Emboldened by the success of Disney Plus, Walt Disney Co. is reorganizing its extensive entertainment and media operations to focus on creating content for its streaming services in a major effort to accelerate its direct-to-consumer strategy, the company said Monday.
Under the new corporate structure, Disney's media and entertainment units will be organized into content businesses that produce its movies, TV shows and sports in addition to an equally important and newly created group to distribute that content through traditional channels as well as its streaming services, such as Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus.
The restructured Disney will have three distinct content arms: Studios, run by Walt Disney Studios co-Chairmen Alan Horn and Alan Bergman; General Entertainment, run by media networks Chairman Peter Rice; and Sports, headed by ESPN chief James Pitaro. To lead the distribution group, Disney promoted Kareem Daniel, who previously ran the company's consumer products business.
"Managing content creation distinct from distribution will allow us to be more effective and nimble in making the content consumers want most, delivered in the way they prefer to consume it," said Disney Chief Executive Bob Chapek in a statement. "Given the incredible success of Disney Plus and our plans to accelerate our direct-to-consumer business, we are strategically positioning our company to more effectively support our growth strategy and increase shareholder value."
Over the past couple of years, Disney has already been making a bold bet on streaming in an effort to remain a dominant force in entertainment amid the rise of Netflix and other digital entertainment options. Disney Plus, which launched last November, has already exceeded 60 million global subscribers, far exceeding analyst expectations. Disney had previously set its five-year guidance at 60 million to 90 million subscribers, meaning the app is growing ahead of schedule.