.1 millionChange from last year: 9%Her pay vs typical company worker: 354 times, up from 319Overall ranking: 57___5. David ZaslavDiscovery$45.8 millionChange from last year: -65%His pay vs typical company worker: 578 times, down from 1,511Overall ranking: No. Shantanu NarayenAdobe Inc.$39.1 millionChange from last year: 38%His pay vs typical company worker: 266 times, up from 200Overall ranking: No. Larry J. MerloCVS Health$36.5 millionChange from last year: 66%His pay vs typical company worker: 790 times, up from 618Overall ranking: No.
Video app TikTok names top Disney streaming exec as new CEO
Read full article: Video app TikTok names top Disney streaming exec as new CEOTikTok's app features short videos, many with music and dancing, that has become a favorite of younger people and is known for its goofy, light-hearted feel. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, file)TikTok, the popular short-video app that has also drawn national-security and privacy concerns, has a new high-profile CEO from Disney, Kevin Mayer. Mayer will also be chief operating officer of TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and report to its founder and CEO, Yiming Zhang, the company announced Monday. TikTok's app features short videos, many with music and dancing, that has become a favorite of younger people and is known for its goofy, light-hearted feel. He leaves Disney a few months after the entertainment giant named a longtime executive , Bob Chapek, to replace the well-regarded CEO Bob Iger.
Disney heiress on 'OK boomer': Let the kids drive
Read full article: Disney heiress on 'OK boomer': Let the kids drive(CNN) - Abigail Disney has a message for fellow Baby Boomers offended by the "OK boomer" trend: "How about you guys sit the [expletive] down and let the kids drive." In a blunt Twitter thread, the 59-year-old Disney heiress criticized members of her generation for opposing young people's "understandable resentment" toward them and asked, "When did you get so easily triggered?" "Get over the idea that all things pass, you are old and you need to let history do what history does: move on." "OK boomer," the quip popularized by teens on TikTok, has unleashed generational warfare between members of Gen Z and Baby Boomers. Though she's private about her inheritance, Disney said she's given away more than $70 million of her fortune since turning 21.
Disney CEO Bob Iger ready for risky Disney+ launch on Nov. 12
Read full article: Disney CEO Bob Iger ready for risky Disney+ launch on Nov. 12Disney+, Disney's much-anticipated streaming service, released an enormous lineup of "basically everything" that the service will offer once it launches in November. But all of that may not mean as much if Disney+, the company's upcoming streaming service, isn't a hit. For Iger, Disney+ will likely be the capstone on an illustrious career. In fact, Iger believes the 2017 announcement of Disney+ "marked the beginning of the reinvention of the Walt Disney Company." Or is it too little, too late for Disney and arguably the rest of legacy media to catch up?
Tom Holland called CEO of Disney and told him to save Spider-Man
Read full article: Tom Holland called CEO of Disney and told him to save Spider-Man(CNN) - Tom Holland isn't just a superhero on screen. Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed Friday in an interview with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel that Holland, who plays Spider-Man in the Marvel movies, personally called and asked him to fix the Spider-Man deal with Sony -- basically saving this iteration of the franchise. Disney, which owns Marvel, and Sony had an agreement that allowed the character to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was clear that the fans wanted Tom back as Spider-Man, made by Marvel and our Marvel production team," he said. "We spoke, and he basically made a -- he cried on the phone," Iger said, laughing before revealing the truth.
Bob Iger steps down from Apple's board as Disney becomes a competitor
Read full article: Bob Iger steps down from Apple's board as Disney becomes a competitorChip Somodevilla/Getty Images(CNN) - Disney CEO Bob Iger resigned from Apple's board of directors Friday, just as the two companies are becoming streaming media competitors. It will cost $4.99 a month, $2 less than Disney's soon-to-be-released Disney+ streaming product. Apple's board was previously eyed by the Federal Trade Commission for its ties to competitors. Iger had served on Apple's board since November 2011, a month after former Apple CEO Steve Jobs died. Iger was paid $125,000 in salary and $250,000 in stock to serve on Apple's board.
Disney donating more than $1 million to Bahamas
Read full article: Disney donating more than $1 million to BahamasCopyright 2019 CNN(CNN) - The Walt Disney Company is donating more than $1 million to the Bahamas in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. The donation has been led by the Disney Cruise line, which has several ties to the area. Disney owns a private island in the Bahamas called Castaway Cay, and according to the statement, employs native Bahamians in many of its area attractions and resorts. While parts of Florida have so far avoided the brunt of Hurricane Dorian's full force, the Bahamas has not been so lucky. Meanwhile, Walt Disney World in Orlando has remained open as more coastal and southern parts of Florida have braced for impact.
'Star Wars': Galaxy's Edge could be the most immersive land Disney has ever built
Read full article: 'Star Wars': Galaxy's Edge could be the most immersive land Disney has ever builtORLANDO, Fla. - Disney CEO Bob Iger first announced at the D23 Expo on Aug. 15, 2015, that the company would build a "Star Wars"-themed land. You could be sitting on big bucks | A beginners guide to 'Star Wars': Galaxy's Edge | Sensory-friendly Disney: Park offers pass to those unable to wait in line ]"Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" will take you to a planet far beyond our solar system. Located on the edge of the galaxy's Outer Rim Territories, you'll find the planet of Batuu. As you enter the land and make your way toward Batuu, you'll pass rebellion ships with a busy town in the distance. This land is seriously going to be in contention when it comes down to the most immersive one Disney has ever built.
Disney to remake 'Home Alone' for its streaming service
Read full article: Disney to remake 'Home Alone' for its streaming serviceDisney CEO Bob Iger said "Home Alone" would be "reimagined" for its Disney+ service, along with "Night at the Museum," "Cheaper by the Dozen" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." (CNN) - Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal -- a Disney remake of "Home Alone" is on its way. In a conference call with investors, Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company would be "reimagining" the 1990s Christmas classic film for its long-awaited streaming service, Disney+, along with "Night at the Museum," "Cheaper by the Dozen" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." Disney has provided no details about how or when the film will be remade, or who will be cast. In April, the company unveiled its Disney+ streaming service, which will launch in North America in November.
Abigail Disney visits Disneyland undercover after worker complaints
Read full article: Abigail Disney visits Disneyland undercover after worker complaintsDisneyland calls itself "The Happiest Place on Earth," but family heiress Abigail Disney said she found workers struggling when she recently visited the park undercover. (CNN) - Disneyland calls itself "The Happiest Place on Earth," but family heiress Abigail Disney said she found workers struggling when she recently visited the park undercover. In an interview with Yahoo this week, Abigail Disney said she decided to check out Disneyland's worker conditions after a worker sent her a Facebook message. Abigail Disney has frequently spoken out about Iger's salary. In May, Abigail Disney addressed Congress on Capitol Hill.