The Walt Disney Company

Description

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) is a diversified mass media and entertainment company.

The media and entertainment firm operates through various divisions such as:
• Media Networks
• Studio Entertainment
• Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI)
• Parks, Experiences and Products

Media Networks Segment

The company operates and owns cable and broadcasting networks, production, and distribution of television services, radio and television stations through the segment. Famous channels include Disney, Disney Junior, ESPN, FX, National Geographic, etc.

Parks, Experiences, and Products Segment

The segment is engaged in the ownership and management of different theme parks, including:

• Walt Disney World Resort: Florida
• Disneyland Resort: California
• Disney Resort and Spa: Hawaii
• Disney Cruise Line
• Disneyland Paris
• Shanghai Disney Resort

The resort includes hotels, clubs, dining and entertainment complex, conference center, golf courses, water parks, theme parks, sports complex and other recreational facilities.

Studio Entertainment Segment

The company focuses on producing live-action, animated motion pictures, web series, straight-to-video content, instrumental recordings and hosts onstage live plays through this business division.

Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) Segment

This segment deals with licensing the company's trade name, animated characters, movie characters, visual properties, scripts, and other related intellectual property rights to other producers, retailers, publishers, and game developers globally. The company directly distributes its products via retail stores, online through e-commerce websites, and wholesale businesses. DTC video streaming includes Disney+Hotstar, ESPN+, Hulu, etc.

Disney is also engaged in developing and publishing books, games, magazines, comic books, etc., for both personal computers and mobile.

The entertainment firm engages in motion picture production and distribution under the following:

• Walt Disney Pictures
• Marvel Studios
• Blue Sky Studio banners
• Lucasfilm
• Searchlight Pictures
• Pixar
• 20th Century Studios

Founder Walt Disney signed an agreement with M.J. Winkler in 1923 for producing a comedy series. It led to the foundation of the company as Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio.

In 1986, Walt Disney Productions rebranded itself as The Walt Disney Company.

Mickey Mouse is reportedly Disney’s most popular characters and the company's official mascot.

The global entertainment company claims to be among the Best Employers for Diversity and Forbes’ Global 2000 rankings for 2021.