The numbers
5%—Disney revenue increase to $26 billion in the quarter for fiscal Q1.
-35%—Entertainment operating income decreased from $1.7 billion to $1.1 billion, as higher programming and marketing costs more than offset an increase in subscription and affiliate fees and strong theatrical revenue.
196 million—The last subscriber report for Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, with Disney opting not to report subscribers in its fiscal Q1.
10%—Disney closed a deal on Jan. 31 for the NFL to acquire a 10% stake in ESPN, a deal that the company says is valued at $3 billion.
The watercooler talk
Though Disney had substantial news in its latest earnings report—including closing its deal for the NFL to acquire a 10% stake in ESPN and the company officially halting its subscriber reporting in fiscal Q1—the company couldn’t ignore recent reports that its CEO, Bob Iger, was planning to exit before his contract expires at the end of the year.
In the earnings, Iger appeared to allude to the exit, releasing a statement noting that he was “incredibly proud” of what the company accomplished “over the past three years.” Iger returned to the company as CEO in November 2022, replacing Bob Chapek at the time.
The exact timing of his departure hasn’t been determined, according to The Wall Street Journal. He is expected to stay on for “several months” to ensure a smooth transition.
Josh D’Amaro, Disney’s experiences chairman, is reportedly the favorite to take the position.
The key quote
“We are pleased with the start to our fiscal year, and our achievements reflect the tremendous progress we’ve made. We delivered strong box office performance in calendar year 2025 with billion-dollar hits like Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash, franchises that generate value across many of our businesses. As we continue to manage our company for the future, I am incredibly proud of all that we’ve accomplished over the past three years.” — Bob Iger, Disney CEO
