Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution
{{Short description|Defunct Disney business segment}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution
| logo = File:Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution logo.svg
| former_names = Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International (2018–2020)
| type = Division
| predecessor = {{Plainlist|
- Walt Disney International
- Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International
- Disney Media Networks
}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|2018|3|14}}
| defunct = {{End date and age|2023|2|8}}
| fate = Moved to Disney Entertainment as part of the reorganization of all Disney divisions following the company’s larger reorganization
| successor = Disney Entertainment
| hq_location = Walt Disney Studios
| hq_location_city = Burbank, California
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{ubl|Aaron LaBerge (EVP and CTO)}}
| brands = {{plainlist|
| services = Film distribution, film promotion, music recording, music publishing, over-the-top streaming
| parent = The Walt Disney Company
| divisions = {{ubl|Disney Platform Distribution|Disney Advertising Sales}}
| subsid = {{ubl|ABC Owned Television Stations|Disney Streaming|Disney Digital Network}}
| website = {{url|https://dmedmedia.disney.com}}
}}
Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution (DMED), formerly Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International (DTCI), was a business segment of the Walt Disney Company that operated from March 14, 2018 until the establishment of its successor, Disney Entertainment on February 8, 2023. It consisted of Disney Streaming (previously known as BAMTech and Disney Streaming Services) and Disney International Operations (which is now split up). Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution's fate was a success as of to when Disney-ABC Domestic Television still held up business
On October 12, 2020, former CEO Bob Chapek initiated a reorganization of Disney's media and entertainment divisions, which included a dissolution of DTCI and a split of its business segments into Disney International Content and Operations and Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution.{{Cite web |last=Low |first=Elaine |date=October 12, 2020 |title=Disney Reorganizes Content and Distribution Units to Bolster Streaming Businesses |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/walt-disney-structural-reorganization-media-entertainment-business-1234801683/ |access-date=January 28, 2021 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} Until 2023, the business segment consisted Disney's streaming services, its advertising sales division and its linear television networks, along with broadcast, cable and international syndication. Its focus was on strategic monetization of titles from Disney's three content groups: Studios, General Entertainment, and ESPN & Sports.{{Cite web |author=The Walt Disney Company |date=October 12, 2020 |title=The Walt Disney Company Announces Strategic Reorganization of Its Media and Entertainment Businesses |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201012005777/en/The-Walt-Disney-Company-Announces-Strategic-Reorganization-of-Its-Media-and-Entertainment-Businesses |access-date=February 4, 2021 |website=Business Wire |publisher=Berkshire Hathaway |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pallotta |first=Frank |date=October 12, 2020 |title=Disney to overhaul its entertainment business with focus on streaming |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/12/media/disney-reorganization-streaming/index.html |access-date=February 6, 2021 |website=CNN Business}}
On February 8, 2023, returning CEO Bob Iger began to re-organize all Disney divisions as part of the company's larger reorganization, which included the move of DMED's responsibilities into a new Disney Entertainment division overseeing all filmed and screen content and its networks and streaming venues, excluding ESPN and sports broadcasting operations.
