Well, I’m not sure what I think of this. I for one have not been very impressed with the management of ABC Family which only gave Ruby 10 episodes and which just ended 10 Things after only one season. Is this the kind of management Paul Lee will be bringing to the ABC Network?

Full article follows…

Paul Lee, the executive who revived Walt Disney Co.’s moribund ABC Family channel with shows that appealed to the sensibilities of the millennial generation, was elevated Friday to president of ABC Entertainment Group.

Lee immediately takes over for Steve McPherson, who abruptly stepped down this week.

The 50-year-old, London-born Lee, a former BBC television executive, will oversee creative and business operations for the broadcast network as well as ABC Studios, the company’s in-house TV production unit. It’s a massive job for the executive, who has spent the last decade keeping a modest profile at mid-size cable channels.

But Disney executives are confident that Lee is up to the task. They point to Lee’s variety of skills, which include producing and directing made-for-TV movies. He worked on spicy telenovelas, a staple of Spanish-language television.

“Paul was hired six years ago because of his great creative instincts and his ability to identify an audience and develop programming that resonates with them,” Anne Sweeney, president of the Disney/ABC Television Group, said in a statement.

Broadening ABC’s audience will be Lee’s biggest challenge. A sore point for Disney was the fact that ABC ended the most recent television season in a third-place tie with NBC in the important category of viewers ages 18 to 49.

“He’s got to find some shows that attract men to the network. ABC’s audience is primarily made of up of women because of shows like ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ” said Brad Adgate, a TV analyst with Horizon Media. “But those shows are getting older. He has to create the next generation of hits for ABC. Their biggest shows have had a noticeable fall-off in audience.”

Reaching out to men has been a priority for ABC since it gave up its longtime ratings giant “Monday Night Football.” Although a huge draw, the show lost hundreds of millions of dollars a year for the network. Disney shifted the franchise to its profitable ESPN network, which has two streams of revenue — advertising and cable affiliate fees.

Despite taking big swings with shows with futuristic concepts, such as “Flash Forward,” or a look at some Neanderthal characters in “Cave Men,” McPherson was unable to bring in the testosterone crowd. During the last six years, the ABC network and TV studio has spent more than $500 million developing new shows, buying scripts and making deals with writers and producers.

“One of the mistakes that McPherson made was looking for another ‘Lost’ or another ‘Desperate Housewives,’ ” said David Scardino, entertainment specialist with the Santa Monica advertising agency RPA. “And those shows were really unique and not easy to replace.”

The shows that McPherson developed, he said, “always looked great and sounded great but they weren’t really executed that well.”

McPherson’s biggest hit was “Modern Family,” but even that show lacks the mainstream appeal of some of CBS’ comedies, including “Two and a Half Men,” and “The Big Bang Theory.”

Lee will step into the spotlight Sunday when he is introduced to more than 150 television industry writers in town for the twice-a-year gathering of the Television Critics Assn.

Lee founded the BBC America channel in the U.S. before joining ABC Family in 2004. He developed original shows for young adults who were craving sophisticated yet sweet dramas. The cable network has found success with such programs as “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “Kyle XY.”

Under Lee, ABC Family has shown six consecutive years of growth and ranks among the top five cable networks in prime time for teens and young women ages 18 to 49.

I am pleased to announce the creation of a new Save 10 Things email program at SDS mail.

http://sdsmail.org/10things/

Please remember that it is still important to call and write Disney using the information on our How to Help page.

We are also planning on having our first Save 10 Things day in early June. Please check back next week for more information!

The news broke via twitter Thursday evening that ABC Family’s 10 things has been canceled. And the fans are not taking this news lying down! A simple search for the #save10things hash-tag shows hundreds upon hundreds of tweets. Not enough to make a tending topic (yet) but I fully expect it to happen.

With this in mind, we’ve created a Save 10 Things Website at http://save10things.sds.me/.

It sounds like the decision was primarily made in response to lower than expected ratings. Which means that a sizable fan campaign has a reasonable chance of convincing the company to continue to invest in the show. So spread the word, and do it quickly! We need as many people as possible to write and call Disney and politely ask them to renew the show.

