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Thursday, January 20, 2022

Report: Disney Shakes-Up Streaming Management


Walt Disney Co. said it is shaking up its streaming management and forming a new hub for international content creation as the company searches for further growth amid intense competition, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The company on Wednesday named Michael Paull to the newly created role of president of Disney Streaming, in which he will oversee Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and Star+ globally for the company’s media and entertainment distribution division. Mr. Paull, who previously oversaw Disney+ and ESPN+, will report to Kareem Daniel, chairman of the media and entertainment distribution unit.

Rebecca Campbell will oversee Disney’s new international content hub and report directly to Chief Executive Bob Chapek, the company said.

The executive reshuffling puts in place the leaders charged with Disney’s highest priority—streaming—and is among the first major personnel moves made by Mr. Chapek since he became the sole leader of Disney. Mr. Chapek was named CEO in February 2020, but just this month started running the operation on his own after previous CEO and Executive Chairman Robert Iger left the company.

After seeing torrential growth in sign-ups following its November 2019 debut, Disney’s flagship streaming service ran into issues related to Covid-19 production shutdowns that slowed the flow of programming. During 2020, the company moved would-be theatrical releases like “Soul” and “Hamilton” to the service to boost subscriptions, a strategy it has continued to employ as the Omicron variant depresses moviegoing.

In a New Year’s letter to employees, Mr. Chapek emphasized that Disney would focus heavily on its streaming business in 2022.

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