Core Viewpoint - Disney is showing signs of recovery and growth across all segments, with strong financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, indicating a positive outlook for the company [1][6][11]. Financial Performance - Total revenue for the second quarter increased by 7% year-over-year to $23.6 billion, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $23.14 billion [6]. - All segments reported profitability, with entertainment operating income rising by 61%, and direct-to-consumer operating income reaching $336 million, up from $47 million the previous year [7]. - Disney+ added 1.4 million subscribers, while the Disney+ and Hulu bundle gained 2.5 million subscribers [7]. - Earnings per share (EPS) were reported at $1.45, exceeding the consensus target of $1.20 [7]. Segment Performance - The entertainment segment grew by 9%, parks by 6%, and sports by 5% [6]. - Disney studios had the top three highest-grossing films last year and a strong slate of 10 movies expected for release this year, including the next installment in the Avatar series [9]. Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued profit increases across all segments and overall company earnings for the remainder of the year [11]. - Disney is on track to launch its ESPN streaming service later this year and plans to open a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, which will be a low-risk project as it will not require additional capital investment [10]. External Factors - The recent announcement of tariffs on foreign-made films by the Trump administration has raised concerns, but Disney management remains confident in their near-term outlook and profitability despite the uncertainty surrounding the tariffs [12][13]. - Following the tariff announcement, Disney's stock initially fell but rebounded after the earnings report, showing a 23% increase over the past month [14].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated net revenue decreased by 7% year over year to $555 million [21] - Consolidated AOI declined by 30% to $104 million, with a margin of 19% [21] - Adjusted EPS was reported at $0.52 [21] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $94 million, on track to achieve approximately $220 million for the full year [20][32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Domestic operations revenue decreased by 7% to $486 million, with subscription revenue down by 3% due to a 12% decline in affiliate revenue, partially offset by an 8% growth in streaming revenue [21][22] - Advertising revenue in domestic operations decreased by 15% year over year, primarily due to lower linear ratings [26] - International revenue decreased by 7% to $70 million, with subscription revenue down by 12% due to the non-renewal with Movistar in Spain [28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Streaming subscribers remained flat at 10.2 million compared to the prior year, with a slight decline from 10.4 million at the end of 2024 [24][25] - Advertising revenue from streaming is still in the low single digits but provides incremental revenue opportunities [50] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company focuses on programming, partnerships, and profitability, emphasizing the generation of free cash flow [6][34] - Plans to launch an ad-supported version of Shudder and a new fast channel, Acorn TV Mysteries, to enhance audience engagement and advertising opportunities [10][12] - The company aims to improve its content distribution ecosystem through partnerships with traditional MVPD distributors [39] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains optimistic about the advertising market despite macroeconomic uncertainties, noting strong engagement with advertising partners [26][46] - The company anticipates revenue acceleration from streaming due to pricing actions and content licensing [63] - Management acknowledges challenges in the linear advertising market but believes in the strength of their programming and advanced advertising capabilities [66] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with net debt of $1.5 billion and a consolidated net leverage ratio of 2.9 times [30] - The capital allocation philosophy remains focused on supporting the business through compelling programming while maintaining healthy cash flow generation [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you tell us about the streaming subscribers coming in through bundled video packages? - Management expressed satisfaction with the integration with Charter and the anticipated take rates for embedded streaming services [37] Question: Are you seeing any risk of cannibalization on the a la carte side? - Management believes that expanding distribution will create a healthier video ecosystem and additional revenue opportunities [40] Question: How much of your advertising is coming from streaming? - Streaming advertising delivers incremental revenue, and the company is confident in its genre-based services [50] Question: When will you lap the subscription revenue issues from the Spanish drop? - Management indicated that the non-renewal with Movistar occurred at the end of 2024, providing a clean comparison for year-over-year analysis [54] Question: What are your expectations for content spend and content amortization this year? - Management stated that cash content spend is expected to be slightly down, but the volume of productions will remain flat year over year [72]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenue