Disney jumps 5% as theme parks return to profits — but its focus is on the Great Media Experiment
![Inside Disney's streamer lab [Erik Isakson via GettyImages]](https://cdn.robinhood.com/static_content/mwphzyq69oso/en-US/assets/files/7eWrLgAF9NubpFzWeL54US_5_GettyImages-463245553.jpg)
The force is strong… Disney shares surged 5% on word its theme parks division enjoyed their first profitable quarter since the pandemic started. Disney World, Disneyland, etc. powered Mickey’s $17B in quarterly revenue, beating expectations. But Disney also runs a media business, which it’s treating like a lab.
Netflix only releases movies on Netflix... But Disney distributes their movies all over, from streaming to theaters to cable. And over the last three months, Disney’s been experimenting:
- “The Falcon & Winter Soldier”: The Marvel series streamed exclusively on Disney+ – not in theaters.
- “Free Guy”: The Ryan Reynolds movie is premiering only in theaters – no Disney+ streaming.
- “Luca”: The coming-of-age newbie was streaming on Disney+ and hit a physical Disney theater in LA.
- “Black Widow”: She premiered in theaters and Disney+, but streamers had to cough up $30 extra to watch (Disney++).
All this confusion could lead us back to the bundle… It can be annoying to toggle between Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Peacock – and the slew of debut strategies can leave viewers feeling like guinea pigs as Disney and others experiment for profits. Another company, FuboTV, said this week they think your mounting pile of streamer accounts and bills could leave you craving a bundle. As the streaming world gets more complex, a cord – or a single service for your streaming needs – may not seem so bad.