June 27 - The Walt Disney Company

D isney ’ s Q2 FY08
E arnings R esults
page 2
S tudio rolls out
A nimation S late
through 2012
page 2
ABC U pfront
P resentation
page 5
C amp R ock S et for
W orldwide R oll O ut
page 7
D isney T akes C ontrol
of N orth A merican
D isney S tores
page 10
June 27
Q2 FY08
Earnings Results
On May 6, 2008, The Walt Disney Company reported earnings for
the second fiscal quarter and six months ended March 29, 2008.
Diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter increased
to $0.58, compared to $0.44 in the prior-year quarter. Earnings per
share from continuing operations in the prior-year quarter totaled
$0.43.
For the six-month period, diluted EPS was $1.21. EPS for the
prior-year six month period, which included gains on sales of our
interests in E! Entertainment and Us Weekly, income from the
discontinued operations of the ABC Radio business, and an equitybased compensation plan modification charge, which were all
recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, were $1.24. Excluding
these items, EPS for the six-month period increased 30% to $1.21
from $0.93 in the prior-year six months.
“We had an outstanding quarter financially and creatively at The
Walt Disney Company,” said Robert A. Iger, president and
chief executive officer. “This performance demonstrates
how The Disney Difference gives us a critical and
sustainable market advantage. That difference centers on
our proven ability to create high-quality content across
our wide-ranging distribution and promotional platforms,
allowing us to leverage our hits and grow our company.”
The Walt Disney Studios Rolls
Out Slate of 10 New Animated
Motion Pictures Through 2012
The Walt Disney Studios recently unveiled a diverse and ambitious
slate of 10 new animated feature films from Walt Disney and Pixar
Animation Studios to be released through the year 2012.
The line-up includes new films from Disney and Pixar’s
accomplished team of filmmakers, and features vocal performances
by top celebrity talents. The roster of new animated features
includes six new films from Pixar Animation Studios, four from
Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the first four in a series of
direct-to-DVD films featuring Disney Fairies from DisneyToon
Studios.
Starting later this year with the release of Disney’s Bolt, with the
exception of Princess and the Frog, all Disney and Pixar animated
features will be presented in state-of-the-art Disney Digital
3-D™. Additionally, newly converted 3-D versions of
the beloved classics, Toy Story and Toy Story 2, are set
to debut in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
For further details, including reconciliations of nonGAAP measures to their GAAP equivalents, please visit
www.disney.com/investors.
Shareholders Re-Elect All 12
Directors at The Walt Disney
Company Annual Meeting
Shareholders of The Walt Disney Company at the 2008 Annual
Meeting elected all 12 members of the Board of Directors and
supported Board recommendations on the Company’s auditor
and stock and executive compensation plans.
Page 2
Swinging into theatres November 26th,
is Walt Disney Pictures’ feature
animation, Bolt.
TOY STORY 2 in 3-D
RELEASE SCHEDULE 2008 - 2012:
2008
2010
(Domestic Release Date: Feb. 12th, 2010)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: John Lasseter
Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey
Grammer, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Jim Varney, Wallace
Shawn, John Ratzenberger
TOY STORY 3
(Domestic Release Date: June 18th, 2010, Disney Digital 3-D™)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Lee Unkrich
Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles,
Wallace Shawn, Estelle Harris, John Ratzenberger, Ned Beatty
WALL•E
(Domestic Release Date: June 27th, 2008)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director/Screenwriter: Andrew Stanton
Voice Talent: Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin,
Sigourney Weaver, John
Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy
RAPUNZEL
(Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2010, Disney Digital 3-D™)
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Glen Keane, Dean Wellins
BOLT
(Domestic Release Date: Nov. 26th, 2008, Disney Digital 3-D™)
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Chris Williams, Byron Howard
Voice Talent: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman
TINKER BELL A MIDSUMMER STORM*
(Disney DVD and Blu-ray Release Date: 2010)
DisneyToon Studios
Director: Carolyn Gair
2011
TINKER BELL
(Disney DVD and Blu-ray Release Date: Oct. 28th, 2008)
DisneyToon Studios
Director: Bradley Raymond
NEWT
(Domestic Release Date: Summer 2011, Disney Digital 3-D™)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Gary Rydstrom
2009
UP
(Domestic Release Date: May 29th, 2009, Disney Digital 3-D™)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Pete Docter