grew 2% year over year, excluding the Super Bowl, reaching $7.2 billion [6][22] - Direct to Consumer (D2C) revenue increased by 9% year over year to $2 billion, with subscription revenue growing 16% [23] - Adjusted OIBDA improved to $688 million, reflecting year-over-year improvements in D2C and filmed entertainment [22][24] - Free cash flow was $123 million, including $108 million in restructuring payments [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - D2C OIBDA improved by nearly $180 million year over year, with a loss of $109 million [6][23] - Filmed Entertainment revenue was $627 million, up 4% year over year, with OIBDA of $20 million compared to a loss of $3 million in the previous year [24][25] - TV Media advertising revenue, excluding the Super Bowl, was flat year over year, with OIBDA at $922 million [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Paramount Plus ended the quarter with 79 million global subscribers, an increase of 11 million year over year [7] - Global watch time per user on Paramount Plus increased by 17% year over year, and churn improved by 130 basis points [7] - CBS's network audience grew 3% in the quarter compared to last year, with a 12% increase without the Super Bowl comparison [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on driving profitable growth through a differentiated content strategy, emphasizing fewer but bigger original series [7][10] - Paramount is prioritizing key investments while streamlining non-content expenses in response to macroeconomic uncertainties [6][28] - The company plans to achieve domestic profitability for Paramount Plus in 2025, leveraging improvements in churn and ARPU [26][28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's performance despite macroeconomic uncertainties, noting strong engagement and content-driven growth [6][28] - The company anticipates that supply-demand dynamics in digital advertising will stabilize over time, leading to improved monetization [30][34] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining strong relationships with affiliates and securing valuable content partnerships [36] Other Important Information - The company is set to premiere several new series and franchise expansions, including new installments of Yellowstone and Dexter [10][11] - Pluto TV achieved its highest consumption ever, with global viewing time up 26% year over year, although monetization has been softer than expected [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Advertising pressure on Pluto and digital advertising - Management acknowledged the impact of increased supply in digital advertising but expressed confidence that supply-demand dynamics will balance out over time [30][33] Question: Licensing strategy for library content versus original content - Management indicated that content licensing remains a growth area, but the focus will be on using valuable IP to enhance owned and operated assets [39][40] Question: Expectations for linear declines and streaming growth - Management noted that subscriber declines in linear TV are expected to continue, while streaming growth will be driven by subscriber growth, churn improvements, and ARPU [46][48] Question: Importance of Taylor Sheridan and potential acquisitions - Management emphasized the value of the partnership with Taylor Sheridan and the current model as optimal for maximizing value without pursuing acquisitions [52][54] Question: Interest in bundling and joint ventures - Management expressed openness to exploring bundling opportunities and partnerships but emphasized a disciplined approach to ensure value creation [60][62] Question: Current linear trends and guidance for full year OIBDA and free cash flow - Management reiterated that the fundamental drivers of earnings improvement remain in place, despite macroeconomic uncertainties impacting advertising revenue [70][71]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenue grew 2% year over year, excluding the Super Bowl, reaching $7.2 billion [5][19] - Direct to Consumer (D2C) revenue increased by 9% year over year to $2 billion, with subscription revenue growing 16% [20] - Adjusted OIBDA improved to $688 million, reflecting year-over-year improvements in D2C and filmed entertainment [19][20] - Free cash flow was $123 million, including $108 million in restructuring payments [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - D2C OIBDA improved by nearly $180 million year over year, with a loss of $109 million [5][20] - TV Media advertising revenue, excluding the Super Bowl, was flat year over year, with OIBDA at $922 million [21] - Filmed Entertainment revenue increased by 4% year over year to $627 million, with OIBDA of $20 million compared to a loss of $3 million in the previous year [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Paramount Plus ended the quarter with 79 million global subscribers, up 11 million year over year, including 1.5 million new subscribers in the quarter [6] - Global watch time per user on Paramount Plus increased by 17% year over year, and churn improved by 130 basis points [6] - Pluto TV's global viewing time increased by 26% year over year, although monetization was softer than expected [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is prioritizing key investments while streamlining non-content expenses due to macroeconomic uncertainties [5] - A differentiated content strategy focusing on fewer, bigger breakthrough original series is driving