Hitflix Reports:

The creative team behind ABC Family’s well-regarded “10 Things I Hate About You” has been told that the comedy will not be renewed for a second season.

As so often happens these days, the news was initially reported first-hand via Twitter.

Early Thursday (April 29) afternoon, series creator Carter Covington tweeted, “Sad news… ABCFamily canceled the show Thanks 2 our AMAZING fans – U R the reason I do this! Enjoy the last 5 eps – they’re fantastic!”

ABC Family sources confirm Covington’s tweet that these will be the last five “10 Things I Hate About You” episodes, with the series finale currently set for the end of May.

“10 Things I Hate About You” premiered last year and was loosely based on the 1999 feature of the same title. That feature was, in turn, based loosely on William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.”

The second half of the first season returned in late March and although the series premiere broke ABC Family records last July, ratings for the new run were such that Covington had been instigating a Save Our Show campaign, also on Twitter.

The half-hour, single-camera comedy stars Larry Miller, Lindsey Shaw, Meaghan Martin, Ethan Peck, Dana Davis and Nicholas Braun.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Looks like we have a new board member. Other than that, no major news, but it’s still worth reading the recap from Disney.

SHAREHOLDERS ELECT 13 DIRECTORS AT THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY ANNUAL MEETING

San Antonio, Tex. March 10, 2010 — Shareholders of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) at the 2010 Annual Meeting today elected 13 members of the Board of Directors and supported Board recommendations on the Company’s auditor, its stock incentive plan and amendments to its Restated Certificate of Incorporation, based on preliminary results.

Shareholders also agreed with the board in rejecting two shareholder proposals.

Disney Chairman John E. Pepper Jr. welcomed shareholders to the meeting at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country and introduced members of the Board of Directors. He noted that last year was an extremely tough one for the global economy, adding that Disney’s management team “has done an excellent job of steering through” the challenges.

“Last year was more a period of adaptation than growth, but it also re-affirmed the importance of investing aggressively for the future in high-quality original branded entertainment and experiences,” Disney President and CEO Robert A. Iger told shareholders. “Ultimately, that’s the best way to assure Disney’s prosperity and, with that in mind, we’ve committed our capital and creative resources to some very exciting projects at our movie studios, our media networks and at our parks and resorts.”

Mr. Iger said that the recent acquisition of Marvel Entertainment will provide Disney “new opportunities to create great content” and that a big step was taken towards future growth when the Company received a go-ahead from China’s government to develop a new theme park in Shanghai. He also announced that the next D23 Expo, where Disney fans gather to get an inside look at technology and projects, mingle with talent and enjoy exclusive screenings and events, will take place in Anaheim, Ca., August 19-21, 2011.

Based on preliminary results, the following directors were re-elected to the Board, while Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg was elected for the first time:

• Susan Arnold
• John E. Bryson
• John S. Chen
• Judith L. Estrin
• Robert A. Iger
• Steven P. Jobs
• Fred H. Langhammer
• Aylwin B. Lewis
• Monica C. Lozano
• Robert W. Matschullat
• John E. Pepper Jr.
• Orin C. Smith

Shareholders also ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent accountants for the fiscal year ending October 2, 2010, approved an amendment to the Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan increasing the number of shares authorized to be issued under the plan and approved four amendments to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation.Shareholders rejected two shareholder proposals, one seeking specific reference to “ex-gays” in its employment policies and one seeking to institute shareholder advisory votes on executive compensation.

Final voting tallies are subject to certification by the Company’s inspector of elections, and will be included in the Company’s report to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by early next week.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

It looks like Disney’s really starting to cut back on their new film production.

Potential buyers of Walt Disney Co.’s (DIS) Miramax film unit include Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (LGF) and the Weinstein brothers, Reuters reported Monday on its Web site, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation said.

Independent studio Summit Entertainment might also be interested in Miramax, the sources said on condition of anonymity, according to the new agency.

A Lions Gate spokesman was unavailable for comment, and Disney and Summit declined comment, the report said.

The Weinstein Co. confirmed its interest in Miramax, the report said. “We are keen to look at the company and we will see what happens in coming weeks,” it quoted David Glasser, operations executive for the independent Weinstein Co., as saying.

