Support the fact-based journalism you rely on with a donation to Marketplace today. Give Now!

Disney's dreams come true: a profitable streaming service

Nov 14, 2024
The media giant reported $321 million in operating income for its streaming services in the fourth quarter, just two years after they were losing more than $4 billion.
Disney's streaming services include Disney+, Hulu and ESPN.
Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images

Arbitration agreements are hiding in those terms and conditions you don't read

Aug 23, 2024
We're all signing arbitration agreements all the time, without even knowing it — just by signing up for a streaming service or joining a gym.
"For most everyday people going through their lives, they will enter into these [arbitration] agreements without realizing it," said David Horton, a law professor at UC Davis.
Tero Vesalainen/Getty Images

Theme park attendance hits a dip

Aug 9, 2024
Attendance at parks like Disney and Universal is slowing after a surge, and as consumers get more cautious with spending.
Mariah Wild/Disney Parks via Getty Images

Disney joins forces with India's Reliance Industries to create massive new streaming platform 

Feb 29, 2024
The joint venture between Disney and Reliance Industries will have an audience of more than 750 million people.
Disney is looking to expand its footprint in India by creating a new streaming platform that would include Disney films and TV, as well as sports like cricket.
Narinder Nanu/AFP via Getty Images

Why the earliest version of Mickey Mouse is entering the public domain

Jan 2, 2024
You can now use elements from Disney's 1928 short films “Steamboat Willie” and “Plane Crazy” in your own work.
Mickey Mouse debuted as Steamboat Willie in 1928.
Wikimedia Commons

Make-A-Wish works to cut backlog of "wishes" to Disney World

Jun 5, 2023
The pandemic drastically slowed down the number of critically ill children the Make-A-Wish Foundation could send to its top destination.
“More than half of our wishes are Disney wishes," said Chris Winter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina.
Olga Thompson/Walt Disney World Resort via Getty Images

Want to perform your own version of "The Little Mermaid"? These sisters will sell you a tail

May 26, 2023
Disney’s live-action "The Little Mermaid" is expected to bring in big bucks at the box office — and for the real-life mermaid industry, which is an actual thing.
Twin sisters Bryn Decker and Abby Roberts take photos and videos of professional mermaid Danielle Houston in their newest tail design, "Ariel's Melody."
Kimberly Adams/Marketplace

For public good, not for profit.

If ESPN goes to streaming, what happens to cable?

May 19, 2023
Leaders at Disney, which owns ESPN, say it’s an inevitability that the cable channel will migrate to streaming. Such a move would shake up the cable industry.
The CEO of Disney, which owns ESPN, has called the migration of ESPN to streaming “an inevitability.” Above, ESPN College Gameday hosts in 2020.
Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images

Some advertisers say they're ready to spend again — and media platforms stand to gain

May 9, 2023
Many platforms saw declines in ad revenue over the past year and had to cut costs and staff. Now there's optimism about a rebound.
"Whether it's television, cable, streaming, as well as audio, any company that accepts advertising will benefit," says media analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich.
Martin Bureau/AFP via Getty Images

Streaming giants target European market for growth and expansion

Mar 28, 2023
With growth tapering in the U.S., American streaming giants are tapping into growing European markets in countries like France.
The growth of European regional content on streaming platforms like Netflix is helping companies break into those markets.
Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images