growth, with Paramount Plus having 25% of the top 10 SVOD originals [7] - The company plans to achieve domestic profitability for Paramount Plus in 2025 and is focused on leveraging its content library and iconic IP [26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's performance despite macroeconomic challenges, emphasizing strong engagement and content-driven growth [5][26] - The company anticipates that supply-demand dynamics in digital advertising will stabilize over time, leading to improved monetization [11][31] - Management acknowledged potential impacts from macroeconomic uncertainties, particularly in advertising, but remains focused on expense management and strategic investments [26][67] Other Important Information - The company is expanding the Yellowstone franchise with three new series set to premiere in the coming quarters [8] - The success of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 contributed significantly to the Filmed Entertainment segment's performance [22] - The company is on track to close a pending transaction with Skydance in the first half of the year [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Advertising pressure on Pluto and digital advertising - Management acknowledged the impact of new entrants in the digital supply space but expects supply-demand dynamics to balance out over time [31] Question: FCC's potential impact on affiliate revenue - Management emphasized the mutually beneficial relationship with affiliates and expressed confidence in securing partnerships despite potential regulatory changes [34] Question: Licensing strategy for library content versus original content - Management views content licensing as a growth business but believes in using valuable IP to grow owned assets while still considering selective licensing opportunities [38] Question: Expectations for linear declines and streaming growth - Management indicated that subscriber declines in linear TV are expected to continue, while streaming growth is driven by subscriber growth, churn improvements, and ARPU [46][47] Question: Current relationship with Taylor Sheridan and potential acquisition of 101 Studios - Management expressed satisfaction with the current partnership with Taylor Sheridan and indicated no plans to acquire 101 Studios, preferring to maintain the existing relationship [51][54] Question: Interest in bundling and joint ventures - Management is open to exploring bundling opportunities but emphasizes a disciplined approach to ensure value and audience growth [60] Question: Upside in TV media performance - Management attributed the strong performance to CBS's broadcast slate and sports, which helped offset softness in the digital landscape [65]

Core Viewpoint - The Walt Disney Company's shares have experienced a significant rally, driven by stronger-than-expected growth, particularly from demand at US theme parks [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - Disney's stock saw a more than 10% increase on Wednesday, continuing to rally on Thursday [1] - The stock is approaching another breakout, as indicated by technical analysts [1] Group 2: Market Dynamics - Stock rallies often face resistance levels, which are price points where there is substantial sell interest [2] - When a market trends higher, a lack of sellers can lead to an uptrend as buyers compete for shares [2] Group 3: Resistance Levels - Resistance was previously noted around $101.65 in March, where the stock reversed and declined [4] - The recent news allowed Disney to break through this resistance, indicating that sellers at this level were no longer a factor [6] - Current resistance is observed around $106.50, attributed to remorseful buyers from January who are now selling [7][8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1, the company gained over 5 million subscribers, totaling more than 22 million subscribers over the last twelve months [9][10] - The company delivered $339 million in EBITDA for the first quarter and is on track to achieve at least $1.3 billion in EBITDA for 2025, representing an 85% increase compared to 2024 [10][11] - The company aims to surpass its goal of 150 million subscribers by the end of next year [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The streaming segment is experiencing significant growth, driven by high-quality storytelling and a strong content pipeline from HBO [10][11] - Warner Bros. Television is noted as the world's leading independent TV studio, contributing to the company's cultural and commercial impact [12] - The film segment is seeing success with a mix of IP-based blockbusters and original content, highlighted by the success of the Minecraft movie and upcoming titles like Final Destination [12][13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focusing on local language content and local sports to enhance relevance in various regions globally [11] - The Latin America market leads in engagement, benefiting from a comprehensive offering and local originals [41][42] - The U.S. and Europe markets are aligned in engagement levels, while Asia Pacific shows slightly less engagement due to a U.S.