From what I gather, Nikki Reed will be in charge of finding new shows, so as a site dedicated to saving existing show, she will have little relevance to us. However, it’s still important to know who she is, and what she does. Which is why I’m posting this press release:

NIKKI REED NAMED VICE PRESIDENT,
ORIGINAL SERIES, DISNEY CHANNEL AND DISNEY XD

Nikki Reed has been named Vice President, Original Series, overseeing live-action development for Disney Channel and Disney XD, it was announced today by Adam Bonnett, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, Disney Channel, to whom she will report.

Reed, who has more than 13 years’ experience overseeing feature films and television series development, will be responsible for developing new live-action series geared towards kids, tweens and families on Disney Channel, Disney XD, as well as numerous platforms around the world.

Bonnett said, “Disney Channel is a home for outstanding comedy writers. Nikki’s breadth of experience in both film and television makes her the perfect executive to help us maintain our dominance in kids programming and grow Disney XD into a top destination for live action comedies.”

In her new role, Reed will oversee the development and execution of Disney Channel and Disney XD Original Series pilots, recruit series creators, executive producers, writers and directors and collaborate with the Casting department to identify new talent.

Reed most recently served as Vice President of Current and Development at Universal Cable Productions. From 2003-08 she was a development executive for executive producer Barry Kemp’s Bungalow 78 Productions while it was based at Disney’s Touchstone Television. Previously she served as Vice President of Development for Director Jon Turtletaub’s Junction Entertainment for Disney Studios. There she spearheaded the development of the feature films “National Treasure” starring Nicholas Cage and “The Kid” starring Bruce Willis.

In 2005 Reed served as an executive producer on the feature film “Invincible” starring Mark Wahlberg. Reed was part of the team responsible for negotiating the rights for Vince Papale, overseeing the screenplay script development and was involved in all aspects of the film.

The Los Angeles native is a graduate of the University of Arizona where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

I don’t know much about Sheryl, but she seems like a pretty good choice from what I’ve read so far.

BURBANK, Calif., Dec 23, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Walt Disney Company
(NYSE:DIS) Board of Directors has nominated Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating
officer of Facebook Inc., to be a new independent director, effective upon her
election at the Company’s next annual meeting.

“Sheryl is an outstanding executive who can add incredible value to what is already a diverse and highly experienced group of directors,” said John E. Pepper Jr., Disney’s chairman. “She brings great expertise in the online world, considerable international experience and a deep understanding of consumer behavior.”

Sandberg has served as COO of Facebook, an online social utility company, since March 2008. In that capacity, she has been responsible for building Facebook’s operations globally and managing its sales, marketing, business development, human resources, public policy, privacy and communications functions. Facebook is now considered the number one global social network with more than 350 million members.

Prior to joining Facebook, Sandberg was Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations for Google Inc., an Internet search engine company, a post she assumed in 2001. In that role, she built and managed Google’s online sales channels, which represents the majority of Google’s customers worldwide, for both AdWords and AdSense.

Sandberg, 40, is also a former Chief of Staff of the United States Treasury Department and previously served as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and as an economist with The World Bank.

“Sheryl has been at the forefront of a technological revolution that’s opened up a world of new possibilities for consumers and which has greatly affected the way we do business,” said Robert A. Iger, Disney’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Her unique insight, born of great practical experience, will be of considerable value to Disney’s shareholders.”

“Disney has remained an entertainment icon around the world for over 80 years by enthusiastically embracing change and new technologies,” said Sandberg. “It’s a tremendous honor to be nominated to the Disney board.”

Sandberg is also a director of Starbucks Corp. and serves on a number of nonprofit boards including The Brookings Institution, The AdCouncil, Women for Women International and V-Day. She received a Master’s Degree in business administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s Degree in economics from Harvard University.

Disney shareholders will vote on Sandberg’s nomination and the re-election of the Company’s other 12 directors at the next Disney annual meeting, March 10, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas.

SOURCE: The Walt Disney Company

Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew and one of the most influential people in the recent history of the Disney company passed away today.

Roy was one of my heroes. He fought for what he believed, he fought for quality in Disney animation, and he ultimately saved the company. Twice.

