UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended October 3, 2009 | Commission File Number 1-11605 |
Incorporated in Delaware | I.R.S. Employer Identification | |
500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California 91521 (818) 560-1000 |
No. 95-4545390 |
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class |
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | |
Common Stock, $.01 par value |
New York Stock Exchange |
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes ü No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes No ü
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ü No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes ü No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one).
Large accelerated filer ü Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer (do not check if
smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes No ü
The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates (based on the closing price on the last business day of the registrants most recently completed second fiscal quarter as reported on the New York Stock Exchange-Composite Transactions) was $31.9 billion. All executive officers and directors of the registrant and all persons filing a Schedule 13D with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect to registrants common stock have been deemed, solely for the purpose of the foregoing calculation, to be affiliates of the registrant.
There were 1,865,010,858 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 20, 2009.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Certain information required for Part III of this report is incorporated herein by reference to the proxy statement for the 2010 annual meeting of the Companys shareholders.
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
PART I | ||||
ITEM 1. |
1 | |||
ITEM 1A. |
18 | |||
ITEM 1B. |
23 | |||
ITEM 2. |
23 | |||
ITEM 3. |
25 | |||
ITEM 4. |
26 | |||
26 | ||||
PART II | ||||
ITEM 5. |
27 | |||
ITEM 6. |
Selected Financial Data | 28 | ||
ITEM 7. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 29 | ||
ITEM 7A. |
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 52 | ||
ITEM 8. |
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | 53 | ||
ITEM 9. |
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
53 | ||
ITEM 9A. |
53 | |||
ITEM 9B. |
53 | |||
PART III | ||||
ITEM 10. |
54 | |||
ITEM 11. |
54 | |||
ITEM 12. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
54 | ||
ITEM 13. |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence |
54 | ||
ITEM 14. |
54 | |||
PART IV | ||||
ITEM 15. |
55 | |||
58 | ||||
Consolidated Financial Information The Walt Disney Company |
60 |
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PART I
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries, is a diversified worldwide entertainment company with operations in five business segments: Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, Consumer Products and Interactive Media. For convenience, the terms Company and we are used to refer collectively to the parent company and the subsidiaries through which our various businesses are actually conducted.
Information on the Companys revenues, operating income, and identifiable assets appears in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 hereof. The Company employed approximately 144,000 people as of October 3, 2009.
MEDIA NETWORKS
The Media Networks segment is comprised of a domestic broadcast television network, television production and distribution operations, domestic television stations, international and domestic cable networks, domestic broadcast radio networks and stations, and publishing and digital operations.
Domestic Broadcast Television Network
The Company operates the ABC Television Network, which as of October 3, 2009, had affiliation agreements with 233 local stations reaching 99% of all U.S. television households. The ABC Television Network broadcasts programs in the following dayparts: early morning, daytime, primetime, late night, news, children and sports.
The ABC Television Network produces its own programs or acquires broadcast rights from other third-parties, as well as entities that are owned by or affiliated with the Company and pays varying amounts of compensation to affiliated stations for broadcasting the programs and commercial announcements included therein. The ABC Television Network derives substantially all of its revenues from the sale to advertisers of time in network programs for commercial announcements. The ability to sell time for commercial announcements and the rates received are primarily dependent on the size and nature of the audience that the network can deliver to the advertiser as well as overall advertiser demand for time on network broadcasts.
ABC.com is the official web site of the ABC Television Network and provides access to full length episodes of ABC shows online. ABCNews.com provides in-depth worldwide news coverage online. ABCNews.com also offers broadband subscriptions to the 24-hour live internet news channel, ABC News Now and to video-on-demand news reports from all ABC News broadcasts.
Television Production and Distribution
The Company produces and distributes live action and animated television programming under the ABC Studios, ABC Media Productions, and ABC Family Productions labels. Program development is carried out in collaboration with independent writers, producers, and creative teams, with a focus on half-hour comedies, one-hour dramas, and reality series primarily for primetime broadcasts. Primetime programming produced either for our networks or for third parties in the 2009/2010 television season include the returning one-hour dramas Army Wives, Brothers & Sisters, Castle, Criminal Minds, Desperate Housewives, Ghost Whisperer, Greys Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Raising the Bar, and Ugly Betty; the returning half-hour comedies Gary Unmarried and Scrubs; and new primetime series that premiered in the fall of 2009 which included the one-hour drama Flash Forward, and the half-hour comedies Cougar Town and Ruby & The Rockits. Greys Anatomy, Criminal Minds, and Ghost Whisperer entered the domestic syndication market during 2009. We also produce Jimmy Kimmel Live for late night and a variety of primetime specials for network television and live-action syndicated programming. Syndicated programming includes Live! with Regis and Kelly, a daily talk show, At the Movies, a weekly motion picture review program; Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, a game show; and Legend of the Seeker, a one-hour drama.
Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Disney-ABC-ESPN Television International distribute the Companys productions domestically and internationally, respectively. The Companys productions are also distributed in DVD format by the Studio Entertainment segment and online.
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Domestic Television Stations
The Company owns ten television stations, six of which are located in the top-ten markets in the United States. All of our television stations are affiliated with the ABC Television Network and collectively reach 23% of the nations television households. Each owned station broadcasts three digital channels: the first consists of local, ABC Television Network, and syndicated programming; the second is the Live Well HD Network; and the third consists of weather reports powered by AccuWeather.
Live Well HD Network debuted in April 2009 and provides high-definition programming focusing on lifestyle topics such as interior design, healthy cooking, and outdoor activities.
Markets and details for the stations we own are as follows:
Market |
TV Station | Channel | Television Market Ranking (1) | |||
New York, NY |
WABC-TV | 7 | 1 | |||
Los Angeles, CA |
KABC-TV | 7 | 2 | |||
Chicago, IL |
WLS-TV | 7 | 3 | |||
Philadelphia, PA |
WPVI-TV | 6 | 4 | |||
San Francisco, CA |
KGO-TV | 7 | 6 | |||
Houston, TX |
KTRK-TV | 13 | 10 | |||
Raleigh-Durham, NC |
WTVD-TV | 11 | 27 | |||
Fresno, CA |
KFSN-TV | 30 | 55 | |||
Flint, MI |
WJRT-TV | 12 | 66 | |||
Toledo, OH |
WTVG-TV | 13 | 73 |
(1) | Based on Nielsen Media Research, U.S. Television Household Estimates, January 1, 2009 |
Cable Networks
Our cable networks group provides national programming networks, licenses television programming in domestic and international markets and invests in foreign television broadcasting, programming, production and distribution entities. Programming at our cable networks is both internally produced and acquired from third parties. The two primary brands for our cable networks are ESPN and Disney Channel. In addition to cable network operations, we have ESPN- and Disney- branded radio operations which are managed together with the cable operations.
Cable networks derive a majority of their revenues from fees charged to cable, satellite and telecommunications service providers (Multi-channel Video Service Providers or MVSPs) and, for certain networks (primarily ESPN and ABC Family), the sale to advertisers of time in network programs for commercial announcements. Generally, the Companys cable networks operate under multi-year carriage agreements with MVSPs that include contractually determined fees. The amounts that we can charge to MVSPs for our cable network services are largely dependent on competition and the quality and quantity of programming that we can provide. The ability to sell time for commercial announcements and the rates received are primarily dependent on the size and nature of the audience that the network can deliver to the advertiser as well as overall advertiser demand. Certain programming developed by our cable networks is also distributed in DVD format by our home entertainment division in the Studio Entertainment segment and online.
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The Companys significant cable networks and our ownership percentage and estimated subscribers as of October 3, 2009 are set forth in the following table:
Estimated Domestic Subscribers (in millions) (1) |
Estimated International Subscribers (in millions) (2) |
Ownership % | ||||
ESPN |
||||||
ESPN |
99 | | 80.0 | |||
ESPN2 |
99 | | 80.0 | |||
ESPN Classic |
64 | | 80.0 | |||
ESPNEWS |
70 | | 80.0 | |||
ESPN Deportes |
5 | | 80.0 | |||
ESPNU (2) |
55 | | 80.0 | |||
Disney Channels Worldwide |
||||||
Disney Channel |
98 | 96 | 100.0 | |||
Playhouse Disney |
| 40 | 100.0 | |||
Disney XD/Toon Disney |
74 | 76 | 100.0 | |||
Disney Cinemagic |
| 9 | 100.0 | |||
Jetix Europe |
| 7 | 99.9 | |||
Hungama |
| 10 | 100.0 | |||
ABC Family |
98 | | 100.0 | |||
SOAPnet |
73 | | 100.0 | |||
A&E/Lifetime |
||||||
A&E |
99 | | 42.1 | |||
Lifetime Television |
99 | | 42.1 | |||
The History Channel |
98 | | 42.1 | |||
Lifetime Movie Network |
72 | | 42.1 | |||
The Biography Channel |
55 | | 42.1 | |||
History International |
54 | | 42.1 | |||
Lifetime Real Women (2) |
14 | | 42.1 |
(1) | Estimated U.S. subscriber counts according to Nielsen Media Research as of September 2009 |
(2) | Subscriber counts are not rated by Nielsen and are based on internal management reports. ESPN and A&E programming is distributed internationally through other networks discussed below. |
ESPN ESPN is a multimedia, multinational sports entertainment company that operates six domestic television sports networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes (a Spanish language network) and ESPNU (a network devoted to college sports). ESPN also operates four high-definition television simulcast services, ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, ESPNEWS HD and ESPNU HD. ESPN programs the sports schedule on the ABC Television Network, which is branded ESPN on ABC. ESPN owns, has equity interests in or has distribution agreements with 46 international sports networks reaching households in more than 197 countries and territories in 16 languages including a 50% equity interest in ESPN Star Sports, which distributes sports programming throughout most of Asia. ESPN holds a 30% equity interest in CTV Specialty Television, Inc., which owns The Sports Network, The Sports Network 2, Le Réseau des Sports, ESPN Classic Canada, the NHL Network and Discovery Canada. ESPN also owns NASN Limited (NASN) which operates cable television networks in Europe dedicated to North American sporting events.