Background
In 1997, Disney and Sony Pictures formed a film distribution joint venture in Southeast Asia which covered five countries.{{Cite news |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=August 14, 2017 |title=Sony Launches Its Own Theatrical Distributors in Southeast Asia (EXCLUSIVE) |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/sony-launches-own-theatrical-distributors-in-se-asia-exclusive-1202526543/ |access-date=June 13, 2018}} From 1999 to 2000, Bob Iger was president of Walt Disney International and chairman of ABC TV Group.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NUXIAgAAQBAJ&q=bob+iger+born+%22new+York%22&pg=PA1168 |title=Encyclopedia of Television |publisher=Routledge |year=2004 |isbn=978-1579583941 |editor-last=Newcomb |editor-first=Horace |edition=Second |page=1168}} until he was promoted to president and chief operating officer of the Walt Disney Company.{{Cite news |last=Weinraub |first=Bernard |date=January 25, 2000 |title=Disney Names New President In Reshuffling |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/25/business/disney-names-new-president-in-reshuffling.html |access-date=May 22, 2010}}
Michael O. Johnson, later CEO of Herbalife, was president of Walt Disney International from 2000 - 2003.{{Cite news|last=Street Journal|first=Bruce OrwallStaff Reporter of The Wall|date=April 4, 2003|title=Herbalife International Names Disney's Johnson as Its CEO|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB104941790917956800|access-date=October 26, 2021|issn=0099-9660}}
Andy Bird became the next president of Walt Disney International in 2004.{{Cite web |date=December 19, 2005 |title=Andy Bird: Mister Mouse of Warrington |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/andy-bird-mister-mouse-of-warrington-520085.html |access-date=May 14, 2008 |work=The Independent}}{{Cite news |last=Fuster |first=Jeremy |date=March 19, 2018 |title=Andy Bird Steps Down as Chairman of Walt Disney International |work=TheWrap |url=https://www.thewrap.com/andy-bird-steps-down-as-chairman-of-walt-disney-international/ |access-date=April 9, 2018}} At the time of Bird's appointment, most countries' units except in Latin America operated independently. He took the Latin America-integrated operation as a guide for other regions. Strategically, Bird wanted their companies to be the Walt Disney Company of India and other countries, not the Walt Disney Company of a certain country, basically tailoring the company to the country with, for example, localization of programming.{{Cite news |last=Szalai |first=Georg |date=November 19, 2015 |title=Walt Disney International Boss Talks Running a Successful Business Worldwide |language=en |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/walt-disney-international-boss-talks-842180 |access-date=April 9, 2018}} Diego Lerner, who led Disney Latin America, was thus named President of Disney Europe, Middle East & Africa in 2009.{{Cite news |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=September 21, 2017 |title=Disney Intl Names Rebecca Campbell President For Europe, Middle East & Africa |work=Deadline |publisher=Penske Business Media |url=https://deadline.com/2017/09/walt-disney-company-rebecca-campbell-president-emea-1202174363/ |access-date=April 9, 2018}}
Buena Vista International and Sony Pictures Releasing International formed fourteen distribution joint ventures, including in Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines. Another Buena Vista-Sony distribution joint venture was set up in Russia in December 2006.{{Cite news |last=Holdsworth |first=Nick |date=December 27, 2006 |title=Disney, Sony team up for Russian content |language=en |work=The Hollywood Reporter |agency=AP |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-sony-team-up-russian-147608 |access-date=June 13, 2018}}
The Walt Disney Company's CIS office in Russia opened in 2006.{{Cite news |last=Kozlov |first=Vladimir |date=April 20, 2016 |title=Disney Resumes Local-Language Movie Production in Russia After 7-Year Break |language=en |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-russia-local-language-movies-885954 |access-date=July 30, 2018}} The company's original plan was for to release three films per year.{{Cite news |date=April 19, 2016 |title=Disney in the tale hit |pages=1 |work=Kommersant |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2967461 |access-date=July 30, 2018}} [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kommersant.ru%2Fdoc%2F2967461&edit-text= Translation]. In 2009, Disney CIS released its first Russian language-film, The Book of Masters which took in 10.8 million on a budget of $8 million. By April 2011, the company announced that director Vladimir Grammatikov was hired by the company as creative producer, while two more Russian films were placed into production: A fairy tale and a youth story.{{Cite news |last=Kozlov |first=Vladimir |date=April 20, 2011 |title=Disney to Begin Production of Two Russian-Language Movies This Summer |language=en |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-begin-production-two-russian-180575 |access-date=July 30, 2018}} Instead, the country's unit took a seven-year hiatus until they announced the production on The Last Knight in April 2016.{{Cite news |last=Vladimir |first=Kozlov |date=November 27, 2017 |title=Russia Box Office: Disney Film Becomes Top Local-Language Release of All Time |language=en |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/russia-box-office-disney-film-becomes-top-local-language-release-all-time-1061467 |access-date=July 30, 2018}} On November 26, 2017, the film became the highest-grossing local-language release of all time in Russia, with a gross of 1.68 billion rubles ($28.8 million).
