Latest news with #RobertIger
New York Times
13 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Disney Takes Full Control of Hulu for Billions Less Than Comcast Wanted
The tug of war over Hulu is over. Disney said in a securities filing on Monday that it had agreed to pay Comcast an additional $439 million for full control of the streaming service, ending a year and a half dispute over the amount. Disney had argued that it owed Comcast nothing beyond the $8.6 billion it already paid for Comcast's 33 percent stake — and Comcast countered that Disney owed another $5 billion. Eventually, a third-party appraiser was brought in. The relatively small new payment will not affect Disney's previous guidance for overall company growth in the current fiscal year, Disney said in the filing. The deal is expected to close by July 24. Robert A. Iger, Disney's chief executive, said in a statement that full ownership of Hulu would allow for 'a deeper and more seamless integration of Hulu's general entertainment content with Disney+' and for bundled sales with a new ESPN streaming service that is planned for introduction later this year. In a separate statement, Comcast called Hulu 'a great start for us in streaming,' adding 'we wish Disney well.' Comcast's primary streaming service is now Peacock, which it has been loading with sports content as it seeks to expand advertising sales and subscriber counts. Peacock, which has been unprofitable, has about 41 million subscribers. Hulu, one of the first streaming services, started as a joint venture between Disney, Comcast and Time Warner. It now offers programming from Disney's traditional television networks, including ABC and FX, in addition to original series, including 'Only Murders in the Building.' Hulu, which is profitable, has about 55 million subscriptions. To increase engagement on Disney+ and slow subscriber churn, Disney last year began allowing people who pay for both Disney+ and Hulu to watch both services through the Disney+ interface. That strategy has been a success for Disney, analysts have said. Some analysts expect Disney to eventually discontinue Hulu as a stand-alone app and make it a tile within Disney+.
Free Malaysia Today
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Disney to open new theme park in Abu Dhabi
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the seventh Disney resort since the original Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California in 1955. (AFP pic) LOS ANGELES : The Walt Disney Company announced plans Wednesday for a new theme park in the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the country's growing prominence as a global financial and entertainment hub. The waterfront resort will be located on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island and developed in partnership with local firm Miral. Disney stated that it aims to attract tourists from 'the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond.' The announcement comes ahead of US President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next week. 'Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati,' said Disney CEO Robert Iger in a statement, promising 'an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world.' The company stated that the new resort will blend Disney's 'iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi's vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.' Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the seventh Disney resort since the original Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California in 1955. Other Disney destinations are located in Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Iger told analysts that the location was chosen to bring the Disney experience closer to hundreds of millions of customers for whom visiting its other six locations 'was pretty lengthy in nature and expensive.' He also noted the success of existing attractions in Abu Dhabi, including the Louvre museum and the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim, which is currently under construction. Miral Group operates numerous hotels, resorts, and amusement parks in Abu Dhabi including Warner Brothers World, Ferrari World and Sea World. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Disney Experiences chairman Josh D'Amaro described the new park and resort as the company's most 'modern' and 'tech-forward' destination. He added that in an unusual arrangement for Disney, the park would be funded, built, and ultimately operated by the Miral group 'with oversight of course from us.' 'But we're very confident in this part of the world, with this partner, that this is the appropriate business arrangement,' he added. The new park announcement coincided with Disney reporting a robust increase in quarterly revenues, which sent its shares skyrocketing. The company said overall sales increased 7% to US$23.6 billion in the January to March period. Crucially, subscribers to its Disney+ streaming service grew to 126 million, adding 1.4 million new subscriptions, contrary to analysts' expectations of a decline. The Experiences segment, which includes theme parks, saw revenue increase to US$8.9 billion.