ESPN also operates:
| ESPN.com which delivers comprehensive sports news, information and video to millions of online fans each month |
| ESPN360.com which is a broadband service available to 50 million subscribers that delivers more than 3,000 live events |
| ESPN Mobile Properties which delivers content, including live game coverage, alerts and highlights, to mobile service providers |
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| ESPN Regional Television which is a syndicator of collegiate sports programming |
| The ESPN Radio Network and five ESPN Radio stations |
| ESPN The Magazine |
| BASS which is an association of bass fishing enthusiasts |
| ESPN Enterprises which develops branded licensing opportunities |
| ESPN Zone which is a sports themed dining and entertainment facility. |
ESPN holds a 20% equity interest in The Active Network, Inc., a domestic online community and marketing platform for individuals and event organizers to participate in and promote sports and recreational activities.
The ESPN Radio Network is carried on more than 750 stations, of which 355 are full-time, making it the largest sports radio network in the United States.
Markets and details for the stations we own are as follows:
Market |
Radio Station |
Broadcast Band |
Radio Market Ranking (1) | |||
New York, NY |
WEPN | AM | 1 | |||
Los Angeles, CA |
KSPN | AM | 2 | |||
Chicago, IL |
WMVP | AM | 3 | |||
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX |
KESN | FM | 5 | |||
Pittsburgh, PA |
WEAE | AM | 25 |
(1) | Based on Fall 2009 Arbitron Radio Market Rankings |
The ESPN Zone concept combines three interactive areas under one roof for a complete sports and entertainment experience: the Studio Grill, offering dining in an ESPN studio environment; the Screening Room, offering fans an exciting sports viewing environment; and the Sports Arena, challenging guests with a variety of interactive and competitive games. The Company currently operates six ESPN Zone restaurants located in Anaheim, California; Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Las Vegas, Nevada; New York, New York; and Washington, D.C. The Company also licenses an ESPN Zone restaurant located in Los Angeles, California.
Disney Channels Worldwide
Disney Channel Disney Channel is a 24-hour cable network with programming targeted to children and families through original series and movies. Shows developed and produced internally for initial exhibition on Disney Channel include live-action comedy series, animated programming and educational preschool series, as well as projects for the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise. Live-action comedy series include Hannah Montana, JONAS, Sonny With A Chance, The Suite Life on Deck and Wizards of Waverly Place. Disney Channel also airs the animated program, Phineas and Ferb. Original series for preschoolers include the animated series Disneys Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Disneys Little Einsteins and Special Agent Oso, as well as the live-action series Imagination Movers. Programming is also acquired from third parties and includes content from Disneys theatrical film and television programming library.
The ABC Television Networks Saturday morning childrens daypart, ABC Kids includes many of the live-action and animated series produced for Disney Channel, including Hannah Montana.
Playhouse Disney Playhouse Disney provides learning-focused programming for preschoolers. In the U.S., the daily Playhouse Disney programming block is aired on Disney Channel. Playhouse Disney is aired internationally with channels in Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.
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Disney XD In February 2009, the Toon Disney television and online platforms in the U.S. were rebranded to become Disney XD. Disney XD has a mix of live-action and animated programming for kids ages 6-14, targeting boys and their quest for discovery, accomplishment, sports, adventure and humor. The programming includes original series, movies and short-form content, as well as sports-themed series developed with ESPN.