In 2014, Walt Disney International appointed Luke Kang to head its Greater China unit.{{Cite news |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=September 12, 2017 |title=Disney Splits Asia Regional Management in Two |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2017/biz/asia/disney-splits-asia-management-in-two-1202555229/ |access-date=March 16, 2018}} Disney's South East Asia managing director Rob Gilby appointed three managers for Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand, who were Herry Salim, Veronica Espinosa-Cabalinan, and Subha-Orn Rathanamongkolmas (Soupy) respectively, in May 2017.{{Cite news |date=May 7, 2017 |title=Disney appoints country managers |language=en |work=The Nation |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/detail/movie/30314462 |access-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-date=June 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614195021/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/movie/30314462 |url-status=live }}
Paul Candland was promoted from president of Walt Disney Japan to president of The Walt Disney Company Asia, consisting of Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Greater China in July 2014. Stanley Cheung was also promoted from managing director to chairman of TWDC Greater China. Both reported to Andy Bird, chairman of Walt Disney International.{{Cite news |author= |last=The Deadline Team |first= |date=July 29, 2014 |title=Paul Candland Upped To President Of The Walt Disney Company Asia |language=en |work=Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2014/07/disney-asia-paul-candland-president-stanley-cheung-china-811491/ |access-date=April 15, 2019}}
With the retirement of the Asia unit's head Paul Candland after 19 years in September 2017, Disney split the Asia unit into two: North Asia and South Asia. North Asia consists of Japan, South Korea and Greater China and is headed by Kang, while South Asia combined India and South East Asia. The India unit's head Mahesh Samat would assume leadership of the South Asia unit by October 1, and the South East Asia unit's head Gilby left the company. Later in September, Lerner was transferred to a new position within Walt Disney International, with Rebecca Campbell, the then-president of ABC Daytime and ABC Owned Television Stations, named to replace him as president of Disney EMEA. In February 2017, Sony Pictures withdrew from the Philippines-distribution joint venture, followed by a withdrawing in August 2017 from the remainder of the Southeast Asian distribution joint venture with Disney.
In November 2015, Disney UK started Disney's test streaming service, DisneyLife, with Disney films, TV series, books and music tracks, under general manager Paul Brown.{{Cite news |last=Sweney |first=Mark |date=November 23, 2015 |title=Disney hands over keys to kingdom with launch of online TV service |language=en |work=the Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/nov/23/disney-online-tv-disneylife |access-date=August 21, 2018}} The original plan had the service spreading to other countries in Europe, including France, Spain, Italy and Germany in 2016.{{Cite news |last=Barraclough |first=Leo |date=October 21, 2015 |title=Disney to Launch Subscription Streaming Service in U.K. |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/global/disney-to-launch-subscription-streaming-service-in-u-k-1201623079/ |access-date=August 21, 2018}} In October 2017, the Republic of Ireland was the second country where DisneyLife was made available.{{Cite news |last=Maguire |first=Jack |date=October 11, 2017 |title=Disneylife streaming service has arrived in Ireland |work=Irish Mirror |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/walt-disney-company-disneycom-ireland-11324910 |access-date=August 21, 2018}} DisneyLife was launched in China in December 2017 through a partnership between Disney and Alibaba Digital Entertainment, only to have the Chinese government shut it down in August 2018 because of foreign content rules.{{Cite news |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=April 26, 2016 |title=DisneyLife Taken Off Air by China Regulators |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/asia/disneylife-taken-off-air-by-china-regulators-1201760719/ |access-date=August 21, 2018}} Instead, in February 2018, Disney and Alibaba reached a new deal that placed Disney content on Alibaba's Youku streaming platform.{{Cite news |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=February 12, 2018 |title=Disney Cartoons Expand in China on Alibaba's Youku Platform |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/asia/disney-cartoons-in-china-on-alibaba-youku-platform-1202694948/ |access-date=August 21, 2018}} On May 25, 2018, DisneyLife was expanded to the Philippines, making it the third country where the service was available.{{Cite web |last=Gonzales |first=Gelo |date=May 25, 2018 |title=Disney launches own streaming app in PH, costs P149 monthly on Globe |url=https://www.rappler.com/technology/news/203377-disney-streaming-app-disneylife-monthly-rate |access-date=August 28, 2018 |website=Rappler}} In 2019, following the announcement of the UK Disney+ release date, Disney revealed that existing service DisneyLife would be folded into Disney+.{{Cite web |title=DisneyLife will be rebranded as Disney+ in the UK |url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/disneylife-disney-plus-uk-plans-134202447.html |access-date=December 1, 2019 |website=uk.movies.yahoo.com |language=en-GB}}
