Incoming Disney CEO: Digital Is Important

Seems like all media conglom heads are switching gears and chanting the digital mantra: first it was Rupert Murdoch, with his now-famous speech, then it was Bob Wright of NBC, and now Disney (NYSE: DIS). Bob Iger, who becomes CEO of the Walt Disney Co. on Oct. 1, gave a speech at Deutsche Bank Securities Media Telecom Conference and talked heavily about the importance of digital media to Disney’s future. He specifically mentioned VOD and beefing up the rich-media offerings at Disney’s various Internet sites, including full-motion video and ABC.com and ESPN.com, and making the content easily portable. (The full streaming audio of his speech is here)

He spoke of possible initiatives like a “Desperate Housewives Plus,” whereby consumers would buy an episode a day after it airs, though the purchased episode would include omitted scenes and “a few more bells and whistles.”

The full transcript of his speech is here: “It’s very, very important to create a balance between managing our traditional businesses and continuing to drive shareholder value from the success of those businesses–the studio, ESPN, consumer products, ABC, the theme parks–but not allow the management of those traditional businesses to get in the way of the very important migration to new media platforms.

Staci adds: Iger’s been more and more bullish on digital, building on his comments at CBS Media Week last December. I’ve talked to a couple of Disney execs about this and the impression I’ve been given is Iger isn’t just dropping trendy phrases — he gets digital, mobile and portable and he sees them as vital to Disney’s global future.

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