Disney’s Dana Walden on New Ways to Reach Kids, Streaming Growth, International Expansion and What’s Next for ‘Shogun’

by

As a devoted cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that Disney is exploring innovative methods to captivate its younger audience. Dana Walden, the co-chairman of Disney Entertainment at The Walt Disney Company, revealed this during the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference on Tuesday. In conversation with media analyst Ben Swinburne, she mentioned that Disney is focusing on reaching kids and families who are young at heart, primarily through social media platforms where they spend a significant amount of time, particularly YouTube.

Speaking as a movie reviewer, I must say that Disney Junior is indeed thriving on YouTube. It’s more than just a partnership; it’s a significant and fruitful alliance that has led us to create numerous videos tailored specifically for our series on this platform. With over 22 million subscribers, it’s evident that this is where children prefer to immerse themselves in content.

Beyond our streaming service, Disney+, we aim to maintain this young audience’s engagement by continuously nurturing intellectual properties on a platform that matters to both creators and kids. This strategy allows us to keep the creative process flowing and ensures that our content remains accessible and appealing for our younger viewers.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m excited to share that we’re making some significant strides in our current projects, though I can’t reveal any specific tech updates just yet. What I can say is that these developments will revolutionize how kids consume and interact with content in today’s digital age. We’re taking a comprehensive approach, understanding the preferences of this generation, as we know we have stories they adore. Our focus now is on creating technology that matches their engagement style.

Apart from this, Walden mentioned the impending debut of ESPN’s over-the-top service, tentatively called “ESPN Flagship”. This service will make ESPN networks available without a cable subscription for the first time, alongside ESPN+. Walden hinted that Jimmy Pitaro would share more details, but expressed his excitement, saying, “I’ve had a glimpse and it’s incredibly thrilling. The innovative elements they plan to introduce with the launch of Flagship are truly going to astonish people.

Walden emphasized that sports play a significant role in Disney+’s offerings, given the inclusion of an ESPN tile (offering content such as “30 For 30”) and the recent launch of SC+. She noted, “This content is incredibly valuable to our subscribers, offering over 3000 hours of long-form programming. Furthermore, I’m thrilled about the debut of SC+ – a daily ‘SportsCenter’ show produced by SportsCenter and ESPN. This addition will help us engage even casual sports fans, providing a daily sports update on Disney+, encouraging users to open the app each day.

Speaking about the combined streaming services of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, Walden expressed immense pride in what they’ve achieved in the streaming sector, particularly over the last two years. Remember, we were previously losing more than a billion dollars per quarter. Now, we are profitable, experiencing growth in revenue, and foreseeing double-digit profit margins. This progress includes the recent integration of Hulu onto Disney+. Walden described it as an exceptional value for subscribers, boosting engagement and causing great optimism about our future.

Globally, Walden also perceives a significant potential for expansion: “It’s essentially a fledgling platform. We’re developing local originals to ensure we have content suitable for subscribers worldwide, alongside our globally successful shows. Our company is consistently putting out and distributing numerous hits that resonate across borders.

As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news! Building a successful content pipeline does require patience, but the rewards are immense. In each region we’ve ventured into, we’ve discovered genuine gems that resonate with audiences.

For instance, in Korea last year, we launched a series titled ‘Moving’. This production garnered an astounding 1.5 million subscribers and created quite a stir in the market! Alongside this, we’ve been introducing content from the US, aiming to cater locally, regionally, and globally. It’s all about understanding and serving our audiences effectively.

Regarding domestic television series triumphs, Walden highlighted the extraordinary achievement of FX’s “Shogun,” which has recently swept awards at the Emmys, Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, SAG Awards, and numerous others. Furthermore, with the writers’ room now closed for Season 2, we can anticipate updates on the upcoming season to arrive shortly.

“We like to bake it carefully,” she said. “We will not release the Season 2 until it’s ready.”

Read More

2025-03-05 04:16