In August 2016, The Walt Disney Company acquired a 1/3 stake in BAMTech for $1 billion, with an option to acquire a majority stake in the said company the future.{{Cite news |last1=Soshnick |first1=Scott |last2=Palmeri |first2=Christopher |date=June 30, 2016 |title=Disney Said to Buy Stake in $3.5 Billion MLB Web Unit |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-30/disney-said-to-buy-stake-in-mlb-s-video-arm-in-3-5-billion-deal |access-date=April 9, 2018}} On August 8, 2017, Disney announced that it would increase its ownership in the company to a 75% controlling stake for $1.58 billion.{{Cite news |title=Marvel and Star Wars films will ditch Netflix for Disney's own service |language=en |work=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/marvel-and-star-wars-films-will-ditch-netflix-for-disney/ |access-date=September 7, 2017}} Disney also reiterated its plan to launch an ESPN-branded over-the-top service in early-2018, followed by a Disney-branded direct-to-consumer streaming service in 2019.{{Cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=August 8, 2017 |title=Disney to End Netflix Deal, Sets Launch of ESPN and Disney-Branded Streaming Services |language=en-US |work=Variety |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/disney-netflix-end-acquires-bamtech-espn-ott-services-1202519917/ |access-date=August 9, 2017}}
History
= As Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International (2018–2020) =
File:Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International logo.svg
Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) were formed as part of The Walt Disney Company’s March 14, 2018, strategic reorganization in anticipation of integrating 21st Century Fox's assets, with units coming from all of the other segments.{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Brooks |date=March 14, 2018 |title=Disney Reorganization Anticipates 21st Century Fox Assets |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/business/media/walt-disney-21st-century-fox.html |access-date=April 4, 2018}}{{Cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=March 14, 2018 |title=Disney Reorganizes Divisions, Creates Dedicated Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Unit |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/disney-reorganizes-direct-to-consumer-streaming-unit-1202726528/ |access-date=March 15, 2018}} Kevin Mayer was named as the new segment's chairman. With the restructuring, Disney International chairman Andy Bird is expected to leave The Walt Disney Company. On May 25, 2018, Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International was incorporated.{{Cite web |title=Articles of Incorporation of Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumers & International |url=https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/Document/RetrievePDF?Id=04154697-24297297 |access-date=September 3, 2018 |website=California Business Search |publisher=California State Secretary of State |format=PDF}}
ESPN+ would officially launch on April 12, 2018.{{Cite news |title=ESPN+ will launch on April 12th for $4.99 per month |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/2/17188752/espn-plus-launching-april-12th-pricing-features-content |access-date=April 3, 2018}} BAMTech was renamed to Disney Streaming Services by October 10, 2018. At that time, ESPN's chief technology officer Aaron LaBerge was named to the new position as executive vice president and chief technology officer of DTCI Technology, leading a group that combined technologists and teams from across multiple parts of The Walt Disney Company.{{Cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=October 10, 2018 |title=Disney Appoints ESPN's Aaron LaBerge as CTO of Streaming and International Division |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/disney-aaron-laberge-cto-of-streaming-international-1202975587/ |access-date=November 13, 2018}}
On October 31, 2018, ESPN International's executive vice president and managing director Russell Wolff was named executive vice president and general manager of ESPN+, reporting to Disney Streaming Services (formerly BAMTech Media). ESPN International's regional general managers started reporting to DTCI's regional leadership.{{Cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=October 31, 2018 |title=Disney Puts Longtime ESPN Exec Russell Wolff in Charge of ESPN+ Streaming Service |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/espn-russell-wolff-espn-plus-streaming-1203016265/ |access-date=November 12, 2018}}
