Disney Taps PepsiCo Veteran Hugh Johnston as CFO

K.J. Yossman Disney+ has struck a deal with U.K. streamer ITVX to license some of its shows.

Tim Allen is opening up about the new Toy Story sequel Bob Iger confirmed earlier this year.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Disney CEO Bob Iger announced in February that a new “Toy Story” movie was in development along with new installments in the “Frozen” and “Zootopia” franchises. No further details were provided at the time, but it appears the new “Toy Story” movie will not be another tangentially-related spinoff like “Lightyear” but a return to the core story centered on Woody and Buzz Lightyear.

Disney crossed a key threshold in fiscal 2023, taking in more revenue from streaming than from linear TV.

Three people were hurt by a lamppost that likely fell down due to a strong gust of wind at Disneyland this morning. One person was taken to an area hospital to be treated for serious injuries and two others were treated at the scene and released.

After poor theatrical showings throughout 2023, and Marvel Studios and the MCU teetering for the first time after “The Marvels,” many look to Disney in anticipation of what the studio will do to right the ship. And maybe the first glimpse of an antidote is here.

Valerie Wu Intern Disney Branded Television has acquired first-generation Taiwanese American filmmaker Sean Wang’s award-winning documentary short, “Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó.” “Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó” features dialogue in both Mandarin and English and is a “multigenerational story” that celebrates Sean Wang’s two grandmothers, one on his father’s side and the other on his mother’s side. The film premiered at the SXSW film festival, where it took home the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award.

Media stocks popped Thursday, well outperforming the broader market, after news that the months longs SAG-AFTRA strike has been settled, with the actors’ guild and the AMPTP announcing a agreement last night. Halted productions can soon look to restart, the theatrical release calendar can stop shifting and the industry begin to get back to normal after a tough summer and fall.

EXCLUSIVE: Bob Iger finally had his wish come true today

Disney CEO Bob Iger says next month’s beta launch of a combined Hulu–Disney+ app will help acclimate families to the concept of Bluey being a couple of clicks away from American Horror Story.

Don’t expect to see Andor or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on Netflix any time soon.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Disney+ topped 150 million streaming subscriptions by the end of its fiscal fourth quarter of the year, up from 146.7 million in the previous quarter. On Wednesday, Disney reported Core Disney+ subscriptions are at 112.6 million subs, as of the quarter ended Sept. 30, and the India-based Disney+ Hotstar is at 37.6 million.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Disney, which is in the home stretch of swinging the deal to become the full owner of Hulu, will launch a beta test of an app next month that combines Disney+ and Hulu into a single experience, CEO Bob Iger said. Disney still needs to close its deal with Comcast to buy out NBCUniversal’s 33% stake in Hulu. In a filing last week, Disney said it would pay at least $8.61 billion to Comcast for the Hulu stake, with the final price tag — which could be much higher — to be based on an assessment of Hulu’s market value by each parties’ bankers.

Streaming‘s challenging economics will make industry consolidation “inevitable,” in the view of Candle Media Co-CEO Kevin Mayer, but Big Tech and Hollywood are likely to remain in separate camps.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor All eight seasons of “House,” the popular medical dramedy starring Hugh Laurie as the sardonic and brilliant chief of diagnostic medicine at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, are landing on Hulu this week. All 177 episodes of “House” will premiere on Hulu on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Disney today named Hugh F. Johnston its new chief financial officer as of Dec. 4, replacing interim CFO December 4, 2023, Kevin Lansberry, who will return to his position as EVP and CFO of the company’s Experiences segment.

This Morning star Alison Hammond has opened up about flirting with celebrities on the show, as she feels like it is no longer acceptable to do so.The 48 year old made a name for herself for her flirtatious chats with Hollywood stars Harrison Ford and Hugh Jackman, but now she has admitted that she has had to tone it down in recent times. Alison’s chat with Huge in 2017 went viral for the chemistry that was on show between the pair, but the host now says that things “are not good” in the Hugh Jackman camp at the moment.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Apple has promoted Zach Kahn, who previously managed the tech giant’s podcast and audiobooks PR, to lead public relations for content on Vision Pro, the company’s forthcoming AR/VR headset. According to his LinkedIn bio, Kahn will head communications for apps, services and entertainment on Apple Vision Pro, which is slated to feature apps for Apple TV and Apple Music when it launches in early 2024. Apple unveiled the Vision Pro at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June, to be priced at a whopping $3,500 apiece.

EXCLUSIVE: On the heels of success with her feature directorial debut, the SXSW prize-winning thriller It Is In Us All, Irish writer, director, and actress Antonia Campbell-Hughes has signed with Entertainment 360 for representation in all areas.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Disney is on the cusp of becoming the 100% owner of Hulu. The media conglomerate announced that it expects to pay $8.61 billion to Comcast to acquire the cable operator’s 33% stake in Hulu following Comcast’s Nov. 1 exercise of its right under the put/call arrangement between the two companies.