American Military News
10-05-2025
- Business
- American Military News
Disney planning theme park resort in Abu Dhabi
Walt Disney Co. is planning a theme park resort for Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the company confirmed Wednesday. The attraction will be on the waterfront of Yas Island, already a leisure travel destination. The new resort will be built, financed and operated by Miral, an Abu Dhabi-based developer. Walt Disney Co. and Walt Disney Imagineering will lead creative design and operational oversight. It will use Disney-licensed properties. 'Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati. It will serve as an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment for millions and millions of people in this crossroads of the world, connecting travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe and beyond,' Disney CEO Robert Iger said from the UAE during a call with market analysts Wednesday. Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, touted the opportunity. 'The location of our park is incredibly unique – anchored by a beautiful waterfront – which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways,' D'Amaro said in a news release. 'This project will reach guests in a whole new part of the world, welcoming more families to experience Disney than ever before.' 'What we are creating with Disney in Abu Dhabi is a whole new world of imagination — an experience that will inspire generations across the region and the world, creating magical moments and memories that families will treasure forever,' said Khalifa Al Mubarak, Miral's chairman. Iger said Imagineers are already working on a design for the Abu Dhabi resort. 'Disney will oversee design license, our IP and provide operational expertise, while Miral will provide the capital construction resources and operational oversight,' Iger said. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi (licensed by Orlando-based United Parks & Resorts), Warner Bros. World, Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld parks currently operate on Yas Island. The announcement does not affect the $30 billion commitment planned for Disney parks in Florida and California, Iger said. Iger, in an interview with CNBC, said it takes about two years to develop a park and five years to build 'but we're not making any commitments right now.' The announcement came on the heels of Walt Disney Co.'s quarterly earnings report, including increases in revenue and operating income for its parks and destinations division. Revenue for domestic parks was up 9% with a 13% increase in operating income. International parks revenue was down 5%, which was attributed to lower attendance and increased costs at Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland. Iger was cautious about theme park visitation moving forward. 'Despite questions around any macroeconomic uncertainty or the impact of competition, I'm encouraged by the strength and resilience of our business, as evidenced in these earnings and in the second-half bookings at Walt Disney World,' he said. Overall revenue for Walt Disney Co. increased 7% to $23.6 billion in the company's second fiscal quarter. ___ © 2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How Abu Dhabi's Disney will look VERY different - from 'banned' characters to the Little Mermaid's bikini - and what visitors will be expected to wear to Middle East theme park
Mickey and Minnie Mouse excitingly welcoming visitors at the entrance, a parade of fan-favourite characters dancing through the crowds each day and an astounding fireworks extravaganza to finish off a day of fun. All this and more can likely be expected at Walt Disney Company's newest theme park in the United Arab Emirates. However, announcing plans for the waterfront resort located on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island on Wednesday, Disney CEO Robert Iger said the tourist attraction will be 'authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati'. As such, it perhaps wouldn't be surprising to see the Middle East's first theme park take a slightly different approach to what visitors from the UK, America and Europe usually expect when touring the Paris and California or Florida resorts. From Minnie Mouse swapping out her mini dress for a maxi to the Little Mermaid ditching her bikini for 'more coverage', a culture expert has revealed the possible changes Miral - the Abu Dhabi developer overseeing the project - might consider. Speaking to FEMAIL, Corina Goetz, a Middle East Specialist who focuses on helping companies and entrepreneurs understand the nuances of the Gulf market, also said Disney's LGBTIQ+ characters would be banned from the park. Similarly, the filming giant's live remake of Snow White could be excluded due to Gal Gadot's appearance in the movie - after Lebanon banned the production from its cinemas nationwide because of the Israeli actress' past service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and her vocal support for Israel in its war against Hamas. Read below for more changes Corina claims could be embraced by Abu Dhabi's Disney resort due to its conservative nature... 'Outfit changes' for the Little Mermaid and Minnie Mouse It's an outfit known by little girls all over the world - but The Little Mermaid's Ariel could sport something entirely different when in the UAE, according to the expert. 'It is very likely that Ariel's iconic shell bikini top would be redesigned to offer more coverage, in line with modesty norms in many Middle Eastern countries,' said London-based Corina, who runs her own company Star-CaT ( 'A version with a longer top or a full-body aquatic outfit (similar to her look in some animated series or toys) could be used to maintain the character's identity while respecting local dress codes,' suggested the specialist. But it's not only King Triton's daughter who could get a wardrobe change; Minnie Mouse's dress might be swapped from a mini to a maxi to avoid offending locals. 'She would probably be in a dress although the dress might be a maxi dress,' suggested Corina. 'Ban' on Disney's LGBTIQ+ characters Disney is no stranger to having its content banned from Middle Eastern countries due to the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ characters and references. The UAE, like many other countries in the wider Middle East, is a Muslim-led nation that criminalises same-sex relationships. As such, it has banned films like Disney and Pixar's Toy Story spin-off Lightyear, which includes a lesbian couple kissing. Corina said that LGBTQ+ characters or storylines (such as those included in Marvel's Eternals, the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast and Pixar's Onward) 'will be omitted from public displays, merchandise, or park performances'. 'Many Middle Eastern countries have laws or cultural restrictions against the promotion of LGBTQ+ content,' explained the expert. Meanwhile, 'attractions based on banned or censored films might be excluded, altered or replaced. Disney would likely emphasise action/adventure elements over controversial content,' said Corina. Asad Khan, CEO of Invest Dubai Real Estate (IDRE), told FEMAIL that any LGBTQ+ characters or references will '100 per cent not be included'. 'Ditch 1992 version of Aladdin's Arabian Nights' The 1992 animated movie Aladdin contained a line in the opening song, Arabian Nights, that many considered to be racist against Arabs. 'Oh, I come from a land / From a faraway place / Where the caravan camels roam,' the lyrics read. 'Where they cut off your ear / If they don't like your face / It's barbaric, but hey, it's home.' When Disney released a new, live-action version of the movie in 2019, they changed the line to: 'Oh, I come from a land / From a faraway place / Where the caravan camels roam. 