-based content mix [42] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasizes a focus on quality over quantity in content production, aiming to enhance storytelling and cultural impact [6][10] - A ten-year plan is in place to reignite the DC brand globally, with significant upcoming releases [13] - The company is exploring bundling strategies to enhance consumer experience and reduce churn [91][92] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to create long-term sustainable growth and shareholder value, citing a strong global reach and demand for quality content [13] - The management noted that the advertising business is currently stable, with no material impact from macroeconomic factors observed [48] - Future growth is expected from globalization, penetration growth, ARPU growth, and product enhancements [87][90] Other Important Information - The company is actively managing its cost base to prepare for potential economic turbulence [50] - There is a strategic focus on leveraging powerful sports rights while balancing costs and profitability [29][30] - The company is committed to harvesting its extensive IP library while ensuring that key franchises remain exclusive to its platforms [75][76] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on capital structure and leverage ratio for global linear networks - Management refrained from speculating on capital structures but expressed satisfaction with the recent reorganization and its potential to create transparency and optionality [17][19] Question: Size of the extra member opportunity for MAX in the U.S. - Management indicated that the extra member initiative will roll out gradually, with benefits expected in 2025 and beyond [22][23] Question: Sports strategy on MAX and licensing new IPs - The company is experimenting with different models for sports content and sees opportunities for licensing while balancing costs [27][29] Question: HBO's ability to produce standout hits consistently - The strength of HBO's creative team and a focus on quality storytelling are key factors in producing successful content [35][36] Question: Impact of macroeconomic factors on advertising channels - Management reported no significant impact on advertising revenue and is closely monitoring the situation [48] Question: Clarification on NBA-related revenue and costs - Management confirmed that Q1 would have shown a significant decline without NBA revenue, but emphasized the strength of their sports rights portfolio [55][56] Question: Drivers for increasing ARPU and scaling opportunities - Management highlighted several levers for ARPU growth, including pricing adjustments and the introduction of new subscription models [62][66] Question: Content spending strategy and licensing for third-party services - The company is reallocating content spending towards higher quality productions while also exploring licensing opportunities for its extensive IP library [71][78]

Core Insights - The Walt Disney Company reported strong second-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with adjusted earnings of $1.45 per share, surpassing estimates by 22.88% and increasing 19.8% year over year [1] - Revenues for the quarter rose 7% year over year to $23.62 billion, exceeding consensus estimates by 2.1% [1] Financial Performance - Entertainment revenues, accounting for 45.2% of total revenues, increased 9% year over year to $10.68 billion [4] - Linear Networks revenues declined 12.5% year over year to $2.42 billion, while Direct-to-Consumer revenues rose 8.4% to $6.12 billion [4] - Content Sales/Licensing and Other revenues grew significantly by 54.5% year over year to $2.15 billion [4] - Experiences revenues, making up 37.6% of total revenues, rose 5.9% year over year to $8.89 billion, with domestic revenues increasing by 9.1% to $6.5 billion [5] - International revenues decreased by 5.3% year over year to $1.44 billion [5] - Sports revenues increased by 5% year over year to $4.53 billion [5] Subscriber Metrics - As of March 29, 2025, Disney+ had 126 million paid subscribers, up from 124.6 million as of December 28, 2024 [6] - Domestic average monthly revenue per paid subscriber for Disney+ increased by 5% to $7.52, while international average monthly revenue per paid subscriber rose from $6.78 to $7.19 [6] Operating Income - Total costs and expenses increased by 4.7% year over year to $20.12 billion [8] - Segmental operating income was $4.44 billion, reflecting a 15.4% year-over-year increase [8] - Entertainment segmental operating income surged 94.9% year over year to $1.7 billion [9] - Experiences segmental operating income rose 9% year over year to $2.49 billion [10] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - As of March 29, 2025, cash and cash equivalents stood at $5.85 billion, up from $5.48 billion as of December 28, 2024 [11] - Total borrowings decreased to $42.9 billion from $45.3 billion [11] - Free cash flow for the quarter was reported at $4.89 billion [11] Future Guidance - For fiscal 2025, Disney expects adjusted earnings of $5.75 per share, a 16% increase over fiscal 2024 [12] - Entertainment operating income growth is anticipated to be in the double-digit percentage range, while Experiences' operating income growth is expected between 6% and 8% year over year [12] - The Sports segment's operating income is projected to grow by 18% [12] - A modest increase in Disney+ subscriber base is expected for the fiscal third quarter [13]