Voice Talent: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger,
Jordan Nagai
TOY STORY in 3-D
THE BEAR AND THE BOW
(Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2011, Disney Digital 3-D™)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Brenda Chapman
Voice Talent: Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly, Emma
Thompson
TINKER BELL A WINTER STORY*
(Domestic Release Date: Oct. 2nd, 2009)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: John Lasseter
Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney,
Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger
(Disney DVD and Blu-ray Release Date: 2011)
DisneyToon Studios
Producer: Sean Lurie
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
CARS 2
2012
(Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2009)
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements
Voice Talent: Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Jenifer Lewis, John
Goodman
TINKER BELL NORTH OF NEVER LAND*
(Disney DVD and Blu-ray Release Date: 2009)
DisneyToon Studios
Director: Klay Hall
(Domestic Release Date: Summer 2012, Disney Digital 3-D™)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Brad Lewis
KING OF THE ELVES
(Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2012, Disney Digital 3-D™)
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
* indicates a working title
Page 3
The Walt Disney Studios Launch
The Walt Disney Studios is launching Disneynature, a prestigious
new production banner that will literally go to the ends of the earth
to produce major big screen nature documentaries, Walt Disney
Studios chairman Dick Cook announced.
Disney veteran Jean-Francois Camilleri, who has served as senior
vice president and general manager for Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures France, will head the new unit, which will be
based in France.
Among the first films to be released domestically under the new
label will be Earth, from award-winning British producer/director
Alastair Fothergill, whose credits include the landmark Planet
Earth series for the BBC and The Discovery Channel and The
Blue Planet. Earth, which is produced by BBC Worldwide and
Greenlight Media and co-directed by Mark Linfield, will take us
on a tour of our home planet as we’ve never seen it before. It will
be narrated by renowned actor James Earl Jones and will premiere
theatrically on Earth Day, April 22, 2009. The film will also be
released under the Disneynature banner in Latin America.
News
from
Disney Live! Presents Three Classic Fairy Tales Worldwide
The time-honored stories of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast will spring from the
storybooks and onto the stage in Disney Live! presents Three
Classic Fairy Tales, it was recently announced.
The first Disney Live! show will debut in Asia. It will make its
debut at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center in Shanghai on Tuesday,
May 27 and then continue to Beijing and nine other cities in China
before heading to other destinations throughout Asia.
Among the other Disneynature projects currently in development
or production are:
C The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos
Worldwide roll-out begins December 2008
C Oceans
Domestic release 2010
The Lion King Receives 3 Moliere Awards
C Orangutans: One Minute to Midnight
The Lion King (‘Le Roi Lion’) received three Moliere Awards
(France’s Tony Award) on Tuesday, April 29 for Best Musical,
Best Costumes and Best Lighting for the French production,
which is playing at the Théâtre Mogador in Paris. Le Roi Lion
has been seen by 350,000 spectators in seven months, and has
extended its run through August 3rd. It was
also announced that
new season begins
August 19th, also at
the Théâtre Mogador.
Worldwide release 2010
C Big Cats
Worldwide release 2011
C Naked Beauty: A Love Story that Feeds the Earth
Worldwide release 2011
C Chimpanzee
Worldwide release 2012
For more updates go to http://www.disney.com/nature (domestic)
and http://www.disneynature.com (international).
For the Q3 FY08 Walt Disney Studios Release Slate,
please turn to page 12.
For Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Release Slates,
please turn to Page 12.
Page 4
New Fall Series
Unveils 2008-09 Primetime Schedule
ABC’s fall primetime schedule is as follows (all times listed are
Eastern, with new shows in blue bold):
M o n day
8:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
9:30 p.m. “Samantha Who?”
10:00 p.m. “Boston Legal”
T u e s day
8:00 p.m. “Opportunity Knocks”
9:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show”
10:00 p.m. “Eli Stone”
Life on Mars is based on the BBC series created by Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and Ashley Pharoah. The series revolves around
Sam Tyler, a modern-day police detective who, after a car crash,
mysteriously finds himself transported back to 1973 and still working as a detective.