In the U.S., Disney XD is seen on a 24-hour network. Disney XD channels have launched in Latin America, Europe and Asia building its distribution base to 107 countries/territories. As discussed below, many of the Disney XD channels were previously Jetix channels.
Disney Cinemagic Disney Cinemagic is a premium subscription service in Europe. Disney Cinemagic shows Disney movies, classic and newer Disney cartoons and shorts as well as animated television series such as Disneys House of Mouse, Lilo & Stitch: The Series, and Tarzan.
Jetix During fiscal 2009, the Company acquired an additional 26% interest in Jetix Europe, a publicly traded pan-European integrated childrens entertainment company (bringing our total ownership interest to over 99%). The Company also has 100% ownership interest in Jetix Latin America. The Company is re-branding the Jetix channels to either Disney Channel or Disney XD which should be completed by the end of calendar year 2009.
Hungama Hungama is a kids general entertainment cable network in India which features a mix of anime, Hindi-language series and game shows.
ABC Family ABC Family is a U.S. television programming service that targets adults 18-34. ABC Familys slate of original programming includes The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Greek, Lincoln Heights and the new series Make It or Break It. ABC Family also premiered two new original comedies in 2009: 10 Things I Hate About You, inspired by the hit 1999 film of the same name, and Ruby & The Rockits. Additionally, ABC Family airs content acquired from third parties, and products from our owned theatrical film library. ABC Family also features branded programming holiday events such as 13 Nights of Halloween and 25 Days of Christmas.
ABCFamily.com creates digital extensions to ABC Family programming that feature interactivity and social networking. The site also features user-generated content and online programming that can be downloaded and customized based on preferences of individual users.
SOAPnet SOAPnet offers same day episodes of daytime dramas at night for convenient viewing and also original programming. Programming includes same-day episodes of daytime dramas such as All My Children, Days of Our Lives, One Life to Live, General Hospital and The Young and the Restless; primetime series The O.C., One Tree Hill, Beverly Hills 90210, The Gilmore Girls; and original programs like Southern Belles: Louisville, Being Erica, Holidate and Bank of Mom and Dad.
Content related to SOAPnets programming is available on SOAPnet.com, including video extras, games, blogs, community forums, photos and downloadable content. Additionally, SOAPNETIC is a broadband fee service that provides behind-the-scenes coverage of the world of daytime dramas.
A&E/Lifetime On September 15, 2009, the Company and the Hearst Corporation (Hearst) both contributed their 50% interest in Lifetime Entertainment Services LLC (Lifetime) to A&E Television Networks, LLC (AETN) in exchange for an increased interest in AETN. The Company has a 42% ownership interest in the combined AETN/Lifetime. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
The A&E Television Networks include A&E, The History Channel, The Biography Channel and History International. A&E offers entertainment ranging from reality series to original movies, dramatic series, and justice shows. The History Channel offers original non-fiction series and event-driven specials. The Biography Channel offers original series about prominent people and their lives, including the Biography series. History International focuses on the culture and history of various countries throughout the world from the perspective of locals. Internationally, A&E programming is available in 125 countries through joint ventures and distribution agreements with affiliates.
Lifetime Entertainment Services includes Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network and Lifetime Real Women. Lifetime Television is devoted to womens lifestyle programming. Lifetime Movie Network is a 24-hour movie channel. Lifetime Real Women is a 24-hour cable network with programming from a womans point of view.
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The Companys share of the financial results of AETN/Lifetime is reported under the heading Equity in the income of investees in the Companys Consolidated Statements of Income.
Radio Disney Radio Disney is a 24/7 radio network for kids, tweens and families. Radio Disney is available on 49 terrestrial radio stations and on RadioDisney.com, Sirius and XM satellite radio, iTunes Radio Tuner, XM/DIRECTV and mobile phones. Radio Disney programming can be downloaded via the iTunes Music Store. Radio Disney is also available throughout most of South America via a separate Spanish language terrestrial broadcast.
