From Mickey Mouse to global media powerhouse
Walt Disney has been a trailblazer in the animation industry for almost a century. Initially founded as a cartoon studio in the 1920s, The Walt Disney Company has grown and diversified at a large scale, now encompassing an impressive mix of global media networks, consumer products, parks, and resorts.
In 2022, the global revenue of The Walt Disney Company stood at over 80 billion U.S. dollars, marking the second-most profitable year in company history. Looking at Disney’s revenue distribution by segment, the newly restructured Media and Entertainment Distribution division (which includes linear networks, direct-to-consumer services, content sales, and licensing) accounted for the lion’s share of earnings. Over the past few decades, the list of Disney-owned properties has rapidly expanded, and today, the House of Mouse is home to television networks and streaming services such as ABC, ESPN, National Geographic, and Hulu. As for the Walt Disney Studios division, the company’s beating heart, the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm continue to put Disney on top of the movie charts. As a case in point, the “Avengers” and “Star Wars” franchises feature some of the most successful movies of all time.
Spotlight on Disney+
Disney entered the streaming race in 2019 by launching its tentpole SVOD service Disney+. While the company has always been a champion of home entertainment, the transfer of Disney’s extensive content catalog to a singular platform breathed new life into the company and gave it a significant competitive edge. In addition to its library of non-Disney programming, the service features content produced by Walt Disney Studios and various subsidiaries, including Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Pixar, drawing millions of viewers every day. In 2021, the number of Disney+ subscribers surpassed the 100-million mark, and by 2026, the service is expected to dominate the global streaming landscape.
Entertainment off-screen
The opening of Disneyland in 1955 rang in a new era for Walt Disney as the company was no longer exclusively entertaining audiences on-screen but also offering real-life experiences to millions of visitors. Today, Disney owns and operates 12 theme parks across the globe, many of which rank among the most-visited amusem*nt and theme parks worldwide. Meanwhile, fans can also see their favorite characters aboard one of the company’s cruise ships. The Disney Cruise Line was the top-rated large-ship cruise line in the U.S. in 2022, and while most vessels lay at anchor in 2020 due to the pandemic, Disney already unveiled its fifth ocean liner, Disney Wish, in 2022.
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