Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International

Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International[1]
Subsidiary[2]
Industry Entertainment
Consumer Communication services
Predecessor Walt Disney International
Founded March 14, 2018 (2018-03-14)
Headquarters Walt Disney Studios, Burbank, California, U.S.[2]
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 Kevin Mayer (Chairman)
Products ESPN+
Movies Anywhere
Parent The Walt Disney Company
Divisions Disney Channels Worldwide
Subsidiaries
Website www.disneyinternational.com

Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International is a business segment and subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company consisting of Disney's subscription streaming services, overseas media businesses, global advertising sales for ESPN, ABC, and other channels and syndicated television sales. As part of the company's formation, BAMTech has been placed under Direct-to-Consumer and International division.[3]

Background

Disney and Sony Pictures formed in 1997 a film distribution joint venture in Southeast Asia.[4] From 1999 to 2000, Bob Iger was president of Walt Disney International and ABC TV Group chairman.[5] until his promotion to president and chief operating officer of the Walt Disney Company.[6]

Andy Bird became the next president of Walt Disney International in 2004.[7][8] 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 want their companies to be the Indian (or other country) Walt Disney Company not the Walt Disney Co. of a certain country, basically tailor the company to the country with for example localization of programming.[9] Another Buena Vista International and Sony Pictures Releasing International joint venture, their 15th joint venture, was set up in Russia in December 2006.[10] Diego Lerner, who lead Disney Latin America, thus was named President of Disney Europe, Middle East & Africa in 2009.[11]

The Walt Disney Company CIS office in Russia opened in 2006.[12] The company's original plan was for the release of three films per year.[13] 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 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.[14] Instead, the country unit took a seven year hiatus then announced in April 2016 production on The Last Knight.[12][15] On November 26, 2017, the film became the highest-grossing local-language release of all time in Russia with 1.68 billion rubles ($28.8 million).[15]

Walt Disney International in 2014 appointed Luke Kang to head up its Greater China unit.[16] Disney South East Asia Managing Director Rob Gilby appointed three country managers for Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand, who were Herry Salim, Veronica Espinosa-Cabalinan and Subha-Orn Rathanamongkolmas (Soupy) respectively in May 2017.[17] With the retirement of its Asia head Paul Candland after 19 years in September 2017, Disney split the Asia region into two, North Asia and South Asia. North Asia consists of Japan, South Korea and Greater China and is head by Kang. While, South Asia combined India and South East Asia with India's head Mahesh Samat would assume leadership over the unit by October 1 and South East Asia head Gilby left the company.[16] Also in September, Lerner was transfer to a new post within Disney International with Rebecca Campbell, then president of ABC Daytime and ABC Owned Television Stations, name to replace him as President of Disney EMEA.[11] In August 2017, Sony Pictures withdrew from its Southeast Asian distribution joint venture with Disney.[4]

By November 2015, Disney UK started up Disney's test streaming service, DisneyLife, with Disney films, TV series, books and music tracks, under its general manager Paul Brown.[18] The original plan had the service spreading to other countries in Europe including France, Spain, Italy and Germany in 2016.[19] In October 2017, Ireland was the second country that DisneyLife was made available.[20] DisneyLife was launched in December 2015 through a partnership between Disney and Alibaba Digital Entertainment only to have the Chinese government shut it down in April 2015 because of foreign content rules.[21] Instead in February 2018, Disney and Alibaba reach a new deal that places Disney content on Alibaba’s Youku streaming platform.[22] In May 25, 2018, DisneyLife was expanded to the Philippines, making it as a third country where the service is available.[23]

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 future.[24] On August 8, 2017, Disney announced that it would increase its ownership in the company to a 75% controlling stake for $1.58 billion.[25] 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.[26]

History

Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International was formed as part of The Walt Disney Company’s March 14, 2018, strategic reorganization, in anticipation of integrating Fox assets, with units coming from all of the other segments.[27][28] With the restructuring, Disney International chair Andy Bird is expected to leave Walt Disney Company.[29] On May 25, 2018, Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International was incorporated.[2]

Units

Unit From years[28]
Disney Digital Network Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media 2018–
BAMTECH Media 2018–
Hulu (30%) Disney–ABC Television Group 2018–
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Walt Disney Studios 2018–[30]
Disney–ABC Domestic Television Disney–ABC Television Group (DATG) 2018–[30]
Disney Channels Worldwide (International)
Disney Media Distribution
DATG advertising sales
ESPN sales and marketing ESPN Inc.
Walt Disney International South Asia[16] Walt Disney International 2018–[35]
The Walt Disney Company EMEA
(additional companies)
Walt Disney International North Asia[16]
  • Walt Disney Japan Co., Ltd.
  • Walt Disney Greater China
    • The Walt Disney Company (China) Ltd.
    • The Walt Disney Company (Taiwan) Ltd.
  • Disney South Korea
The Walt Disney Company Latin America

