Disney’s Dana Walden to CNBC’s James Cramer: Streaming ‘Is a Growth Business for Our Company’

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On Tuesday, during the bustle of Disney’s presentation in New York, Dana Walden – a co-chairman at Disney Entertainment – spoke with CNBC’s James Cramer about the promising expansion prospects of Disney’s streaming services and the robustness of its traditional broadcast business.

Walden stated that Disney+, along with the combined services of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, has been a profitable venture for our company, transitioning steadily into the black over the past few quarters. He further mentioned that we aim to reach high margins, even double-digits, in terms of profitability from Disney+ after investing significantly over five years. This is what Wall Street anticipates from Disney+.

Cramer enthusiastically commended Disney’s impressive first-quarter performance, highlighting that its stock price has risen consistently over the last eight trading days. He applauded Bob Iger and the Walden team for their effective management of a division that had previously been recording significant losses.

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I’ve always admired your extensive portfolio and exceptional intellectual property. However, it was undeniable that you were operating in a business sector that was consistently losing a billion each quarter,” I acknowledged. “Many of us found ourselves critical of you due to this, but now, it’s precisely this challenging period that has transformed into the reason for our admiration and the unstoppable rise of your stock – Disney.

Cramer asked Walden about the skepticism on Wall Street regarding the future of traditional television in Hollywood. In response, Walden elaborated that, ideally, the blend of linear and streaming services could provide Disney with a massive, largely unique viewership.

Walden stated that our main linear channels – FX, Disney Channel, Nat Geo, and ABC – offer a chance to create content for viewers who still prefer linear broadcasting. This same content is then moved to streaming platforms where it’s available on-demand for subscribers to watch whenever they desire. This strategy allows us to reach a wide range of audiences, as half of our audience consumes content through linear programming and the other half does so via streaming. In essence, we’ve effectively managed these two methods of distribution.

Walden announced the latest developments regarding ESPN – the details of its pricing and release schedule, which are set to be unveiled this fall. Customers can expect to purchase ESPN as a standalone streaming channel or as part of the current Disney+ bundle that currently includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. In the fall, the ESPN+ tile will transform into the main ESPN platform, integrating all the original content produced for ESPN+ since its launch in 2018.

Soon, it’s going to be convenient for you to combine those three services into one package,” Walden explained. “This single app, Disney+, will provide access to all the content. Our approach of bundling services is indeed proving successful.

Walden also pointed to how Disney’s powerhouse film studio feeds marquee titles into Disney+.

She stated that the movies are exceptional, with many raking in over a billion dollars at the box office. Later, they’re added to Disney+, which not only boosts new subscriptions but also increases user interaction.

As a fervent admirer, I just can’t help but shower praises on Walden. “Not only are your skills impressive,” I find myself saying, “but the vibe you bring is truly magnetic. It’s no secret that people are drawn to work with you, and even the biggest stars are eager to collaborate with you.

Concurrently, Cramer probed Walden about the persisting disparity in valuation between Disney and Netflix. On Tuesday, Netflix shares ended the day at $1,138.44, marking a 2.6% increase. In contrast, Disney’s stocks closed at $111.38, rising by 1%.

Next year, it’s widely believed that Walden is the leading candidate to take over Iger’s role as CEO. His upcoming interview with CNBC’s well-known unpredictable host will further solidify this position. During the interview with Cramer, Walden skillfully avoided discussing Netflix versus Disney, instead emphasizing Disney+’s potential as the cornerstone of the company’s future success.

Disney+ has been around for five years now, but it’s still considered quite young. We’re thrilled with the path we’ve chosen and are seeing growth across key metrics. Our focus isn’t on competition; instead, we’re concentrating on our unique ecosystem. Disney+ serves as a global gateway for Disney fandom, and our timeless tales and characters are brought to life in our theme parks, on cruise ships, and in merchandise. This gives us numerous opportunities to enhance and monetize our content that other companies can’t replicate.

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2025-05-14 03:21