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Dana Walden

All articles tagged with #dana walden

media10 days ago•27 min saved

Disney Execs Dodge Kimmel Renewal Amid Late-Night Budget Crisis

Disney President Dana Walden declined to confirm Jimmy Kimmel’s future at ABC, citing the 'challenging' economics of late-night television. Although Kimmel’s ratings have risen, the overall broadcast audience has shrunk, forcing Disney to balance its partnership with the host against significant budget pressures. Kimmel’s current contract expires in May 2027, and while ABC previously denied reports of the show’s end, Disney is currently negotiating to reduce production costs to ensure financial viability.

via New York Post|

#abc #dana-walden #disney

tv-business11 days ago•14 min saved

Disney’s Walden Confirms Ongoing Negotiations for Kimmel’s Future Amid Budget Pressures

Disney’s Dana Walden confirmed at the Bloomberg Screentime event that negotiations for Jimmy Kimmel’s future are ongoing but described the late-night daypart as 'challenging.' While Kimmel’s ratings have risen, the overall broadcast audience has shrunk, forcing Disney to balance its 'deep partnership' with the host against the need for significant budget cuts to keep the show financially viable. Kimmel’s current contract expires in May 2027.

via The Hollywood Reporter|

#contract-negotiations #dana-walden #disney

tv11 days ago•16 min saved

Walden Confirms Ongoing Kimmel Talks Amid Late-Night Financial Strain

Disney President Dana Walden confirmed at the Bloomberg Screentime event that negotiations for Jimmy Kimmel's future are ongoing but unresolved. She cited shrinking broadcast audiences and high production costs as primary obstacles, noting that while Kimmel's ratings have risen, they do not offset the financial burden of the format. Walden emphasized the need to balance business viability with their long-standing partnership, while also addressing the poor box office performance of the live-action 'Moana' and recent corporate layoffs.

via Variety|

#bloomberg-screentime #dana-walden #disney

business11 days ago•13 min saved

Walden Defends Disney’s Latest Cuts as 'One Disney' Strategy Deepens

Dana Walden, President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company, addressed the latest round of layoffs at the Bloomberg Screentime conference, describing the cuts as 'extremely painful' but necessary for survival. The company recently eliminated approximately 300 positions, primarily in human resources and technology, marking the latest reduction in a series of cost-cutting measures under CEO Josh D'Amaro. Walden emphasized that Disney is consolidating its various acquired businesses into a unified structure to improve agility and decision-making speed, rather than pursuing aggressive efficiency targets like tech competitors. She stated that technology has targeted the media business, forcing Disney to adapt to remain competitive. This move follows earlier layoffs in April and July, as well as a voluntary early retirement program for executives, all part of the 'One Disney' strategy aimed at streamlining operations amid declining box office revenue and rising streaming competition.

via Deadline|

#business #dana-walden #disney

tv-business11 days ago•15 min saved

Disney Execs Cite Shrinking Late-Night Audiences as Kimmel Deal Stalls

Jimmy Kimmel has not yet signed a new contract with Disney, with his current deal expiring in May 2027. Dana Walden, President and Chief Creative Officer of the Walt Disney Company, explained at the Bloomberg Screentime event that while Kimmel’s ratings have risen, the overall late-night audience has shrunk significantly. Disney is currently negotiating to reduce production costs to make the show financially viable, balancing business constraints with their long-standing partnership. Kimmel has previously argued that late-night shows do not need to cost $120 million, suggesting that cost-cutting measures could sustain the format. The negotiations remain ongoing as both parties seek a solution that honors their relationship while addressing the changing economics of broadcast television.

via Deadline|

#abc #dana-walden #disney

business25 days ago•13 min saved

Disney Consolidates Streaming Leadership Under Adam Smith as Joe Earley Shifts to TV Strategy

Disney has restructured its direct-to-consumer (DTC) division, appointing Adam Smith as the sole Chairman of DTC and moving Joe Earley to a new role in television. This consolidation follows a six-month period of co-leadership and aligns with CEO Josh D'Amaro's strategy to make Disney+ the central hub for the company's entertainment ecosystem. The changes also include Eric Schrier stepping down from his DTC role to pursue a producing deal, reflecting a broader push for operational efficiency and productivity across the company.

via Deadline|

#adam-smith #business #dana-walden

business6 months ago•23 min saved

Disney’s Next Chapter: D’Amaro Takes the Helm as Iger Steps Down

Disney is transitioning to a new leadership era as Josh D’Amaro succeeds Bob Iger, capping Iger’s two-decade tenure with marquee deals (Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox) and global expansion; Iger’s farewell remarks at the shareholder meeting set the stage for D’Amaro and Walden to steer a refreshed strategy—strong creative, profitable streaming, ESPN’s digital future, and enhanced experiences—while Iger pursues an advisory/investor role rather than an operator position.

via The Hollywood Reporter|

#bob-iger #business #dana-walden

business7 months ago•21 min saved

Walden Unveils Disney Entertainment Leadership Structure Across Film, TV and Games