Life on Mars stars Jason O’Mara as Sam Tyler, Rachelle LeFevre
as Annie Cartwright, Colm Meaney as Gene Hunt, Stephanie Jacobsen as Maya, Lenny Clarke as George Randall, Patrick WenkWolff as Colin Raimes and Richard Benjamin as Milton Kornboll.
The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television and
ABC Studios.
W e d n e s day
8:00 p.m. “Pushing Daisies”
9:00 p.m. “Private Practice”
10:00 p.m. “Dirty Sexy Money”
T h u r s day
8:00 p.m. “Ugly Betty”
9:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
10:00 p.m. “Life on Mars”
F r i day
8:00 p.m. “Wife Swap”
9:00 p.m. “Supernanny”
10:00 p.m. “20/20”
S at u r day
8:00 p.m.
“Saturday Night College Football”
S u n day
7:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
10:00 p.m.
“America’s Funniest Home Videos”
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
“Desperate Housewives”
“Brothers & Sisters”
Opportunity Knocks is a
new show that breaks the
mold of typical game and
reality shows. The show
takes the action of a
game show directly into
contestants’ homes, setting up shop in a family’s
front lawn. The host,
JD Roth, poses trivia
questions to family members based directly on their lives, each
other and articles found in and around their home. If they’re able to
prove they know their family inside and out, they’ll win the prizes
of their dreams. Opportunity Knocks is produced by Katalyst
Films and 3 Ball Productions.
Page 5
Disney Increases Strategic
Investment in UTV
The Walt Disney Company’s
Media Networks To Develop
Emerging Media and
Advertising Research Lab
The Media Networks division of The Walt Disney Company announced the development of an emerging media and advertising
research lab – the most comprehensive of its kind -- in conjunction
with Professor Duane Varan, a global authority on the future of
television and advertising.
Developed to better understand the
emotional drivers of audience behavior
and physiological reactions to advertising, this state-of-the-art research lab
will utilize sound empirical research
methods to test traditional and alternative models for advertising. The facility will conduct year-round tests using
the most advanced research techniques
– including biometric measurement
tools -- to evaluate engagement and
emotional responses to advertising
across media platforms.
UTV Software Communications Limited (UTV) and The
Walt Disney Company announced in February that Disney’s
subsidiary The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) Pte. Ltd.
would increase its strategic investment in UTV, subject to UTV
shareholder and regulatory approvals. Disney’s investment further
establishes its entry into the Indian market through UTV and
complements its fast-growing Disney-branded businesses and longheld joint-venture in ESPN STAR Sports. In July 2006, Disney
acquired Hungama TV, a leading Indian children’s television
channel, and took an initial equity interest in UTV.
With this investment, Disney increased its stake in UTV to 32.1%
on a fully diluted share capital basis. Disney’s investment is
worth approximately USD 200 million. Ronnie Screwvala and
certain entities with which he is affiliated (the “Promoter Group”)
increased their shareholding in UTV to 32.1% through issue of
warrants. Disney’s investment will be made through a preferential
allotment of new UTV shares. In addition, Disney will make an
open tender offer to the UTV shareholders as required under Indian
securities regulations and as was detailed in a public announcement
made to UTV shareholders.
Professor Duane Varan
Hallmark Channel Acquires
99-Picture Slate of Classic
Family Disney Movies From
Disney-ABC Domestic Television
In connection with its UTV investment, Disney will invest
approximately USD 30 million for a 15% stake in UTV Global
Broadcasting Limited (“UGBL”). UGBL, through its subsidiaries,
has launched two youth entertainment channels under the Bindass
brand and The World Movie channel, and a UTV Hindi Movies
channel. UTV will also invest USD 60 million in UGBL for a 75%
stake, while the remaining shares will continue to be held by the
Promoter Group.
Hallmark Channel has acquired the rights to 99 family-friendly
movies from Disney-ABC Domestic Television, it was recently
announced.
The newly acquired movies will play on Hallmark Channel and
on its sibling channel, Hallmark Movie Channel -- a new 24-hour
channel which airs the greatest family movies of all time. The
expansive list of baby boomer favorites includes Disney’s The
Shaggy Dog, Flubber, Old Yeller, The Parent Trap, The Incredible
Journey, The Princess Diaries, Freaky Friday, The Santa Clause,
Bedknobs and Broomsticks, That Darn Cat, The Love Bug, Mighty
Joe Young, Babes in Toyland, The Cat from Outer Space, Gus,
Return to Snowy River, Snowball Express, White Fang, The Apple
Dumpling Gang and Swiss Family Robinson.
