Bloomberg Talks Disney CFO Hugh Johnston Talks Streaming
6 snips
Nov 13, 2025 Hugh Johnston, CFO of The Walt Disney Company, dives into Disney's financial landscape, highlighting a mixed Q4 with earnings surpassing expectations but sales falling short. He elaborates on significant investments in streaming and upcoming blockbusters like Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash, which are poised to boost growth. Johnston also discusses strategies for achieving streaming profitability by 2026 and shares insights on negotiations with YouTube TV, while revealing promising engagement statistics from the new ESPN app.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Quarter Strength Despite Film Timing
- Disney delivered a strong quarter driven by parks and experiences despite film slate timing headwinds.
- CFO Hugh Johnston highlights 19% EPS growth for the year and momentum heading into 2026.
Content Plus Product Drives Streaming Confidence
- Johnston ties streaming confidence to a blockbuster film slate and strong TV ratings.
- He says product investments like a unified app and better recommendations will drive double-digit growth and margins.
Invest Early In Bundling And Product
- Invest in bundling and product early to boost retention and engagement.
- Expect initial cost but anticipate strong paybacks and long-term profitability.