Without his guiding hand, I don’t know what will happen to the company. Iger seems to be doing a good job, and I have faith in John Lasseter and Steve Jobs. But we’ll all miss Roy.

What follows is the official Disney Press Release:

Roy Edward Disney, son of Disney Studios co-founder Roy O. Disney, and nephew of Walt Disney, passed away today (12/16/09) at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California, following a year-long battle with stomach cancer. He was 79 years old. Disney was a successful businessman, philanthropist, filmmaker, and award-winning sailor, who played a key role in the revitalization of The Walt Disney Company and Disney’s animation legacy. He was associated with the Company over a 56-year period, and from 1984 – 2003, served as vice chairman of the Company’s board of directors, and chairman of the Studio’s Animation Department. In recent years, he held the title of director emeritus and consultant for the Company.

As head of Disney Animation, Disney helped to guide the Studio to a new golden age of animation with an unprecedented string of artistic and box office successes that included “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King.” He personally executive produced “Fantasia/2000,” a sequel to the 1940 Disney classic, and served in a similar capacity on a number of recent animated shorts, including the 2004 Oscar(R)-nominated “Destino,” based on storyboards and original art by the iconic artist Salvador Dali. In the area of live-action films, Disney and his wife, Leslie DeMeuse Disney, most recently executive produced the 2008 feature documentary, “Morning Light,” which followed a group of young sailors as they competed in the grueling Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

His philanthropic activities included sponsorship of the Roy E. Disney Center for the Performing Arts at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, part of Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, is scheduled to open in spring, 2010.

Commenting on the announcement, Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, “On behalf of everyone at Disney, we are saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Roy E. Disney. He was much more than a valued 56-year Company veteran – Roy’s true passion and focus were preserving and building upon the amazing legacy of Disney animation that was started by his father and uncle. Roy’s commitment to the art of animation was unparalleled and will always remain his personal legacy and one of his greatest contributions to Disney’s past, present and future.”

John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, added, “I first met Roy when I was still an animation student at CalArts. Not only did I consider him a personal friend, but he was a great man who believed deeply in the art of animation. He put his heart and soul into preserving Disney’s legendary past, while helping to move the art of animation into the modern age by embracing new technology. Roy was a visionary and passionate supporter of the art form, and he was all about quality. I was always impressed that he would make time for someone like me when I was fresh out of college, and he continued to support and encourage me throughout my career.”

Stanley Gold, president, Shamrock Holdings, said, “Roy and I enjoyed a 35-year friendship and partnership that was simply special. We faced many business challenges together, had fun in the process, and enjoyed a wide variety of professional successes. Roy was a man who was steadfastly loyal to his principles and to his friends. He was a gracious, humble gentleman who could make the tough decisions life sometimes requires. He carried the torch high and proud, and the world is a better place for his tireless efforts. I will miss him greatly.”

Roy Edward Disney was born in Los Angeles on January 10, 1930 to Roy O. Disney and Edna Francis Disney. His father and his uncle, Walt Disney, co-founded the Disney entertainment business in 1923.

After attending Harvard School and Pomona College, Disney launched his entertainment industry career in 1952, working as an assistant film editor on the “Dragnet” TV series.

He joined The Walt Disney Studios in 1953 as an assistant film editor, where his credits included the landmark Academy Award(R)-winning True-Life Adventures features, “The Living Desert” and “The Vanishing Prairie.” As a writer and production associate, he received Oscar(R) nominations for his work on the short subject, “Mysteries of the Deep” in 1959, and in 2003 for his work as executive producer for “Destino.”

Disney produced and directed some 35 other TV and theatrical production, including the landmark 1968 documentary, “Varda, the Peregrine Falcon,” before leaving in 1977 to become an independent producer and investor.

In 1978, Disney founded Shamrock Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned family enterprise headquartered in Burbank, California, which specializes in private equity, real estate, and public equities investing. He served as chairman of the company, which has approximately $1.5 billion of capital committed to funds.

An avid competitive sailor, Disney holds several elapsed-time records for offshore races in the Pacific Ocean, including multiple wins in the 2,225-mile Transpac.

