All articles tagged with #josh damaro
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro pitched the company as a “category of one” at the 2026 upfront, arguing that the magic, trust, and sense of belonging Disney creates—unimmeasurable by focus groups or algorithms—sets it apart in a crowded media landscape, backed by its franchises, streaming, parks, and sports assets.
Disney's 2026 Advertising Upfront at New York's Javits Center showcased Josh D’Amaro’s CEO debut alongside 100+ on-stage stars, previewing Disney’s 2027 live events (CFP, GRAMMYs, Super Bowl LXI, Oscars) and new originals across its movie, TV, sports and streaming properties, capped by Olivia Rodrigo’s performance.
Disney’s North Javits upfront opened with the Savannah Bananas and closed with Olivia Rodrigo performing a three-song set, after Anne Hathaway introduced new CEO Josh D’Amaro; the night also featured NFL legends promoting Disney’s 2027 Super Bowl and cameos from FX, Hulu, and Marvel stars, with Rodrigo ending by inviting Jane Kimmel on stage for a final group sing as Jimmy Kimmel roasted the crowd.
Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro is reportedly exploring a 'super app' that would merge Disney+ with real‑world experiences like the Cruise Line Navigator and other Disney services, aiming to put parks, resorts, and cruises at fans' fingertips. The concept is early and it's unclear whether it would be advertising-driven or offer deeper app integrations; it could also be inconvenient for viewers who mainly want streaming. Timing and feasibility remain uncertain as Disney experiments with integrating fan relationships across its businesses.
Disney's new CEO Josh D’Amaro outlined a three-pillar strategy built on investing in enduring IP, building a single, digitally integrated “One Disney” ecosystem, and aggressively deploying AI to power storytelling and monetization. The plan signals continued cost pressures from high-franchise production and sports rights, with potential layoffs to streamline operations, while ESPN remains central to the long-term strategy. The market responded positively to the clarity, but profitability now hinges on turning cross-platform IP into sustained growth across Disney’s brands and platforms.
New Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro wants Disney Plus to be the immersive, central hub of the company, tying streaming to parks and other experiences to deepen fan engagement, but critics warn that turning Disney Plus into a busy, all-in-one hub could degrade the simple, on-demand viewing experience and question whether audiences actually want such integration, especially given past unfulfilled experiments.
On Disney's quarterly earnings call, CEO Josh D’Amaro described Disney+ as the immersive, interactive centerpiece of the company, aimed at unifying streaming, sports, games and experiences to deepen direct fan relationships. The strategy focuses on boosting engagement and reducing churn by making Disney+ more central to how fans experience Disney brands, with personalization and UI improvements echoing earlier Iger-era plans.
On Disney’s Q2 FY26 earnings call, new CEO Josh D’Amaro outlined a disciplined growth plan with Disney+ at the center, three priorities (creative excellence, a more connected direct-to-consumer experience, and technology), and a push for international streaming growth. He highlighted IP momentum (Zootopia 2 with $1.9B global box office and 1B hours streamed on Disney+) and ongoing investments across films, experiences (Disney Adventures World, World of Frozen) and ESPN’s direct-to-consumer evolution, while acknowledging near-term variability but long-term value from Disney’s brands and platforms.
Disney is set to report fiscal Q2 2026 results before the bell, the first earnings release led by new CEO Josh D’Amaro. Wall Street expects EPS of $1.49 on revenue of $24.78 billion; investors will focus on streaming performance amid consolidation and how the parks/experiences unit holds up, as Disney has pared some segment disclosures. The 8:30 a.m. ET call will provide an early read on whether the theme-park backbone can offset streaming headwinds.
Disney will not spin off ESPN for now, keeping the network under its umbrella to support a streaming pivot. A split isn’t on the agenda today, though Disney could revisit the idea later or pursue minority stakes in ESPN as part of its broader pay-TV and direct-to-consumer strategy.
Disney will keep ESPN inside the company under new CEO Josh D’Amaro, signaling a reluctance to spin off the sports network as it doubles down on streaming, with ESPN available via traditional cable, Hulu/Disney+ bundles, and potential minority partnerships; the decision could be revisited in the future.
New Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro is under pressure from Donald Trump to fire Jimmy Kimmel over a joke, but Disney has shown no signs of capitulating as Kimmel tapes a new episode. The push also involves Melania Trump and Trump allies, complicating ABC's handling of the matter. Behind-the-scenes discussions and past tensions during Bob Iger's tenure shape the response, with observers noting the importance of First Amendment considerations and signaling that Disney won’t rush to remove Kimmel from the air.
Disney laid off about 1,000 employees in Josh D’Amaro’s first major restructuring, trimming home-entertainment publicity and other teams to streamline operations as the company pivots toward streaming. The cuts hit Marvel divisions, international publicity, and marketing, and come as Disney outsources disc production to Sony and shifts publicity for physical releases under theatrical teams. The moves underscore a broader push to prioritize streaming and tech-enabled workflows over traditional physical media, following a wave of layoffs dating back to the Bob Iger era.
Disney began layoffs under new CEO Josh D’Amaro and disclosed a tiered severance plan based on employee level and tenure: non-managers range from 4 weeks to 52 weeks, managers from 6 weeks to 52 weeks, directors from 13 weeks to 52 weeks, and VP+ from 26 weeks to 52 weeks. Some exiting employees also received prorated bonuses, paid vacation, and extended health coverage. The policy mirrors Disney’s employee handbook guidelines and follows a broader company realignment, as Disney pursues streaming profitability while sustaining its parks business; the cuts are compared with severance practices at Paramount, The Washington Post, and NBCUniversal.
Disney confirms layoffs less than a month into Josh D'Amaro's tenure, saying the cuts are part of a broader move to unify operations and build a more agile, tech-enabled organization, not a reflection of employees' contributions or Disney's overall strength.