The post-merger organization of the company was announced on December 13, 2018, with Lerner and Campbell remaining over the Latin American and EMEA regions. The EMEA region added Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States countries, while a new Asia Pacific region would replace South Asia and North Asia. Disney named Uday Shankar, who previously served as president of Fox Asia and chairman of the Star India, as head of the new region and chair of Disney India. The three regional heads and Janice Marinelli, president of global content sales and distribution, would report to Mayer.{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Stewart |date=December 13, 2018 |title=Disney Sets Out International Leadership Team Post-Fox Deal |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/disney-sets-out-international-leadership-team-post-fox-deal-1203088968/ |access-date=December 14, 2018 |website=Variety }} Mahesh Samat, South Asia's head, moved to Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products as executive vice president of Disney Consumer Products for Asia Pacific in late November 2018.{{Cite news |date=November 27, 2018 |title=The Walt Disney Company appoints new Head of Consumer Products Commercialization |work=Retail News Asia |publisher=Mojju |url=https://www.retailnews.asia/the-walt-disney-company-appoints-new-head-of-consumer-products-commercialization/ |access-date=December 13, 2018}} The Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney was completed on March 20, 2019, with Disney International took ownership of Fox's networks outside the United States.{{Cite news |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=March 19, 2019 |title=Disney Closes $71 Billion 21st Century Fox Deal |language=en |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/disney-fox-deal-complete-1203167374/ |access-date=April 21, 2019}}
Shankar announced the Asia-Pacific unit's management team on April 1, 2019. The team included former several Fox executives, including Star Regional Media Networks' K Madhavan as head of Star India's regional language channels and Kurt Rieder as studio chief of Asian Pacific, with India's film operations reporting separately. Certain other Fox executives left the company in the reorganization, including head of international distribution Andrew Cripps, and Zubin Gandevia, head of Fox Networks Group in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Disney's Malaysia and Singapore head Amit Malhotra would lead emerging markets and South Asia Pacific content sales, reporting to Shankar. Chafic Najia, a Disney senior vice president, was promoted to the Middle East'x media cluster manager. Disney's Australia and New Zealand manager Kylie Watson-Wheeler added media networks and direct-to-consumer to her responsibilities.{{Cite news |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=April 1, 2019 |title=Disney Gives Leadership Roles to Several Fox Staffers in Asia Reshuffle |language=en |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/disney-leadership-roles-fox-staff-asia-reshuffle-1203177260/ |access-date=April 2, 2019}}
In July 2019, Marinelli announced her resignation, ending a 34-year long tenure with the company.{{Cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=July 16, 2019 |title=Disney's Longtime Head of Global Sales and Distribution to Exit |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/disneys-longtime-head-global-sales-distribution-exit-1224688 |access-date=July 19, 2018}} Disney announced it would combine all the company's media sales and channel distribution into one organization. ESPN's executive vice president Justin Connolly was promoted to the newly created role of president of media distribution, reporting to Mayer.{{Cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=July 18, 2019 |title=ESPN's Justin Connolly to Lead Combined Disney Sales Team |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/espns-justin-connolly-lead-combined-disney-sales-team-1225339 |access-date=July 19, 2018}}
On January 31, 2020, it was announced that Hulu CEO Randy Freer would be stepping down, as the position of CEO was removed, with all Hulu executives now reporting directly to corresponding DTCI business heads. Hulu's original programming team would continue reporting to chairman of Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment and FX on Hulu to the FX chairman.{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=January 31, 2020 |title=Hulu CEO Randy Freer Exits As Streamer Is Integrated Into Disney's Direct-to-Consumer & International Unit |url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/hulu-ceo-randy-freer-exits-streamer-is-integrated-into-disneys-direct-to-consumer-international-1202848283/ |access-date=January 31, 2020 |publisher=Deadline Hollywood}}