Among his many professional and philanthropic activities, Disney served on the board of trustees of California Institute of the Arts, the advisory board of St. Joseph Medical Center, and the board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. Additionally, he was an advisory member of the board of directors of the United States Committee for UNICEF, chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the Peregrine Fund, a member of the board of trustees of Ronald McDonald House charities, and a member of the board of trustees of the American Ireland Fund.

In 1993, he received the Winsor McCay Award (a special “Annie Award”) from ASIFA-Hollywood (The International Animated Film Society). The McCay Award is for lifetime achievement in animation. In 1997, Disney was awarded the first “Mort Walker Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cartoon Industry,” by the Boca Raton International Museum of Cartoon Art.

Disney received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from his alma mater Pomona College in 1998. In 2002, he received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Mercy College in New York. The following year, he was presented with the Trustees’ Award and honorary Doctor of the Arts degree from CalArts.

Among his other honors, Disney was named a recipient of the 1999 National Catholic Education Association Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to children and education. In April 1999, Disney received the Henry Bergh Humane Award from the ASPCA, and in spring 2000, he was awarded the Inaugural Environmental Leadership Award from the Audubon Society.

Disney is survived by his wife, Leslie, and four children from his marriage to Patricia Dailey Disney – Tim Disney, Roy Patrick Disney, Abigail Disney, and Susan Disney Lord. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be private, followed by cremation. His ashes will be scattered at sea. Plans for a Life Celebration will be announced shortly. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.

It’s that time again, of year again, The Walt Disney Company has announced fourth quarter earnings. And revenues are up!

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) reported fiscal Q4 EPS of 46 cents, ex-items, topping consensus estimates of 41 cents.

Revenues in the quarter rose 4% year-over-year to $9.87 billion, and came in  ahead of consensus estimates of $9.29 billion.

“Although last year was a difficult one due in part to the weak global economy, I’m pleased with the way our businesses have responded to the downturn,” said President and CEO Robert A. Iger.

“We’ve stayed focused on our long-term strategy, efficiently managed costs, and continued to invest in initiatives to deliver future growth. We also have adapted our organization to respond to and take advantage of the changes taking place in our businesses and will continue to do so as we position Disney to thrive for years to come.”

Further earnings breakdowns:

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) said Thursday that fiscal fourth-quarter profits rose 18%, driven by strength at its cable networks, and its key theme parks division showed signs of improvement.

The results followed news of a dramatic management shake-up in which Disney said Chief Financial Officer Tom Staggs would switch positions with the head of its parks division, Jay Rasulo. The unusual swap is the second high-level management change in two months.

Some company observers suggest the move may portend a test to select a CEO successor to Iger, 58 years old; however, people close to the company said the job swap did not mean that.

On the company’s earnings conference call, Iger said, “It’s incredibly valuable to have executives gain experience in different parts of the company.”

For the quarter ended Oct. 3, Disney reported a profit of $895 million, or 47 cents a share, up from $760 million, or 40 cents a share, a year earlier. The latest quarter, which had one more week than a year ago, included gains from the merger of Lifetime Entertainment Services and A&E Television Networks as well as $166 million in restructuring and impairment charges.

Excluding items, earnings rose to 46 cents a share from 44 cents. Revenue rose 4.5% to $9.87 billion. Analysts’ estimates were for per-share earnings of 41 cents on revenue of $9.29 billion, according to a poll by Thomson Reuters.

Following the better-than-expected results, Disney shares gained 2.2% to $29.70. The stock, which reached its 52-week high last month, has almost doubled from a seven-year low in March.

Disney’s media networks segment posted higher sales and earnings on strong growth at cable channels ESPN and ABC Family; meanwhile, its parks division showed resilience and stability in the face of the economic downturn, UBS analyst Michael Morris said.

Disney’s theme-park division, which accounts for about 30% of overall revenue, saw a 17% drop in profit as revenue slid 4.2%. Disneyland ended discounts in August and has raised ticket prices, while Walt Disney World continues to offer deals. Last week, the Chinese government approved a planned theme park in Shanghai, which could lead to one of the largest foreign investments in that country.