Radio Disney stations we own are as follows:
Market |
Station | Broadcast Band |
Market Ranking (1) | |||
New York, NY |
WQEW | AM | 1 | |||
Los Angeles, CA |
KDIS | AM | 2 | |||
Chicago, IL |
WRDZ | AM | 3 | |||
San Francisco, CA |
KMKY | AM | 4 | |||
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX |
KMKI | AM | 5 | |||
Houston, TX |
KMIC | AM | 6 | |||
Atlanta, GA |
WDWD | AM | 7 | |||
Philadelphia, PA |
WWJZ | AM | 8 | |||
Boston, MA |
WMKI | AM | 10 | |||
Detroit, MI |
WFDF | AM | 11 | |||
Miami, FL |
WMYM | AM | 12 | |||
Seattle, WA |
KKDZ | AM | 13 | |||
Phoenix, AZ |
KMIK | AM | 15 | |||
Minneapolis, MN |
KDIZ | AM | 16 | |||
Tampa, FL |
WWMI | AM | 19 | |||
Denver, CO |
KDDZ | AM | 20 | |||
St. Louis, MO |
WSDZ | AM | 21 | |||
Portland, OR |
KDZR | AM | 23 | |||
Charlotte, NC |
WGFY | AM | 24 | |||
Sacramento, CA |
KIID | AM | 27 | |||
Cleveland, OH |
WWMK | AM | 29 | |||
Salt Lake City, UT |
KWDZ | AM | 30 | |||
San Antonio, TX |
KRDY | AM | 31 | |||
Kansas City, MO |
KPHN | AM | 32 | |||
Orlando, FL |
WDYZ | AM | 34 | |||
Milwaukee, WI |
WKSH | AM | 37 | |||
Indianapolis, IN |
WRDZ | FM | 39 | |||
Providence, RI |
WDDZ | AM | 41 | |||
Norfolk, VA |
WHKT | AM | 43 | |||
Greensboro, NC |
WCOG | AM | 45 | |||
Jacksonville, FL |
WBWL | AM | 46 | |||
West Palm Beach, FL |
WMNE | AM | 47 | |||
Hartford, CT |
WDZK | AM | 50 | |||
New Orleans, LA |
WBYU | AM | 52 | |||
Louisville, KY |
WDRD | AM | 54 | |||
Richmond, VA |
WDZY | AM | 55 | |||
Albany, NY |
WDDY | AM | 63 | |||
Tulsa, OK |
KMUS | AM | 65 | |||
Albuquerque, NM |
KALY | AM | 68 | |||
Little Rock, AR |
KDIS | FM | 85 | |||
Wichita, KS |
KQAM | AM | 98 |
(1) | Based on Fall 2009 Arbitron Radio Market Rankings |
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Competition and Seasonality
The ABC Television Network, Disney Channel, ESPN, ABC Family Channel and the ESPN and Radio Disney networks and our other broadcast and cable networks compete for viewers primarily with other television and cable networks, independent television stations and other media, such as DVDs, video games and the internet. With respect to the sale of advertising time, our broadcasting operations, certain of our cable networks and our television and radio stations compete with other television networks and radio stations, independent television stations, MVSPs and other advertising media such as newspapers, magazines, billboards, and the internet. Our television and radio stations primarily compete for viewers in individual market areas. A television or radio station in one market generally does not compete directly with stations in other markets.
The growth in the number of networks distributed by MVSPs has resulted in increased competitive pressures for advertising revenues for both our broadcasting and cable networks. The Companys cable networks also face competition from other cable networks for carriage by MVSPs. The Companys contractual agreements with MVSPs are renewed or renegotiated from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Consolidation and other market conditions in the cable and satellite distribution industry and other factors may adversely affect the Companys ability to obtain and maintain contractual terms for the distribution of its various cable programming services that are as favorable as those currently in place.
The Companys Media Networks businesses also compete for the acquisition of sports and other programming. The market for programming is very competitive, particularly for sports programming. The Company currently has sports rights agreements with the National Football League (NFL), college football (including college bowl games) and basketball conferences, National Basketball Association (NBA), National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), Major League Baseball (MLB), World Cup and various soccer leagues, and Golf and Tennis Associations.
The Companys internet web sites and digital products compete with other web sites and entertainment products in their respective categories.
Advertising revenues at the Media Networks are subject to seasonal advertising patterns and changes in viewership levels. Revenues are typically somewhat higher during the fall and somewhat lower during the summer months. Affiliate revenues are typically collected ratably throughout the year. Certain affiliate revenues at ESPN are deferred until annual programming commitments are met, and these commitments are typically satisfied during the second half of the Companys fiscal year, which generally results in higher revenue recognition during this period.