Disney’s The Apple
Dumpling Gang,
starring Tim Conway
and Don Knotts,
will air on Hallmark
Movie Channel.
Page 6
News
from
ESPN Acquires Girls’ High School
Basketball Site Hoopgurlz.com
ESPN and Time Warner Cable
Bring ESPN Deportes to More
Than One Million Digital Cable
Customers in Los Angeles
Underlining their commitment to serving the Hispanic community,
ESPN and Time Warner Cable recently announced the addition
of 24-hour Spanish-language network ESPN Deportes to Time
Warner Cable’s most penetrated level of digital cable service in
Los Angeles, beginning immediately. With this launch, ESPN
Deportes is now available on Time Warner Cable’s Variety Tier,
which reaches more than 1 million digital customers in the Los
Angeles area.
ESPN Deportes offers unparalleled Spanish-language sports
programming, featuring more than 1800 live and/or original hours
of sports programming presented annually. In addition, ESPN
Deportes creates branded entertainment outside of the network’s
traditional event and sports news genres. In 2006, the network
brought Dominoes to the television screen with its telecast of the
World Domino Tournament and much more.
Verizon Wireless and ESPN
Launch ESPN Radio Channel
Exclusively on V CAST Mobile TV
ESPN and Verizon Wireless, the builder and owner of the nation’s
most reliable wireless voice and data network, recently launched a
mobile simulcast of ESPN Radio, exclusively on Verizon Wireless’
V CAST Mobile TV service. The ESPN Radio channel will join
ESPN Mobile TV on V CAST Mobile TV, and gives customers
access to popular radio programming, including SportsCenter AM,
GameNight and The Pulse.
ESPN Radio, the nation’s largest sports radio network, offers fans
expert analysis and commentary on shows such as Mike and Mike
in the Morning, The Mike Tirico Show and The Herd with Colin
Cowherd, in addition to the popular Pardon the Interruption and
Around the Horn. Now, fans will be able to take these shows when
they are on-the-go through V CAST Mobile TV.
ESPN recently announced that it has acquired HoopGurlz.com
– the foremost girls’ basketball site on the Internet. HoopGurlz.
com is the only website in the country that is solely dedicated
to the coverage of highschool girls’ basketball and
women’s college-basketball
prospects on a national basis.
News from
Disney Cable Networks
Disney’s Camp Rock Set for
Worldwide Roll Out
In an unprecedented, far-reaching cross-platform rollout, the
Disney-ABC Television Group recently announced that Disney’s
Camp Rock, a celebratory, song and dance-filled Disney Channel
Original Movie for kids and families, will premiere on Disney
Channel, the ABC Television Network (as part of the “Wonderful
World of Disney” franchise), ABC Family, Radio Disney and
Disney.com in Disney XD, Friday, June 20 through Monday, June
23 in the U.S. It will also premiere on Family Channel Canada and
on Quebec’s VRAK.TV (dubbed in French) on Friday, June 20 and
on Disney Channels around the world beginning in August.
The Camp Rock soundtrack will release Tuesday, June 17 from
Walt Disney Records and the DVD, with exclusive bonus features,
will release around the world beginning Tuesday, August 19 from
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
Starring Platinum-certified Hollywood Records recording artists
and Top 40 and Radio Disney hit-makers Jonas Brothers (Joe,
Kevin and Nick) and singer/songwriter/actress Demi Lovato (of
Disney Channel’s As the Bell Rings), Camp Rock is the story of
a talented yet unsure teen who yearns to share her songs with the
world, and of a tempestuous young superstar who’s lost his passion
for music and is sent packing by his band mates. Together, at a
camp for aspiring young music artists, they learn to believe in
themselves and to value the freedom to be who they really want to
be.
