Disney Hands Streaming Control to Ex-YouTube Executive
Disney Hands Streaming Control to Ex-YouTube Executive
The News
Disney has named Adam Smith chairman of direct-to-consumer for Disney Entertainment, handing the former YouTube executive sole control of Disney+ and Hulu.
Smith had been sharing the direct-to-consumer job as co-president with Joe Earley. Earley now moves to a new role as president of Disney Entertainment Television franchise and content strategy.
The move ends a split-leadership model at Disney's streaming operation and puts product, engineering, ad technology, programming and data analytics for both platforms under one executive.
Who Adam Smith Is
Smith joined Disney two years ago as chief product and technology officer. He spent more than 20 years at Google and YouTube before that.
Timeline
Joe Earley arrives at Disney as part of the company's acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
Adam Smith joins Disney as chief product and technology officer after two decades at Google and YouTube.
Disney+ posts its first quarterly streaming profit.
Disney names Smith chairman of direct-to-consumer and shifts Earley to television franchise and content strategy. Eric Schrier steps down as president of DTC international originals and moves into a producing deal with Disney Entertainment Television.
Reactions
Disney President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden is streamlining the leadership of the direct-to-consumer operation, according to Deadline, naming Smith its sole leader.
The Los Angeles Times cast the appointment as Disney doubling down on technology, saying the hire of a former YouTube executive highlights the company's focus on tech under Chief Executive Josh D'Amaro. D'Amaro has described Disney+ as the intended digital centerpiece of the wider company.
The Hollywood Reporter called the change a major shake-up of the direct-to-consumer division.
What's Next
Smith takes charge of product, engineering, ad technology, programming and data analytics across Disney+ and Hulu.
Earley's new portfolio covers television franchise and content strategy, including international originals, production and labor relations.
The bigger question is how far the reorganization goes. D'Amaro and Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston have signaled layoffs, and a voluntary early retirement program is already underway.
More
Streaming is the piece of Disney the company keeps betting on. Disney+ did not turn a quarterly profit until mid-2024, and the consolidation announced Wednesday puts a technologist rather than a traditional television executive in charge of protecting that margin.
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