Federal Regulation
Television and radio broadcasting are subject to extensive regulation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under federal laws and regulations, including the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Violation of FCC regulations can result in substantial monetary forfeitures, limited renewals of licenses and, in egregious cases, denial of license renewal or revocation of a license. FCC regulations that affect our Media Networks segment include the following:
| Licensing of television and radio stations. Each of the television and radio stations we own must be licensed by the FCC. These licenses are granted for periods of up to eight years, and we must obtain renewal of licenses as they expire in order to continue operating the stations. We (or the acquiring entity in the case of a divestiture) must also obtain FCC approval whenever we seek to have a license transferred in connection with the acquisition or divestiture of a station. The FCC may decline to renew or approve the transfer of a license in certain circumstances. Although we have generally received such renewals and approvals in the past, there can be no assurance that we will always obtain necessary renewals and approvals in the future. |
| Television and radio station ownership limits. The FCC imposes limitations on the number of television stations and radio stations we can own in a specific market, on the combined number of television and radio stations we can own in a single market and on the aggregate percentage of the national audience that can be reached by television stations we own. Currently: |
| FCC regulations may restrict our ability to own more than one television station in a market, depending on the size and nature of the market. We do not own more than one television station in any of the ten markets in which we own a television station. |
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| Federal statutes permit our television stations in the aggregate to reach a maximum of 39% of the national audience (for this purpose, FCC regulations attribute to UHF television stations only 50% of the television households in their market). For purposes of the FCCs rules, our 10 stations reach approximately 23% of the national audience. |
| FCC regulations in some cases impose restrictions on our ability to acquire additional radio or television stations in the markets in which we own radio stations, but we do not believe any such limitations are material to our current operating plans. |
| Dual networks. FCC rules currently prohibit any of the four major television networks ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC from being under common ownership or control. |
| Regulation of programming. The FCC regulates broadcast programming by, among other things, banning indecent programming, regulating political advertising and imposing commercial time limits during childrens programming. Broadcasters face a heightened risk of being found in violation of the indecency prohibition by the FCC because of recent FCC decisions, coupled with the spontaneity of live programming. In the past several years, the FCC increased enforcement activities with respect to indecency, and a number of significant indecency cases against various broadcasters remain pending in the courts. Moreover, Congress recently increased penalties for broadcasting indecent programming to a maximum of $325,000 per violation. |
Federal legislation and FCC rules also limit the amount of commercial matter that may be shown on broadcast or cable channels during programming designed for children 12 years of age and younger. In addition, broadcast channels are generally required to provide a minimum of three hours per week of programming that has as a significant purpose meeting the educational and informational needs of children 16 years of age and younger. FCC rules also give television station owners the right to reject or refuse network programming in certain circumstances or to substitute programming that the licensee reasonably believes to be of greater local or national importance.
| Cable and satellite carriage of broadcast television stations. With respect to cable systems operating within a television stations Designated Market Area, FCC rules require that every three years each television station elect either must carry status, pursuant to which cable operators generally must carry a local television station in the stations market, or retransmission consent status, pursuant to which the cable operator must negotiate with the television station to obtain the consent of the television station prior to carrying its signal. Under the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act and its successor, the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act, satellite carriers are permitted to retransmit a local television stations signal into its local market with the consent of the local television station. Under must carry, if a satellite carrier elects to carry one local station in a market, the satellite carrier must carry the signals of all local television stations that also request carriage. Certain of the satellite carriage provisions are set to expire on December 31, 2009, although legislation is pending that would continue many of the relevant provisions. |
| Digital television. All of the Companys stations now operate exclusively on digital channels, and we are evaluating various options with respect to use of digital capabilities. |
| Cable and Satellite Carriage of Programming. The Communications Act and FCC rules regulate some aspects of negotiations regarding cable and satellite retransmission consent, and some cable and satellite companies have sought regulation of additional aspects of the carriage of programming on cable and satellite systems. Litigation has been instituted against the Company, other program providers and distributors seeking among other things to achieve similar ends. New legislation, court action or regulation in this area could, depending on its specific nature, have an impact on the Companys operations. |
The foregoing is a brief summary of certain provisions of the Communications Act and other legislation and of specific FCC rules and policies. Reference should be made to the Communications Act, other legislation, FCC rules and public notices and rulings of the FCC for further information concerning the nature and extent of the FCCs regulatory authority.
FCC laws and regulations are subject to change, and the Company generally cannot predict whether new legislation, court action or regulations, or a change in the extent of application or enforcement of current laws and regulations, would have an adverse impact on our operations.
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PARKS AND RESORTS
The Company owns and operates the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, the Disneyland Resort in California, the Disney Vacation Club, the Disney Cruise Line, and Adventures by Disney. The Company manages and has effective ownership interests of 51% and 47%, respectively, in Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. The Company also licenses the operations of the Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan. The Companys Walt Disney Imagineering unit designs and develops new theme park concepts and attractions as well as resort properties. In November 2009, the Companys Project Application Report (PAR) for a Disney theme park in the Pudong district of Shanghai received approval from the relevant authorities of the central government of China. The PAR approval will enable the Company and its Shanghai partners to move forward toward a final agreement to build and operate a park and begin preliminary development work.
