Michael Paull: Last News

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Alisa Bowen has been named president of Disney+, in a promotion for the exec who has overseen global business operations for Disney’s streaming platforms, including Disney+ since its launch in 2019. Bowen most recently served as EVP of global business operations for Disney Streaming, overseeing global content and business operations for the company’s direct-to-consumer video streaming businesses, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ and Star+. That included cross-functional leadership of the global Disney+ rollout in 154 markets worldwide. Her appointment is effective immediately. Bowen will continue to report to Michael Paull, president, direct to consumer, Disney Media Entertainment & Distribution.

Jerrell Jimerson, chief product officer for Disney Streaming, is departing the company amid ongoing layoffs.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Jerrell Jimerson, Disney Streaming’s chief product officer and one of the architects of Disney+, has been let go as part of the media conglomerate’s latest round of layoffs, Variety has learned. Jimerson on Wednesday sent a note to his team at Disney Streaming telling them that “after five incredible years at Disney, I will be leaving the company at the end of June.” Disney is laying off some 4,000 employees across the company this week, part of its previously announced target of cutting 7,000 jobs to reduce costs. As chief product officer and EVP of product and design for Disney Streaming, Jimerson has overseen all aspects of product, user experience and design for Disney’s direct-to-consumer video streaming businesses, including Disney+, Hulu and Star+.

Disney has a new streaming boss.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor In a shake-up of Disney’s streaming leadership ranks, the company is moving Hulu president Joe Earley into the role of president of direct-to-consumer for Disney Entertainment effective immediately — succeeding Michael Paull, who is leaving Disney after six years. In the new role, Earley will lead Disney Entertainment’s streaming businesses including Disney+ and Hulu, reporting to co-chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden. A former longtime Fox exec, Earley joined Disney in 2019 as was instrumental in the launch of Disney+. In addition, Earley will continue as the top exec in charge of Hulu until the company identifies a replacement. Disney+ is led by president Alisa Bowen, who was elevated to the post last fall after overseeing global business operations for Disney’s streaming platforms.

Disney Entertainment, the new division run by Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, will oversee the company’s main streaming services including Disney+ as details of the company strategic restructuring emerge.

Disney+ is getting a new president.

One of the executive producers of Dancing With the Stars is opening up about the changes that fans can expect now that the show has moved from ABC to the Disney+ streaming service.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large As “Dancing With the Stars” moves from ABC to Disney+ on Monday, viewers will notice several major changes to the competition series as it makes a historic switch to streaming for Season 31 — most notably, there will be a lot more show than they’re used to. That’s because Disney+ is commercial-free, which means producers have to fill all two hours without any time-outs. “Job one, the first thing, is that there are no longer ad breaks,” says executive producer Conrad Green. “And a lot of other decisions spun out from that. We’ve got up to two hours on the nose to fill, rather than a commercial version of two hours. And that’s almost a third more material that you’ve got to find for the show.”

Jeremy Doig has been appointed as Chief Technology Officer for Disney Streaming. There, he will lead the technology organization and global technology strategy for The Walt Disney Company’s portfolio of direct-to-consumer streaming services.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorDisney has hired Jeremy Doig, an 18-year veteran of Google, as the new chief technology officer of its streaming organization, leading the global technology teams that run Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus and Star Plus.Doig takes over for Joe Inzerillo, a key architect of Disney Plus and the Mouse House’s other streaming services, who joined SiriusXM as chief product and technology officer in January.Doig will start at Disney next month and report directly to Michael Paull, president of Disney Streaming.At Google, where Doig was most recently VP of engineering, he led development of new standards for video technologies powering YouTube and the Chrome browser. That included adoption of compression approaches for audio and video, media streaming protocols for real-time and on-demand delivery, and spatial experiences.

Marvel universe on Disney's streaming service. (It appears that Disney+ is collecting Marvel titles like infinity stones — just for a more benevolent purpose than Thanos.)Sign Up for Disney+Slowly integrating Marvel shows and movies to Disney+ makes it easier for fans to catch up with their favorite characters on one streaming service.

Marvel universe on Disney's streaming service. (It appears that Disney+ is collecting Marvel titles like infinity stones — just for a more benevolent purpose than Thanos.)Sign Up for Disney+Slowly integrating Marvel shows and movies to Disney+ makes it easier for fans to catch up with their favorite characters on one streaming service.

All of Marvel‘s past Netflix shows are heading to Disney+!

Disney has unveiled Joe Earley as its President of Hulu and created an international content creation hub led by Chairman Rebecca Campbell, as it supports the ongoing expansion of its Walt Disney direct-to-consumer business globally.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorDisney reorganized its global direct-to-consumer streaming organization, including installing Joe Earley, formerly head of Disney Plus marketing and operations, as president of Hulu.As part of the reorg, Disney is creating a new hub for international content creation under the direction of Rebecca Campbell as chairman, International Content and Operations.Joe Earley, who previously served as EVP, marketing and operations for Disney Plus, has been named President of Hulu. He takes over for former Hulu president Kelly Campbell, who recently exited to join NBCUniversal’s Peacock.Campbell, in her newly expanded role, will focus on local and regional content production for Disney’s streaming services, as well as continue overseeing Disney’s international media teams worldwide, reporting directly to CEO Bob Chapek.

Disney veteran Ricky Strauss, one of the key executives that launched Disney+ and former head of marketing for Walt Disney Studios, is leaving the company after nine years.

Disney has reached a distribution deal with Comcast for the integration of Disney+ and ESPN+ into the No. 1 U.S. cable operator’s Xfinity X1 and Flex broadband services.