Disney Entertainment’s leadership is being reorganized under Dana Walden, expanding her remit to Games and Digital Entertainment and unifying film, TV, streaming, and games under one leadership structure as Josh D’Amaro becomes CEO. Key changes include Debra O’Connell as Chairman of Disney Entertainment Television; Alan Bergman continuing as Chairman; Joe Earley and Adam Smith as Co-Presidents of Direct-to-Consumer; Sean Shoptaw moving to Games and Digital Entertainment; Eric Schrier reporting to Earley; and Asad Ayaz remaining Chief Marketing & Brand Officer, all aimed at closer collaboration across Disney’s creative businesses.

via Deadline|

#business #dana-walden #debra-oconnell

business8 months ago•3 min saved

Disney Sets Course for Leadership Shift as D’Amaro Steps Toward CEO Role

Outgoing Disney CEO Bob Iger and incoming CEO-to-be Josh D’Amaro were photographed at Disneyland as Iger announced D’Amaro’s forthcoming appointment; D’Amaro will become CEO at the March 18, 2026 annual meeting, with a director appointment following, while Dana Walden was named President & Chief Creative Officer. D’Amaro has led Disney Experiences and overseen the company’s parks, resorts, and cruise operations among other units during a long tenure.

via WDW News Today|

#bob-iger #business #dana-walden

business8 months ago•18 min saved

Disney's Next Chief Steps Into the Spotlight as Iger, Walden Watch

Disney’s incoming CEO Josh D’Amaro, joined by Dana Walden and outgoing chief Bob Iger, addressed a company town hall in Burbank, praising the transition process and sharing optimism for the company’s future. D’Amaro lauded the support from Iger and Walden, recalled a notable moment with Walden at Disney World, and noted his intent to honor Disney’s legacy while pushing for growth across streaming, films, ESPN direct‑to‑consumer, and global experiences. Iger praised the leadership bench and D’Amaro’s energy and creativity. Walden was promoted to President and Chief Creative Officer, with Iger staying on as strategic advisor until 2026, and D’Amaro set to take the reins on March 18, marking Disney’s third CEO transition in six years.

via Deadline|

#bob-iger #business #dana-walden

business8 months ago•19 min saved

Disney’s Executive Duo Gets a New Script: D’Amaro to CEO Path, Walden Expands Creative Command

Disney is reshaping its leadership: Josh D’Amaro is positioned to report to Bob Iger as the future CEO, while Dana Walden takes a broadened role as president and chief creative officer overseeing Disney’s TV/film studios and streaming (excluding ESPN). Walden will also act as a close advisor to D’Amaro, signaling a two-pronged approach to run Disney’s entertainment and experiences, with a focus on guiding production, streaming profitability, and navigating industry disruption as the company balances parks, media, and new technologies.

via Variety|

#business #dana-walden #disney

business8 months ago•21 min saved

Walden Elevated to Lead Disney’s Creative Engine Across Film and TV

Dana Walden was named Disney’s President and Chief Creative Officer, expanding her oversight to Disney Entertainment (film and TV) as well as Hulu, Disney+, and TWDC Marketing, with Alan Bergman now reporting to her and the role reporting to Josh D’Amaro. The move cements Walden as a leading candidate to succeed Bob Iger, reflecting a rare two-executive approach to Disney’s leadership while linking TV and film under one creative leadership umbrella based on her long track record at Disney and Fox.

via Deadline|

#business #creative-leadership #dana-walden

business8 months ago•23 min saved

Disney Reshapes Leadership: Josh D'Amaro Named CEO as Walden Expands Creative Power

Disney's board unanimously named Josh D'Amaro, the parks chief, as CEO, with Dana Walden promoted to president and chief creative officer to oversee creative strategy; Bob Iger will remain an advisor through 2026. The move pairs D'Amaro's operations-focused background with Walden's Hollywood clout, ending a drawn-out succession process and aiming to balance brand stewardship with content leadership as Disney navigates streaming, film, and theme parks. D'Amaro's initial compensation is about $38 million and Walden's about $24 million.

via Variety|

#bob-iger #business #dana-walden

business8 months ago•16 min saved

Peltz claims Iger steered D'Amaro rise to keep Disney power

Activist investor Nelson Peltz claims Bob Iger manipulated Disney’s CEO succession to keep influence, saying Iger backed Josh D’Amaro over Dana Walden so he would have a reason to stay on after retirement; D'Amaro will become CEO on March 18 with Iger as a senior adviser while Walden was elevated to president and chief creative officer.

via Variety|

#bob-iger #business #dana-walden

business8 months ago•20 min saved

Disney Board Chooses D’Amaro as CEO in Unanimous, Clean Succession

Disney’s board unanimously named Josh D’Amaro as CEO, with Dana Walden becoming president and chief creative officer; Bob Iger will remain as senior adviser through year-end. After reviewing well over 100 external candidates and four internal contenders, the vote led by James Gorman sets D’Amaro to lead the entire company, with a focus on AI-driven storytelling, streaming economics, and leveraging Parks, Experiences and Cruises, including expansions such as a UAE park, toward a roughly 50-50 balance between parks/experiences and entertainment.

via Variety|

#bob-iger #business #dana-walden