Page 7
Disney-ABC Television Group and
MobiTV Partner to Offer Disney
Channel To Mobile Television
Viewers
Announces 2008 Summer
and Fall Schedule
Paul Lee, president, ABC Family, recently outlined ABC
Family’s 2008 Summer and Fall schedule. Scheduled to debut
this summer are new original series including The Middleman
and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. In addition to the
summer series, ABC Family will premiere Samurai Girl, a special
event premiering with six hours over three nights this Fall, and
has ordered a third season of Lincoln Heights and Kyle XY and a
second season of Greek. The 11th annual 25 Days of Christmas
event will feature an original movie and special as well as the basic
cable premieres of The Chronicles of Narnia and Cars.
Disney-ABC Television Group and MobiTV, Inc., the leader in
mobile and broadband entertainment services, recently announced
a content licensing agreement under which MobiTV will offer
Disney Channel to MobiTV service subscribers. The same content
and programming as seen on cable and satellite television is now
available to MobiTV service subscribers on their enabled wireless
handsets via MobiTV’s carrier partners.
Now available through a dedicated channel on MobiTV’s wireless
television subscription service, Disney Channel on MobiTV
is live, linear programming featuring full-length episodes of
hit Disney Channel series Hannah Montana and Phineas and
Ferb, as well as films from the wildly popular Disney Channel
Original Movie franchise. The service also includes Playhouse
Disney, a daily morning programming block for preschoolers and
their caregivers featuring a wide array of content, including the
critically-acclaimed series Bunnytown, Handy Manny and Mickey
Mouse Clubhouse.
News
The Middleman (above) and The Secret Life of the American
Teenager (below) premiere this summer on ABC Family.
from
Club Penguin
Expands Service in UK
Club Penguin, the fun-filled, kids’ online phenomenon is
expanding the services it offers in the UK, with a new office
in Brighton dedicated to providing additional player support
and moderation for the popular virtual world - the first time
Club Penguin has offered local support to players outside North
America.
Playhouse Disney Channel
Launched in Latin America
Disney & ESPN Media Networks Latin America recently
announced the launch of their new Playhouse Disney Channel
in Latin America, with programming especially designed for
preschoolers, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Playhouse Disney Channel thus joins existing Disney Channel
and Jetix cable channels, present in 19 countries in the region, to
provide entertainment for the entire family.
As from June 1, Playhouse Disney Channel will be offered in the
basic subscription package offered by Cablevisión, Multicanal
and Teledigital, and will have three feeds in Latin America: the
North feed (Caribbean countries, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador,
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama,
Dominican Republic and Venezuela), the South feed (Argentina,
Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Peru), both in Spanish; and the Brazil
feed – in Portuguese.
The UK team will work with the existing Club Penguin team to
nurture the global community of players and listen to kids’ views
about how the game should evolve.
The expansion of services means
Club Penguin players in the
United Kingdom will receive
more timely and responsive
customer support and
the ability to pay
in local currency.
The locally-based
moderators will also be
better positioned to protect
the interests and online safety
of children in the UK.
Page 8
First-Ever Disney Parks
Chief Magic Official Inducted
Disney Parks and CareerBuilder.com recently announced that
Justin Muchoney from Seven Fields, Pa. has been named the
first-ever Disney Parks Chief Magic Official (CMO) -- emerging
victorious from a field of 1,300 candidates nationwide.
Philippe Gas to Assume Top
Duties at Euro Disney
Euro Disney S.C.A. recently announced the nomination of
Philippe Gas to the position of President of Euro Disney S.A.S.,
the management company of Euro Disney S.C.A. and Euro Disney
Associes S.C.A., the operator of Disneyland® Resort Paris.
Philippe will take over the responsibilities of Karl Holz who has
been appointed President, New Vacation Operations, Walt Disney
Parks and Resorts.
Philippe’s appointment will be effective on September 1, 2008. He
will transition into this new role over the summer, working closely
with Karl to ensure continued commitment to the Company’s
long term strategic priorities: driving results towards profitability,
providing a high-quality guest experience and developing our cast
members.
Philippe Gas, 44 and a 17-year Disney veteran, has extensive
experience with both Euro Disney and Walt Disney Parks &
Resorts worldwide.
As CMO, Muchoney will first go through Disney’s Traditions
Training where he will learn the ins and outs of being a Cast
Member as he creates magical experiences for guests, participate
in special events and work behind the scenes with the Walt Disney
Imagineers as part of the “Year of a Million Dreams” throughout
the next year.
