Disney’s Television Networks Unlikely to Be Sold, Says CEO Bob Iger

In an interview at the New York Times‘ Dealbook conference, Disney CEO Bob Iger made it clear that the company’s television networks, including ABC, are not up for sale. This is a shift in Iger’s previous remarks suggesting that these networks may not be core to the future of the company. Investors had speculated that these assets were potentially for sale.

Iger stated in an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin of the New York Times that Disney is continually evaluating its portfolio of businesses. They have concluded that their TV networks can be run more efficiently with cost reduction measures. He also mentioned that Disney’s linear networks are currently operating more efficiently compared to the time when he made his earlier comments.

When asked about the underwhelming performance of recent films such as The Marvels and Wish, Iger acknowledged that they didn’t meet the same quality standards as their predecessors. He emphasized that his immediate focus is on helping the studio revitalize its creative output.

Regarding the company’s decision to suspend advertising on X (formerly known as Twitter), Iger explained that it was a response to CEO Elon Musk’s controversial and potentially anti-Semitic comments on the platform. However, he clarified that Disney still allows some of its services, such as ESPN and ABC News, to post content on X.