References

  1. ↑ Barnes, Brooks (August 5, 2018). "Disney's Streaming Service Starts to Come Into Focus". New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2018. — along with “an astute awareness of how audiences connect with the Disney brand,” as Kevin Mayer, chairman of Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International, put it in a news release announcing Mr. Strauss’s promotion.
  2. 1 2 3 "Articles of Incorporation of Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumers & International" (PDF). California Business Search. California State Secretary of State. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Disney Reorganization Anticipates 21st Century Fox Assets". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  4. 1 2 Frater, Patrick (August 14, 2017). "Sony Launches Its Own Theatrical Distributors in Southeast Asia (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  5. ↑ Newcomb, Horace, ed. (2004). Encyclopedia of Television (Second ed.). Routledge. p. 1168. ISBN 978-1579583941.
  6. ↑ Weinraub, Bernard (January 25, 2000). "Disney Names New President In Reshuffling". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Andy Bird: Mister Mouse of Warrington". The Independent. 2005-12-19. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
  8. ↑ Fuster, Jeremy (March 19, 2018). "Andy Bird Steps Down as Chairman of Walt Disney International". TheWrap. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  9. ↑ Szalai, Georg (November 19, 2015). "Walt Disney International Boss Talks Running a Successful Business Worldwide". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  10. ↑ Holdsworth, Nick (December 27, 2006). "Disney, Sony team up for Russian content". The Hollywood Reporter. AP. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  11. 1 2 Tartaglione, Nancy (September 21, 2017). "Disney Intl Names Rebecca Campbell President For Europe, Middle East & Africa". Deadline. Penske Business Media. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  12. 1 2 Kozlov, Vladimir (April 20, 2016). "Disney Resumes Local-Language Movie Production in Russia After 7-Year Break". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Disney in the tale hit". Kommersant. 19 April 2016. p. 1. Retrieved July 30, 2018. Translation.
  14. ↑ Kozlov, Vladimir (April 20, 2011). "Disney to Begin Production of Two Russian-Language Movies This Summer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  15. 1 2 Vladimir, Kozlov (November 27, 2017). "Russia Box Office: Disney Film Becomes Top Local-Language Release of All Time". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Frater, Patrick (September 12, 2017). "Disney Splits Asia Regional Management in Two". Variety. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Disney appoints country managers - The Nation". The Nation. May 7, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  18. ↑ Sweney, Mark (23 November 2015). "Disney hands over keys to kingdom with launch of online TV service". the Guardian. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  19. ↑ Barraclough, Leo (October 21, 2015). "Disney to Launch Subscription Streaming Service in U.K." Variety. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  20. ↑ Maguire, Jack (11 October 2017). "Disneylife streaming service has arrived in Ireland". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  21. ↑ Frater, Patrick (April 26, 2016). "DisneyLife Taken Off Air by China Regulators". Variety. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  22. ↑ Frater, Patrick (February 12, 2018). "Disney Cartoons Expand in China on Alibaba's Youku Platform". Variety. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  23. ↑ Gonzales, Gelo (25 May 2018). "Disney launches own streaming app in PH, costs P149 monthly on Globe". Rappler. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  24. ↑ Soshnick, Scott; Palmeri, Christopher (June 30, 2016). "Disney Said to Buy Stake in $3.5 Billion MLB Web Unit". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Marvel and Star Wars films will ditch Netflix for Disney's own service". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  26. ↑ Spangler, Todd (August 8, 2017). "Disney to End Netflix Deal, Sets Launch of ESPN and Disney-Branded Streaming Services". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  27. ↑ Bradshaw, Tim (March 14, 2018). "Walt Disney unveils shake up to focus on streaming services". Financial Times. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  28. 1 2 Spangler, Todd (March 14, 2018). "Disney Reorganizes Divisions, Creates Dedicated Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Unit". Variety. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  29. ↑ Barnes, Brooks (March 14, 2018). "Disney Reorganization Anticipates 21st Century Fox Assets". The New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  30. 1 2 Chmielewski, Dawn C. (March 14, 2018). "Disney Announces Reorganization, Names Kevin Mayer Head Of New Direct-To-Consumer Unit, Adds Consumer Products To Bob Chapek's Portfolio". Deadline. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  31. ↑ Tayao-Juego, Annelle (December 22, 2017). "PH a happy place for Disney group". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  32. ↑ Angelin Yeoh Xin Lin (March 16, 2017). "Disney Malaysia lodges appeal, Censorship Board says it will not budge - Nation | The Star Online". The Star. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  33. ↑ Marbun, Julkifli (September 17, 2015). "PT Walt Disney Indonesia never plan to build Disneyland in Bogor | Republika Online". Republika Online. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  34. ↑ "THE WALT DISNEY (THAILAND) COMPANY LIMITED Company Profile | D&B Hoovers". www.hoovers.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  35. ↑ Wang, Christine (March 14, 2018). "Disney announces strategic reorganization, effective immediately". CNBC. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
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