For information regarding the search for the CMO, please visit
http://www.DreamCMO.com.
Disney’s ‘Year of a Million
Dreams’ Continues with
Launch of Toy Story Mania!
Guests don 3-D glasses and enter the world of Woody, Buzz and
other favorite Toy Story characters in ‘Toy Story Mania!’ which
recently made its debut as part of Disney’s “Year of a Million
Dreams” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
‘It’s A Small World’ Debuts
at Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland recently unveiled its very own, unique
version of the classic Disney attraction “it’s a small world,”
marking yet another milestone in the Resort’s young history.
Promoting the themes of mutual understanding, peace, love
and friendship, “it’s a small world” takes guests on a leisurely
boat journey across the continents of the world, inviting them
to re-discover the world through the eyes of a child. AudioAnimatronics® dolls of singing children dressed in their colorful
costumes, Disney character dolls, world-famous landmarks and
unique Asian elements combine to offer a wonderful experience.
Inspired by the Disney-Pixar films Toy Story and Toy Story II, ‘Toy
Story Mania!’ is a high-energy, immersive adventure that puts
guests right in the action.
Tower of Terror™ Debuts at
Disneyland Resort Paris
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™, one of Disney’s most
popular attractions worldwide, recently launched at Disneyland
Resort Paris. Guests plunged faster than the speed of gravity in this
13-story drop based on a “lost episode” of The Twilight Zone®,
the spooky cult television series that ran from 1959 to 1964.
Page 9
Disneyland Resort also
welcomes ‘Toy Story Mania!’
when the attraction debuts
in late June at Disney’s
California Adventure.
The Walt Disney Company
Takes Control of Disney Stores
in North America
The Walt Disney Company recently announced that it has acquired
the Disney Store chain in North America from subsidiaries of The
Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. After the transaction, which
consisted of an asset purchase by Disney’s subsidiaries through
the bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings of Hoop Retail Stores,
LLC in Delaware and Hoop Canada, Inc. in Canada, Disney plans
to operate approximately 220 Disney Stores in the United States
and Disney Stores in Canada, with the actual number of acquired
stores dependent upon the outcome of negotiations with landlords.
Prince Caspian Product Line
Available to Fans Everywhere
The timeless and fascinating Narnia series has been captivating
fans and collectors for over 50 years, and on May 16th Walt
Disney Pictures and Walden Media are bringing the world of
Narnia back to the big screen with the release of The Chronicles
of Narnia: Prince Caspian. In conjunction with the film release,
Disney Consumer Products announced an all new exciting product
line which focuses on quality and authenticity. The toy range has
impressive detail and industry leading points of articulation and
features.
Miley Cyrus Signs Deal with
Disney Book Group
Disney Book Group has acquired world rights to the first ever
book from teen superstar Miley Cyrus, star of the international hit
Disney Channel series Hannah Montana. Miley will share her
inspiring story, spanning from her Southern roots in Tennessee to
the excitement of her record-setting triumphs in TV, music and
film. Notably, Miley will reveal how her solid relationship with
her family, especially her mother Leticia, helps her navigate the
spotlight and encourages her to contribute and connect to the world
in a variety of ways and grow up happy and well-rounded.
The book, featuring never-before-seen photos, family stories, and
a look at her inner circle of loved ones, will be published in early
spring 2009.
Toys Powered By Clickables™
The Disney Fairies franchise will fly to new heights in 2008 as
Disney introduces a breakthrough concept in next-generation
Internet-connectivity with Disney Fairies™ toys featuring
Clickables™ technology. Developed as an exclusive collaboration
between Disney and Techno Source, a leader in electronic toys
and games, the Clickables technology enables girls to extend their
virtual playtime in Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow, Disney’s latest
online virtual world, with friends offline, into the real world, with
patent-pending technology.
Techno Source is an award-winning toy company with a solid
reputation for delivering innovative electronic toys and games that
feature top-tier licensed brands at aggressive price points.
The collections will be available
at retail this fall in
conjunction with the
animated release
of Tinker Bell
on Disney
DVD.
Above, a Disney Fairies
Clickables Bracelet.
