Letter To Shareholders
Regardless of where our audiences are in the world, authority is shifting from the creators and distributors of media to consumers. That is why we need to continue to anticipate and meet changing demands for our content by providing it on the platforms they use most on a well-priced, well-timed basis.
With our groundbreaking deals last year to make our television shows and movies available on iTunes, as well as our new on-demand services provided through ABC.com and DisneyChannel.com, we have been at the forefront of responding to the consumer. Already, our shows, movies and Disney animated shorts, including classic Mickey Mouse cartoons from the 1930s, have been played or downloaded more than 100 million times on these platforms. Given the strong performance of our media networks and DVD sales, this is an encouraging early sign that this wave of digital activity is expanding the market.
Speaking of digital advances, in January, we are launching an all-new version of Disney.com, the number one online entertainment site for kids and families. The new Web site will be highly customizable, multi-faceted and rich in content, all based on the age and interests of the user. Guests will be able to watch videos, movies, television shows and shorts, as well as listen to music, create their own play lists and enjoy a stunning array of games. The site will also offer direct vacation planning services and information, as well as enhanced on-line communities and shopping capabilities. In short, Disney.com will be the one-stop online destination for the world of Disney.
The kind of creative energy, openness to innovation and global commitment that I’ve briefly shared here, is indicative of our determination to maintain Disney’s longstanding tradition of developing and distributing the finest in quality family entertainment. It has also enhanced our reputation both on Wall Street and on Main Street. In fact, last September, BusinessWeek magazine named Disney the number one company for new college graduates to launch their careers, a distinction for which we are quite proud.
As we seek to uphold the outstanding reputation afforded the Disney name, we have also bolstered our commitment to social responsibility. While Disney has a long history of involvement in philanthropy and environmental affairs, we also realize the central role we play in the lives of families everywhere. So, in October, we decided to put our brand and characters to work for them with a new healthy foods program, including healthier food options for kids at our parks and in our licensed consumer products here in the United States. This decision makes sense from both a social and a business perspective, and we are looking forward to rolling out this initiative globally.