Group 1 - Fox Corporation's President and COO John Nallen will participate in MoffettNathanson's Media, Internet & Communications Conference on May 14, 2025 [1] - A live and archived webcast of the presentation will be available on Fox Corporation's investor website [1] Group 2 - Fox Corporation produces and distributes news, sports, and entertainment content through brands like FOX News Media, FOX Sports, FOX Entertainment, FOX Television Stations, and Tubi Media Group [2] - The company holds cultural significance with consumers and commercial importance for distributors and advertisers [2] - Fox Corporation aims to leverage its strengths and invest in new initiatives to enhance its offerings and consumer relationships [2]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong Q2 with adjusted EPS up 20% from the prior year, rounding out a solid first half of fiscal 2025 [9][12] - The Experiences segment delivered strong results, driven by outstanding performance from domestic businesses [9][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Experiences segment achieved all-time high returns, indicating its critical role as a growth platform for the company [10] - Domestic park margins increased by 110 basis points, with contributions from various businesses, including cruise operations [25][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Bookings for Walt Disney World for Q3 are up 4%, and for Q4, bookings are up 7%, indicating strong demand in the U.S. market [58] - Attendance in China remains stable, but per capita spending is lower due to economic challenges faced by consumers [60] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company announced plans for a new Disney theme park in Abu Dhabi, which will blend Disney stories with local culture and is expected to attract millions of visitors [5][6][27] - A significant investment of over $30 billion is planned for theme park expansions in Florida and California, reflecting confidence in these locations [8][74] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the company's direction and outlook for the rest of the fiscal year, citing strong performance and bookings [12][13] - The company is focused on enhancing its streaming business, with plans to integrate Hulu and ESPN into a more cohesive user experience [17][19] Other Important Information - The company is investing in technology improvements and local content development to enhance its streaming offerings [21][76] - The advertising market remains healthy, particularly for live sports, with ESPN's advertising revenue up over 20% [45][46] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of broader content strategy on Disney+ - Management confirmed that the integration of Hulu and sports content is positively impacting engagement and reducing churn [17][19] Question: Details on the Abu Dhabi park location and partner selection - The decision was based on the region's potential market and the partnership with Morale Group, emphasizing quality and innovation [27][30] Question: Upcoming theatrical slate and Marvel's role - Management expressed confidence in the upcoming film slate, highlighting a renewed focus on quality over quantity for Marvel content [36][39] Question: Advertising market outlook - The advertising market is healthy, with strong demand from sectors like restaurants and healthcare, despite challenges in the DTC space [46][48] Question: Experiences segment outlook and international visitation - The outlook for the Experiences segment remains strong, with positive bookings and stable attendance in international markets [58][60] Question: Insights from the Cruise launch and future strategy - The company is leveraging learnings from the Disney Treasure cruise ship to enhance future cruise offerings [66][68] Question: Opportunities for further park expansions - While there are no immediate plans for new parks, the company is focused on maximizing returns from existing locations and investments [74][75] Question: Operating leverage in streaming - Management indicated that both revenue growth and cost reductions will contribute to operating leverage in the streaming business [76][77]

Core Insights - The micro-drama "Lion City Mountains and Seas," with an investment exceeding 100 million, achieved a viewership rating of over 1 on its launch day, setting a record for the highest popularity among micro-dramas on Tencent Video [1][2][13] Group 1: Performance Data - On its premiere on April 30, "Lion City Mountains and Seas" achieved a viewership rating of 1.530% and a market share of 7.263%, ranking third in the daily ratings [2][3] - By May 5, the drama's total viewership reached 43.607 million, with daily views surpassing 10 million for the first time [10] - The drama ranked third on Tencent Video's hot drama list with a score of 9.4 [10] Group 2: Audience Reception - Audience reviews for "Lion City Mountains and Seas" are mixed, with some praising the attention to detail and strong performances, while others criticize the short format as lacking depth [15] - The drama features a complex character, Liu Zhendong, whose dual identity as a police chief and the son of a gang leader adds to the narrative's intrigue [20][21] Group 3: Cultural and Historical Context - The drama is set against the backdrop of the 1921 "Piglet Riot," reflecting the struggles of Chinese laborers in Southeast Asia [17][18] - The production recreated a 24,000 square meter historical set to authentically depict the 1940s Southeast Asian environment [16] Group 4: Industry Trends - "Lion City Mountains and Seas" represents a trend towards high-investment micro-dramas, with significant production costs aimed at enhancing quality [27][29] - The drama is part of a broader strategy by Longxin Media to develop a series of IPs focused on the Southeast Asian market, indicating a shift in content creation towards regional narratives [26]