Rooms To Go Makes Room for
Pop Superstar Hannah Montana
Rooms To Go, America’s #1 furniture company, has partnered with
Disney to launch a line of children’s furniture inspired by Miley
Cyrus’ hit television character, pop star Hannah Montana. The
Disney Hannah Montana furniture collection is now exclusively
available at all Rooms To Go stores as well as online at www.
roomstogo.com. The collection will be available at other regional
specialty retailers during the Fall of 2008.
Rooms To Go has maintained a successful and exclusive
partnership with Disney for three years and has produced furniture
collections based on hit Disney properties such as Winnie the
Pooh, Pirates of the Caribbean, Cars and Disney Princesses.
A collection inspired by the mega-hit High School Musical is
forthcoming.
Page 10
Disney & Stremicks Heritage
Foods Launch New Milk
Beverage Line
Disney Consumer Products and Stremicks Heritage Foods™
recently announced a new milk beverage line that meets Disney’s
new food guidelines, while also providing critical nutrients for
families and children. Available in U.S. grocery stores now,
Disney Little Einsteins Milk is rBST hormone-free and enriched
with 32mg of omega-3 DHA per serving to support brain and eye
development and the heart’s health through every stage of life. It
is the first Disney-branded refrigerated dairy beverage to launch
since Disney announced its food guidelines in 2006. Disney Little
Einsteins milk is the first product line to launch as part of a series
of healthy dairy and non-dairy beverages currently in development
by Disney and Heritage.
News
News
from
Disney Corporate Responsibility
Record Participation in Disney’s
Environmentality Challenge
A record number of kids worldwide participated in this year’s
Disney’s Environmentality Challenge, a friendly competition
among fifth grade classes to develop solutions for critical
environmental issues.
Around 150,000 kids in the United States, Cayman Islands and
Hong Kong, the three locales where the challenge takes place, were
asked to identify and develop solutions for local environmental
problems. The challenge builds educational curriculum into the
project, giving kids the opportunity to learn the same content as
other fifth graders in an interactive and fun way.
Disney’s Environmentality Challenge is part of a broader
company outreach program that seeks to help
kids and families become better stewards of the
environment. The Environmentality Challenge
is backed by several state and
federal agencies in California
and Florida, including
representatives from the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
the Environmental Protection
Agency, and state departments of
education, environment, and food
and agriculture.
from
To date, more than one and a half
million students worldwide have taken
Disney’s Environmentality Challenge.
Disney Interactive Studios Agrees
to Acquire China-Based Video Game
Software Developer Gamestar
Disney Interactive Studios recently announced an agreement to
acquire Gamestar, one of China’s leading independent video game
software developers. With locations in Shanghai and Wuhan,
Gamestar has a six-year track record producing high quality art
and technology solutions for interactive entertainment software
development.
Gamestar would become the sixth studio in Disney Interactive
Studios’ growing international portfolio of creative centers of
excellence. Disney’s previous acquisition was Warren Spector’s
Junction Point Studios, based in Austin, Texas, acquired in July
2007.
Page 11
W alt D isney S tudios Q3 FY08 R elease S late
Title
Q3 FY08
Prom Night*
Smart People
The Chronicles of
Narnian:Prince Caspian
Reprise
Wall-E
Q3 FY07
Studio
Date
Title
Studio
Miramax
Miramax
Disney
4/11/08
4/11/08
5/16/08
Miramax
Disney/Pixar
5/16/08
6/27/08
Hoax
Miramax
The Invisible
Hollywood
The Golden Door
Miramax
Pirates of the
Disney
Caribbean: At World’s End
Eagle vs. Shark
Miramax
Ratatouille
Disney
Date
4/6/07
4/27/07
5/25/07
5/25/07
6/15/07
6/29/07
* Miramax will not distribute domestically.