The businesses in the Parks and Resorts segment generate revenues predominately from the sale of admissions to the theme parks; room nights at the hotels; merchandise, food and beverage sales; sales and rentals of vacation club properties; and cruise vacation packages. Costs consist principally of labor; depreciation; costs of merchandise, food and beverage sold; marketing and sales expense; repairs and maintenance; and entertainment.
Walt Disney World Resort
The Walt Disney World Resort is located 22 miles southwest of Orlando, Florida, on approximately 25,000 acres of owned land. The resort includes theme parks (the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disneys Hollywood Studios and Disneys Animal Kingdom); hotels; vacation club properties; a retail, dining and entertainment complex; a sports complex; conference centers; campgrounds; golf courses; water parks; and other recreational facilities designed to attract visitors for an extended stay.
The Walt Disney World Resort is marketed through a variety of international, national and local advertising and promotional activities. A number of attractions in each of the theme parks are sponsored by other corporations through long-term agreements.
Magic Kingdom The Magic Kingdom, which opened in 1971, consists of seven themed lands: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Mickeys Toontown Fair and Tomorrowland. Each land provides a unique guest experience featuring themed rides and attractions, live Disney character interaction, restaurants, refreshment areas and merchandise shops. Additionally, there are daily parades and a nighttime fireworks extravaganza, Wishes.
Epcot Epcot, which opened in 1982, consists of two major themed areas: Future World and World Showcase. Future World dramatizes certain historical developments and addresses the challenges facing the world today through major pavilions devoted to showcasing science and technology improvements, communication, energy, transportation, using your imagination, life and health, nature and food production, the ocean environment and space. World Showcase presents a community of nations focusing on the culture, traditions and accomplishments of people around the world. Countries represented with pavilions include the United States, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Norway and the United Kingdom. Both areas feature themed rides and attractions, restaurants and merchandise shops. Epcot also features Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, a nighttime entertainment spectacular.
Disneys Hollywood Studios Disneys Hollywood Studios, which opened in 1989, consists of a theme park, a radio studio and a film and television production facility. The park centers on Hollywood as it was during the 1930s and 1940s and provides various attractions, themed food service and merchandise facilities. The production facility consists of three sound stages, merchandise shops and a back lot and currently hosts both feature film and television productions. Disneys Hollywood Studios also features Fantasmic!, a nighttime entertainment spectacular.
Disneys Animal Kingdom Disneys Animal Kingdom, which opened in 1998, consists of a 145-foot Tree of Life centerpiece surrounded by six themed areas: Dinoland U.S.A., Africa, Rafikis Planet Watch, Asia, Discovery Island and Camp Minnie-Mickey. Each themed area contains adventure attractions, entertainment shows, restaurants and merchandise shops. The park features more than 300 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians and 3,000 varieties of trees and plants.
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Hotels and Other Resort Facilities As of October 3, 2009, the Company owned and operated 17 resort hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort, with a total of approximately 22,000 rooms and 468,000 square feet of conference meeting space. In addition, Disneys Fort Wilderness camping and recreational area offers approximately 800 campsites.
The Walt Disney World Resort also hosts a 120-acre retail, dining and entertainment complex known as Downtown Disney, which consists of the Marketplace, West Side and Pleasure Island. Downtown Disney is home to the 50,000-square-foot World of Disney retail store featuring Disney-branded merchandise, Cirque du Soleil, the House of Blues, and the Companys DisneyQuest facility. A number of the Downtown Disney facilities are operated by third parties that pay rent and license fees to the Company. In September 2008, the Company commenced a project to enhance Pleasure Island, which will feature new shopping and dining experiences to entertain guests of all ages. The project is expected to be completed in 2012.
Disneys Wide World of Sports, which opened in 1997, is a 220-acre sports complex providing professional caliber training and competition, festival and tournament events and interactive sports activities. The complexs venues accommodate multiple sporting events, including baseball, tennis, basketball, softball, track and field, football and soccer. Its stadium, which has a seating capacity exceeding 9,500, is the spring training site for MLBs Atlanta Braves. The Amateur Athletic Union hosts more than 30 championship events per year at the facility. The Company is currently in the process of rebranding Disneys Wide World of Sports complex to ESPNs Wide World of Sports, which is expected to be completed in 2010.