On March 12, 2020, Vanessa Morrison, who previously served as President of Fox Family and Fox Animation, was appointed President of Streaming for Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production and will oversee development and production of Disney+ film content from The Walt Disney Studios for both Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios.{{Cite news |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=March 12, 2020 |title=Steve Asbell Takes Over 20th Century Studios Post Emma Watts; Vanessa Morrison Named Walt Disney Studios Streaming Production President |publisher=Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/20th-century-studios-disney-steve-asbell-president-emma-watts-departure-vanessa-morrison-walt-disney-streaming-1202881273/ |access-date=April 4, 2020}} Morrison answers directly to head of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production Sean Bailey.
On May 18, 2020, Mayer stepped down as DTCI chairman to become the CEO of TikTok. He was succeeded by Rebecca Campbell, who was previously the president of Disneyland Resort.{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Brooks |date=May 18, 2020 |title=Disney's Head of Streaming Is New TikTok C.E.O. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/business/media/tiktok-ceo-kevin-mayer.html |access-date=May 18, 2020 |website=The New York Times |location=Los Angeles}} This was soon followed by the transfer of the sales division (ad and distribution) to Disney Media Networks.{{Cite news |date=May 21, 2020 |title=Disney Shifts Ad Sales Group to Media Networks Division |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-shifts-ad-sales-group-media-networks-division-1295457 |access-date=May 21, 2020}}
On August 4, 2020, Disney announced that it would launch a Star-branded streaming service in 2021. This will be a general entertainment service, featuring content from ABC Signature, 20th Television, FX, Freeform, 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures. The streaming service will be integrated with Disney+ in most countries.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=August 4, 2020 |title=Disney is launching a new Star-branded streaming service internationally |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/4/21354712/disney-star-streaming-service-international-expansion-hulu-plus-abc-fx-fox |access-date=August 4, 2020 |website=TheVerge}}{{Cite web |last1=Feiner |first1=Lauren |last2=Hipes |first2=Sarah |date=August 4, 2020 |title=Disney shares rise after the company says it has 100 million streaming subscribers, plans to launch a new streaming service |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/04/disney-dis-q3-2020-earnings.html |access-date=August 4, 2020 |website=CNBC}}
= As Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution (2020–2023) =
On October 12, 2020, it was announced that Disney would effectively restructuring its media and entertainment businesses, which resulted in the dissolution of Disney Media Networks and Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International, thus two business segments being created in their place: Disney International Content and Operations, responsible for managing the international operations of The Walt Disney Company; and Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, responsible for handling the company's streaming services, advertising operations, and its linear and syndicated television networks.{{Cite web|date=October 12, 2020|title=The Walt Disney Company Announces Strategic Reorganization of Its Media and Entertainment Businesses|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201012005777/en/The-Walt-Disney-Company-Announces-Strategic-Reorganization-of-Its-Media-and-Entertainment-Businesses|access-date=February 4, 2021|author=The Walt Disney Company|website=Business Wire|publisher=Berkshire Hathaway|language=en}}
Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution was formed as part of The Walt Disney Company's media and entertainment structural reorganization, which took place October 12, 2020, and made primarily due to the success of Disney's streaming services, mainly Disney+. Kareem Daniel was named as the chairman for the new segment. As part of this reorganization, Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International along with Disney Media Networks were dissolved and two business segments were created in their place: Disney International Content and Operations, focused on Disney's international subsidiaries, and Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, focused on said streaming services, its advertising divisions, and Disney's linear and syndicated television networks.