J une 27
W alt D isney S tudios H ome E ntertainment
Q3 FY08 R elease S late
Q3 FY08
Q3 FY07
Title
Date
Title
Diving Bell & The Butterfly
4/29/08
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
5/20/08
Jungle Book II
6/17/08
The Queen
Deja Vu
Apocalypto
Primeval
Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh
Bridge To Terabithia
Page 12
Date
04/24/07
04/24/07
05/22/07
06/12/07
06/19/07
06/19/07
3/29/2008
# Subscribers
(in millions)
United States (a)
United Kingdom
France
Germany Italy
Spain
Portugal
Middle East (e)
Scandinavia (d)
South Africa (i)
Poland (j)
Turkey
Asia (b) (l)
Australia (g) (l)
India (h)
Taiwan
Japan (f)
Korea (k)
Latin America (c)
Int’l Sub-Total
Worldwide Total
95.1
9.0
4.6
2.4
4.3
2.0
0.3
0.4
4.3
1.5
2.5
0.9
3.0
2.3
6.0
5.7
4.0
2.4
18.6
74.2
169.3
3/31/2007
3/29/2008
# Subscribers
(in millions)
90.7
8.8
2.1
2.4
4.0
2.1
0.3
0.3
3.4
1.4
1.7
N/A
2.2
2.6
4.2
5.6
4.8
N/A
13.5
59.4
150.1
# Nielsen Households
(in millions)
ESPN
ESPN2
ESPN Classic ESPNEWS 96.3
96.0
62.5
63.4 full-time
3/31/2007
# Nielsen Households
(in millions)
93.1
92.6
65.1
56.4 full-time
Other Cable Properties
3/29/2008
A & E Channel
Lifetime Channel
The History Channel
A & E International (c)
Toon Disney
Lifetime Movie Channel
SOAPnet
Biography History Int’l
Lifetime Real Women (c)
# Nielsen Households
(in millions)
96.2
96.5
95.6
95.7
68.6
58.8
68.7
47.1
46.8
10.0
3/31/2007
# Nielsen Households
(in millions)
92.4
92.7
91.9
79.4
60.6
54.0
58.9
42.8
42.5
16.9
ABC Family Channels
3/29/2008
ABC Family
Jetix Europe (c)
Jetix
Latin America (c)
# Subscribers
(in millions)
95.7
52.7
18.6
3/31/2007
# Subscribers
(in millions)
91.9
49.0
13.7
(a) Nielsen households; International Disney Channels reflect reported subscribers.
(b) Includes Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam; note that as of
FY2007, Philippines and Korea are being reported by Australia and Japan, respectively.
(c) Not tracked by Nielsen
(d) Channel launched 28 February 2003. Includes Sweden, Norway and Denmark, Aug ‘05 launched on Teledenmark, Canal Digital, and in Finland
(e) Estimated data
(f) Channel launched 18 Nov 2003. As of FY’07, Korea is now being reported by Japan.
(g) Numbers include New Zealand territory following launch in December 03. As of FY’07, Phillipines is now being reported by Australia.
(h) Channel launched 17 Dec 04. (i) Channel launched 25 September 2006
(j) Channel launched 02 December 2006; subs number based on best estimate until Polish platforms publish official numbers
(k) Korea separately stated from Japan starting FY’08
(l) Philippines is now included in Asia, whereas it was part of Australia in FY07.
Page 13
Please note:
This newsletter has been prepared by the Investor Relations group of The Walt Disney Company solely for the information of
shareholders of the company. It is not intended to be a recommendation with respect to any particular investment decision. All
information contained in this newsletter is presented as of the date indicated below, and the company assumes no duty to confirm,
revise or update the information. Certain statements in this newsletter may constitute “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of the views and
assumptions of the management of The Walt Disney Company regarding future events and business performance as of the time
the statements are made and it does not undertake any obligation to update these statements. Actual results may differ materially
from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by the company, including restructuring or
strategic initiatives (including capital investments or asset acquisitions or dispositions), as well as from developments beyond
the company’s control, including: adverse weather conditions or natural disasters; health concerns; international, political or
military developments; technological developments; and changes in domestic and global economic conditions, competitive
conditions and consumer preferences. Such developments may affect assumptions regarding the operations of the business of
The Walt Disney Company including, among other things, the performance of the company’s theatrical and home entertainment
releases, expenses of providing medical and pension benefits, and demand for products and performance of some or all company
businesses either directly or through their impact on those who distribute our products. Additional factors that may affect results
are set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Walt Disney Company for the year ended September 29, 2007 under the
heading “Item 1A—Risk Factors“and subsequent filings. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to equivalent GAAP
financial measures are available on Disney’s Investor Relations website.
June 6, 2008 – Burbank, CA
Page 14