Staggs said hotel bookings for 2010 at the company’s theme parks division are down 5% from a year ago. The decline reflects the continuing economic slump, but consumers are also booking vacations closer to their date, Staggs said.

“We will continue to gauge the market and use promotions when we feel it’s appropriate,” Staggs said. Fourth-quarter attendance at its parks division was up 3%, excluding an extra week of operations that affected comparisons to last year.

Profit at the ABC broadcast network and its cable stations, including ESPN and the Disney Channel, climbed 26% on a 14% gain in revenue. Cable networks’ earnings climbed 19%, and broadcasting returned to black ink.

The film and TV production studio reported an operating loss, following its third-quarter loss, which was the first since 2005. Revenue rose 3%. On Wednesday, Disney said it would overhaul the way its studio markets and distributes films, part of an effort to adjust to rapidly shifting audience habits.

Like other big media companies, Disney has been hurt by sharp drops in advertising, and its movie studio has seen lower DVD sales and lackluster box-office performance. Attendance and spending fell at its theme parks during the recession. But in August, the company went on offense, agreeing to buy Marvel Entertainment Inc. (MVL), owner of such comic book heroes as Iron Man and Captain America, for $4 billion as part of its effort to attract young boys to its products.

Meanwhile, the executive shakeups have continued, with Tom Staggs and Jay Rasulo switching jobs!

Robert Iger, chief executive of The Walt Disney Co. (DIS), said Thursday that the company’s management shakeup will help expand the experience of its leadership and make the company more competitive.

The company announced that its chief financial officer, Tom Staggs, will swap jobs with Jay Rasulo, now the head of its parks and resorts division.

“It’s incredibly valuable to have executives gain experience in different parts of the company,” Iger said on a conference call following the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter release.

The shakeup appears to be a test that may portend succession plans for Iger. It also comes amid other management changes at Disney that appear designed to help the company improve cooperation between its divisions and better position itself for the digital shift that is roiling the media industry.

The company recently installed former Disney Channel head Rich Ross as chairman of Walt Disney Studios. Former Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook departed the company in September, and Miramax Films President Daniel Battsek left last month.

I just received this news from the Dow Jones newswires.

According to just
released data from comScore Media Metrix, Disney Online, which produces the No.
1 ranked community-family and parenting destination on the Web (www.Disney.com),
broke all-time traffic records in July 2009, reaching nearly 34 million unique
visitors and beating the previous all-time record of 32.3 million uniques set in
August 2008. Disney Online traffic was up month-over-month across all key
measurements in July, including unique visitors (+8%), page views (+17%), time
spent (+29%) and average daily visits (21%).

Traffic growth highlights include:

– Strong interest in online games, including increased traffic to Disney
Fairies Pixie Hollow virtual world and interest in a new Phineas and Ferb online
game featured on DisneyXD.com.

– The Disney Channel programming event Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana
drove an 11 percent traffic increase to DisneyChannel.com compared to prior
month, coinciding with the event’s record-breaking TV ratings (9.3 million
viewers, No. 1 telecast across all of cable).

– For the second month in a row Disney Family sites saw double-digit growth,
with an increase of 11 percent over June.

“It’s exciting to see a well-established site like Disney.com continue to break
new traffic records,” stated Paul Yanover, executive vice president and managing
director, Disney Online. “Disney’s unmatched online entertainment offerings
combined with an extensive portfolio of family-targeted sites is proving to be a
powerhouse line-up.”

In addition to Web traffic, Disney Online continues to be a leader in the online
video and mobile Web sectors. The site serves nearly 130 million videos per
month and is ranked No. 13 for total videos served among all Web sites. Among
mobile Web sites, Disney.com ranks as the No. 1 entertainment site, with unique
visitors increasing 31 percent and page views increasing 26 percent in July (vs.
prior month).

Overall Disney Online category growth in July included Games (+16% vs. prior
month), TV sites (+11% vs. prior month) Disney Family sites (+11% vs. prior
month) and Travel (+18% vs. prior month).

Sources:

– Traffic: comScore Media Metrix July 2009

– Video: comScore VideoMetrix June 2009

– Mobile: m:metrics June 2009 and internal tracking