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Air - the story of Nike's deal with a young Michael Jordon - is just one of a wave of business-themed films to be released in the past year

Movie, business: The new wave of films about firms

The business world has long been a rich source of material for Hollywood, with even seemingly obscure stories telling us something about the human condition, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 23 Aug 23

Disney also posted quarterly revenue below expectations and fell slightly behind analyst projections for US subscribers of Disney+

Disney hikes streaming prices

Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger acknowledged that the entertainment company faces a "challenging environment" in the near term, but he emphasised progress in cutting costs and focusing on creativity, even as quarterly results showed Disney's soft spots.

Business • 10 Aug 23

For its parks business, AI could enhance customer support or create novel interactions, a source said.

Disney creates task force to explore AI and cut costs

Walt Disney has created a task force to study artificial intelligence and how it can be applied across the entertainment conglomerate, even as Hollywood writers and actors battle to limit the industry's exploitation of the technology.

Business • 08 Aug 23

Bob Iger's term at Disney has been extended by two years

Disney board extends CEO Iger's contract to 2026

Walt Disney's board has extended chief executive Robert Iger's contract by two years as the experienced leader who came out of retirement in 2022 battles long-term challenges to its film and television businesses.

Business • 13 Jul 23

Brown Bag makes a number of popular children's cartoons for Disney, Netflix and Apple

Profits fall at Doc McStuffins-maker Brown Bag Films

Pre-tax profits at the business that operates multi-award winning animation studio, Brown Bag Films, last year more than halved to €2.42m.

Business • 12 Jun 23

Disnety said it will cut 'several thousand' jobs this week

Walt Disney begins second wave of layoffs

Walt Disney begins a second wave of layoffs today involving thousands of jobs, as part of efforts to eliminate 7,000 positions and save $5.5 billion in costs, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Business • 24 Apr 23

Disney CEO Robert Iger at the Academy Awards last month

Disney chief says Florida punishing its free speech

Disney chief Robert Iger has said Florida's governor is retaliating against the entertainment giant for exercising its right to free speech in an anti-business move that "seems really wrong."

Disney • 04 Apr 23

Perlmutter had supported activist shareholder Nelson Peltz's unsuccessful bid to obtain a seat on Disney's corporate board.

Disney lays off chairman of Marvel Entertainment

Walt Disney has laid off Marvel Entertainment Chairman Isaac "Ike" Perlmutter as part of a cost-cutting campaign, a source confirmed today.

Business • 29 Mar 23

Disney chief executive Bog Iger said that streaming remains Disney's top priority

Disney to lay off 7,000 workers in major revamp by CEO

Walt Disney has announced a sweeping restructuring under recently reinstated CEO Bob Iger, cutting 7,000 jobs as part of an effort to save $5.5 billion in costs and make its streaming business profitable.

Business • 09 Feb 23

Disney asks staff to work in office four days a week

The Walt Disney Company is asking its employees to spend more time in the office, becoming one of the biggest media companies to join employers who are growing impatient with pandemic work norms.

Business • 10 Jan 23

The company is under pressure to turn a profit on its streaming business

Ad-supported version of Disney+ service launched

The ad-supported version of the Disney+ service launched today, attracting major advertisers from different sectors, bringing in new revenue as Walt Disney strives to push its streaming business into profitability.

Business • 08 Dec 22

Bob Iger retired last year after 15 years as chief executive at Walt Disney

Disney brings back Iger as CEO in bid to boost growth

Bob Iger is returning to Walt Disney as chief executive less than a year after he retired, a surprise comeback that coincides with the entertainment company's attempt to boost investor confidence and profits at its streaming media unit.

Business • 21 Nov 22

The company missed analysts' expectations for fiscal fourth-quarter earnings

Disney shares tumble 11% to lowest since March 2020

Shares in Walt Disney tumbled 11% to the lowest since March 2020 today, as ballooning costs at the entertainment giant's fast-growing streaming division cast a shadow on strong subscriber additions.

Business • 09 Nov 22

Disney in 2017 staked its future on building a streaming service to rival Netflix as audiences moved to online viewing

Disney tops Netflix on streaming subscribers

Walt Disney has edged past Netflix with a total of 221 million streaming customers and announced it will increase prices for customers who want to watch Disney+ or Hulu without commercials.

Business • 11 Aug 22

Strange World is one of its most-anticipated releases of the year, but will not appear in cinemas in France

Disney movie to skip French cinemas in streaming row

Disney will not release blockbuster animation Strange World in French cinemas, it said Wednesday, in protest against the country's strict streaming rules.

News Lens • 08 Jun 22

Without Disneyworld, Orange County would probably still be best known for growing oranges

School boards at centre of US culture wars

Across the US, school boards have become the latest battleground in the so-called culture wars - the use of hot-button issues to corral voters into liberal or conservative causes, with the aim of rounding up a bigger group and thereby winning elections.

US • 24 Apr 22

Crowds fill Main Street USA in front of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida (File pic)

Florida removes Disney's special status in LGBTQ row

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that strips Walt Disney Co of self-governing authority at its Orlando-area parks.

World • 22 Apr 22

Disney, Warner and Sony said they will delay the release of their latest movies in Russia

Disney, Warner, Sony pausing film releases in Russia

Hollywood studios Disney, Warner Bros, and Sony Pictures Entertainment said they would pause cinema releases of upcoming films in Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine and the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

Business • 01 Mar 22

Walt Disney said it added 11.8 million Disney+ subscribers in its first fiscal quarter

Disney+ streaming growth and park revenue boost shares

Walt Disney's Disney+ subscriber growth restored faith in the future of streaming video and strong attendance at US theme parks added lustre to its quarterly results, lifting shares 8% after hours on Wall Street last night.

Business • 10 Feb 22

Ridley Scott's The Last Duel was filming in Ireland during the initial Covid-19 lockdown, leading star Matt Damon to stay in Dalkey for an extended period of time

Film & TV projects received €137.1m in credits in 2021

Matt Damon's The Last Duel was one of the big winners in securing movie tax relief from the Revenue Commissioners last year.

Business • 18 Jan 22

Ms Arnold has been a board member for 14 years

Disney names Susan Arnold as its first woman chair

Walt Disney has named Susan Arnold as its chairman of the board, the first woman to be appointed to the role in the entertainment company's 98-year-long history.

Business • 02 Dec 21

Disney+ picked up 2.1 million customers in the latest three month period, less than half the subscribers Netflix added in roughly the same time

Disney+ sees smallest subscriber growth since launch

Walt Disney has reported the smallest rise in Disney+ subscriptions since it launched the streaming video service to take on Netflix, missing Wall Street targets and driving shares down nearly 5% in after hours trading.

Business • 11 Nov 21

Some 30 clubs around the country are participating in Playmakers

Superheroes set to help get girls to play football

The FAI, UEFA, and Disney have launched the Playmakers program, which uses storytelling to introduce basic football skills to young girls with some 30 clubs around the country participating.

Ireland • 20 Oct 21

Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Chapek last month hinted at a slowdown in Disney+

Disney+ magic fades: Barclays downgrades Disney

Walt Disney's stock received a rare Wall Street downgrade on Monday, as Barclays called for bold changes from the media giant to reverse slowing growth at its Disney+ streaming service.

Business • 18 Oct 21

The company did not disclose the financial terms of the deal

Netflix buys Roald Dahl's works in latest deal

Netflix has bought the works of Roald Dahl, including classics such as 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'Matilda', in its latest content deal as the streaming service faces stiff competition from Disney+ and HBO Max.

Business • 22 Sep 21