- Business
- The Walt Disney Company operates as a diversified international entertainment and media enterprise, together with its subsidiaries, through three core segments: Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences. The Entertainment segment produces and distributes film and episodic television content under banners including Disney Branded Television, FX Productions, Lucasfilm, Marvel, National Geographic Studios, Pixar, Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Studios, 20th Television, and Walt Disney Pictures; operates linear networks such as ABC Television Network, Disney Channels, Freeform, FX Channels, National Geographic Channels, and international Disney, FX, National Geographic, and Star branded channels; offers direct-to-consumer streaming services including Disney+, Hulu, and Disney+ Hotstar; and generates revenue from content sales/licensing, theatrical distribution, home entertainment, music via Disney Music Group, stage plays through Disney Theatrical Group, and post-production services by Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound. The Sports segment encompasses ESPN-branded domestic and international channels, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+ DTC service, and Star-branded sports channels in India, with rights to major events including NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, college football and basketball, UFC, soccer, Formula 1, tennis, golf, and cricket. The Experiences segment manages parks and resorts worldwide including Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Shanghai Disney Resort, Disney Cruise Line; and consumer products through licensing, retail, wholesale, publishing, and merchandising of branded merchandise, books, comics, and magazines.
Founded in 1923 and headquartered in Burbank, California, the company conducts operations across the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and other international markets, reaching global audiences through its networks, streaming platforms, and parks.
Recent developments include the November 2024 formation of a joint venture with Reliance Industries Limited for Star India, combining Disney's Star-branded channels and Disney+ Hotstar in India with RIL's media assets, where RIL holds a 56% controlling interest and Disney retains 37%; a September 2025 partnership with WEBTOON Entertainment to launch a digital comics platform featuring over 35,000 Disney comics from Marvel, Star Wars, and 20th Century Studios, alongside a minority stake acquisition in WEBTOON; finalization of a Hulu majority stake from Comcast; plans for a new ESPN DTC service launching in early fiscal 2026; and ongoing Experiences expansions such as Disney Cruise Line ships Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure, alongside investments in theme park attractions.