'Where it's flat and immense / And the heat is intense / It's barbaric, but hey, it's home.' Corina said: 'The original 1992 animated film's song 'Arabian Nights' included lyrics that were criticised as offensive previously. 'So this was later changed. A UAE Disneyland would almost certainly use the revised version or an adaptation, which is more culturally sensitive.' Gal Gadot's Snow White character 'excluded' Gal Gadot plays the Evil Queen in Disney's controversial Snow White remake - a main character that fans would no doubt expect to see in the new resort, on merchandise or the like. Yet 'depending on political developments, her portrayal in the movie could be controversial and might potentially be excluded', revealed Corina. It comes after Lebanon banned the film from its cinemas nationwide because of the Israeli actress. The Hollywood star is on the Middle East nation's boycott list because of her past service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and her vocal support for Israel in its war against Hamas. Lebanon has previously banned other Gal Gadot movies including Wonder Woman and Death On The Nile. Meanwhile, some Disney fans in the UAE reportedly boycotted the remake due to Gal Gadot's political stance, according to UAE state-owned English-language daily newspaper The National. The specialist said that 'dress codes for visitors would likely reflect local norms'. She added: 'While foreign visitors will not be expected to wear traditional clothing, they should follow local rules in regards to revealing clothing. 'Disneyland parks in other conservative countries already enforce respectful dress codes, so this would not be unprecedented.' On the Disneyland Resort website, visitors are told to 'dress comfortably, wear good walking shoes and check the local weather report before you leave for the parks'. The statements adds: 'Ensuring that the parks are family friendly is an important part of the Disney experience. In that spirit, we ask you to use your discretion and common sense. 'Attire that is not appropriate for the theme parks (and which may result in refusal of admittance or ejection) includes but is not limited to: Clothing with objectionable material, including obscene language or graphics, 'Clothing which, by nature, exposes excessive portions of the skin that may be viewed as inappropriate for a family environment, clothing with multiple layers are subject to search upon entry 'Visible tattoos that could be considered inappropriate, such as those containing objectionable language or designs, bare feet.' Asad Khan added: 'Women won't be allowed to walk around in bikinis, only on the beach or poolside.' MailOnline has contacted Miral and Disney for comment. 'Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati' Disney stated that it aims to attract tourists from 'the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond' with its newest resort. 'Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati,' said Disney CEO Robert Iger in a statement, promising 'an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world.' The company stated that the new resort will blend Disney's 'iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi's vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.' Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the seventh Disney resort since the original Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California in 1955. Other Disney destinations are located in Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Iger told analysts that the location was chosen to bring the Disney experience closer to hundreds of millions of customers for whom visiting its other six locations 'was pretty lengthy in nature and expensive.' The Walt Disney Company will be earning royalties based on the park's revenue He also noted the success of existing attractions in Abu Dhabi Miral group operates numerous hotels, resorts, and amusement parks in Abu Dhabi including Warner Brothers World, Ferrari World and Sea World. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Disney Experiences chairman Josh D'Amaro described the new park and resort as the company's most 'modern' and 'tech-forward' destination. He added that in an unusual arrangement for Disney, the park would be funded, built, and ultimately operated by the Miral group 'with oversight of course from us'. 'But we're very confident in this part of the world, with this partner, that this is the appropriate business arrangement,' he added. The new park announcement coincided with Disney reporting a robust increase in quarterly revenues, which sent its shares skyrocketing. The company said overall sales increased seven percent to $23.6 billion in the January to March period. Crucially, subscribers to its Disney+ streaming service grew to 126 million, adding 1.4 million new subscriptions, contrary to analysts' expectations of a decline. The Experiences segment, which includes theme parks, saw revenue increase to $8.9 billion.
Al-Ahram Weekly
08-05-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Disney announces new theme park in Abu Dhabi - Stage & Street - Arts & Culture
The Walt Disney Company announced plans Wednesday for a new theme park in the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the country's growing prominence as a global financial and entertainment hub. The waterfront resort will be located on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island and developed in partnership with local firm Miral. Disney stated that it aims to attract tourists from "the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond." The announcement comes ahead of US President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next week. "Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati," said Disney CEO Robert Iger in a statement, promising "an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world." The company stated that the new resort will blend Disney's "iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi's vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture." Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the seventh Disney resort since the original Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California in 1955. Other Disney destinations are located in Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Iger told analysts that the location was chosen to bring the Disney experience closer to hundreds of millions of customers for whom visiting its other six locations "was pretty lengthy in nature and expensive." He also noted the success of existing attractions in Abu Dhabi, including the Louvre museum and the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim, which is currently under construction. Miral group operates numerous hotels, resorts, and amusement parks in Abu Dhabi including Warner Brothers World, Ferrari World and Sea World. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Disney Experiences chairman Josh D'Amaro described the new park and resort as the company's most "modern" and "tech-forward" destination. He added that in an unusual arrangement for Disney, the park would be funded, built, and ultimately operated by the Miral group "with oversight of course from us." "But we're very confident in this part of the world, with this partner, that this is the appropriate business arrangement," he added. The new park announcement coincided with Disney reporting a robust increase in quarterly revenues, which sent its shares skyrocketing. The company said overall sales increased seven percent to $23.6 billion in the January to March period. Crucially, subscribers to its Disney+ streaming service grew to 126 million, adding 1.4 million new subscriptions, contrary to analysts' expectations of a decline. The Experiences segment, which includes theme parks, saw revenue increase to $8.9 billion. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