Following the segment's financial losses in Q4 2022, Bob Iger was reinstated as Disney's CEO and announced that he would replace DMED with a new structure that gives decision-making and operational control back to the creative teams. As part of the impending restructure, Daniel exited as chairman of DMED.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/disney-kareem-daniel-exits-bob-iger-distribution-1235179483/|title=Kareem Daniel Exits Disney As Bob Iger Sets Restructuring Of Media And Entertainment Distribution Division|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Dade|last=Hayes|date=November 21, 2022|access-date=November 21, 2022}} DMED was dismantled in February 2023, as part of Iger's reorganization of the company into three new segments.{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=February 8, 2023 |title=Disney Reorganizes Into Three Segments, Entertainment, ESPN & Parks |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/disney-reorganizes-three-segments-entertainment-espn-parks-1235253253/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209004913/https://deadline.com/2023/02/disney-reorganizes-three-segments-entertainment-espn-parks-1235253253/ |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |access-date=February 9, 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}
Units
= Current =
== [[Disney Streaming]] (Direct-to-consumer & Technology) ==
- Disney+
- Star (Disney+)
- ESPN+ (full control, 80% stake)
- Hulu (full control, 67% stake)
- Disney+ Hotstar (known as Hotstar in Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom){{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=May 18, 2020 |title=Disney's Rebecca Campbell Caps Remarkable Rise From Stations To Top Streaming Role |url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/disney-rebecca-campbell-caps-off-rise-from-stations-to-top-streaming-role-1202937594/ |access-date=February 7, 2021 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
- Star+
== Ad sales ==
- Disney Advertising Sales
- Disney Creative Works
== Digital products ==
== Networks ==
- ABC Owned Television Stations
- Localish (operated by Walt Disney Television US)
- Disney XD (operated by Disney Branded Television US)
== Platform distribution ==
- Disney Platform Distribution
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures - theatrical exhibition
- Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment - home media distribution
- El Capitan Theatre
- Domestic Television Distribution
- International Television Distribution
- Disney Music Group - music recording and publishing
= Former =
== Digital products ==
- DTCI Technology
- DTCI Digital Media
== International ==
== Transferred ==
class="wikitable" |
Unit
! From |
---|
Disney Digital Network
| Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media | 2018–2020 |
BAMTech (75%)
| Disney corporate strategy office | 2018—2020 |
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment |
Disney–ABC Domestic Television
| rowspan=6 | Walt Disney Television (WDT) |
Disney Channels Worldwide (International)
| rowspan=3 | 2018—2020 |
Hulu (30%) |
ABC News Digital and Live Streaming
|
Disney Media Distribution |
DATG advertising sales |
ESPN sales and marketing
|rowspan=2| ESPN Inc. |
ESPN International regional businesses |
* Star India
| 2019—2020 |
Walt Disney International South Asia
|rowspan=4| Walt Disney International |
The Walt Disney Company EMEA
|
Walt Disney International North Asia
|
The Walt Disney Company Latin America |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20230208223232/https://dmedmedia.disney.com/}} (archived)
{{Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution}}
{{Disney}}
{{Portal bar|Disney}}
Category:2018 establishments in California
Category:2023 disestablishments in California
Category:American companies disestablished in 2023
Category:American companies established in 2018
Category:Companies based in Burbank, California
Category:Disney Media Networks
Category:Entertainment companies based in California
Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2023