Disney Chief Executive Josh D’Amaro spoke with CNBC about the company’s performance and strategic direction, describing the parks division’s recent quarterly results as a major positive development. D’Amaro, who assumed the CEO role in March after serving as chairman of Disney Experiences, indicated he was satisfied with execution against stated objectives and characterized the organization as having achieved both directional clarity and workforce stability.
The company’s theme parks and streaming divisions have remained central to investor focus and Walt Street reception, though the stock has declined more than 8% over the previous 12 months. D’Amaro acknowledged dissatisfaction with the stock’s performance while maintaining that Disney maintains a competitive position relative to other entertainment companies. He noted the company is not immune to macroeconomic pressures affecting consumer-facing businesses but indicated capacity to respond to challenges as needed. On the parks front, D’Amaro stopped short of confirming additional pricing increases but signaled continued investment in Disney’s destination properties.
Streaming emerged as another strategic priority in D’Amaro’s remarks. He expressed confidence in Disney+ growth prospects, particularly international expansion, and indicated the company is evaluating an ad-supported free tier as a potential entry point for viewers who might eventually convert to paid subscriptions. D’Amaro described this approach as a “front porch” mechanism and discussed broader ambitions to integrate streaming with other Disney business units to enhance customer lifetime value.
D’Amaro also addressed ongoing industry dynamics and company-specific matters. He reaffirmed that ESPN will not be spun off, emphasizing the strategic value of Disney’s sports rights portfolio and associated fan engagement. Separately, D’Amaro defended the company’s editorial independence in response to regulatory scrutiny and political criticism directed at ABC programming, stating Disney would uphold journalistic integrity against external pressure.
The CEO’s comments came amid a period of organizational transition that included multiple rounds of workforce reductions affecting employees across several divisions. Media industry consolidation efforts by competitors remained limited in scope, with D’Amaro indicating no interest in pursuing comparable major structural changes.
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