In the Downtown Disney Resort area, seven independently-operated hotels are situated on property leased from the Company. These hotels have a capacity of approximately 3,700 rooms. Additionally, the Walt Disney World Swan and the Walt Disney World Dolphin hotels, which have approximately 2,300 total rooms, are independently operated on property leased from the Company near Epcot.
Other recreational amenities and activities available at the Walt Disney World Resort include four championship golf courses, miniature golf courses, full-service spas, tennis, sailing, water skiing, swimming, horseback riding and a number of other noncompetitive sports and leisure time activities. The resort also includes two water parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.
Disneyland Resort
The Company owns 461 acres and has the rights under long-term lease for use of an additional 49 acres of land in Anaheim, California. The Disneyland Resort includes two theme parks (Disneyland and Disneys California Adventure), three hotels and Downtown Disney, a retail, dining and entertainment complex designed to attract visitors for an extended stay.
The entire Disneyland Resort is marketed as a destination resort through international, national and local advertising and promotional activities. A number of the attractions and restaurants at both of the theme parks are sponsored by other corporations through long-term agreements.
Disneyland Disneyland, which opened in 1955, consists of Main Street USA and seven principal areas: Adventureland, Critter Country, Fantasyland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Tomorrowland and Toontown. These areas feature themed rides and attractions, shows, restaurants, merchandise shops and refreshment stands. Additionally, Disneyland offers daily parades and a nighttime entertainment spectacular, Fantasmic!.
Disneys California Adventure Disneys California Adventure, which opened in 2001, is adjacent to Disneyland and includes four principal areas: Golden State, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Paradise Pier and a bugs land. These areas include rides, attractions, shows, restaurants, merchandise shops and refreshment stands.
In October 2007, the Company announced a multi-year expansion that brings new entertainment and family-oriented attractions to Disneys California Adventure, including an entirely new 12-acre Cars Land inspired by the animated film Cars and a new nighttime water spectacular, World of Color.
Hotels and Other Resort Facilities Disneyland Resort includes three Company-owned and operated hotels: the 969-room Disneyland Hotel, the 481-room Disneys Paradise Pier Hotel, and Disneys Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, a
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deluxe hotel located adjacent to Disneys California Adventure. Disneys Grand Californian Hotel & Spa was recently expanded and now has 948 rooms as well as fifty vacation club units.
Disneyland Resort also includes Downtown Disney, a themed 15-acre outdoor complex of entertainment, dining and shopping venues, located adjacent to both Disneyland Park and Disneys California Adventure. A number of the Downtown Disney facilities are operated by third parties that pay rent and license fees to the Company.
Disneyland Paris
The Company has a 51% effective ownership interest in Disneyland Paris, a 4,800-acre development located in Marne-la-Vallée, approximately 20 miles east of Paris, France, which was developed pursuant to a 1987 master agreement with French governmental authorities. The Company manages and has a 40% equity interest in Euro Disney S.C.A., a publicly-traded French entity that is the holding company for Euro Disney Associés S.C.A.(Disney S.C.A), the primary operating company of Disneyland Paris. Euro Disney S.C.A. and its subsidiaries operate Disneyland Paris, which includes two theme parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park); seven themed hotels; convention centers; a shopping, dining and entertainment complex; and a 27-hole golf facility. Of the 4,800 acres comprising the site, approximately 2,400 acres have been developed to date which includes the Val dEurope development discussed below. An indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company is responsible for managing Disneyland Paris. Euro Disney S.C.A. is required to pay royalties and management fees to certain indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company based on the operating performance of the resort.
Disneyland Park Disneyland Park, which opened in 1992, consists of Main Street and four principal themed areas: Adventureland, Discoveryland, Fantasyland and Frontierland. These areas include themed rides, attractions, shows, restaurants, merchandise shops and refreshment stands. Disneyland Park also features a daily parade.
Walt Disney Studios Park Walt Disney Studios Park opened in March 2002 adjacent to Disneyland Park. The park takes guests into the worlds of cinema, animation and television and includes four principal themed areas: Front Lot, Toon Studios, Production Courtyard and Backlot. These areas each include themed rides, attractions, shows, restaurants, merchandise shops and refreshment stands.
Hotels and Other Facilities Disneyland Paris operates seven resort hotels, with a total of approximately 5,800 rooms and 250,000 square feet of conference meeting space. In addition, several on-site hotels opened between 2003 and 2006 that are owned and operated by third-party developers and provide approximately 2,400 rooms.
Disneyland Paris also includes Disney Village, a seven-acre retail, dining and entertainment complex, located between the theme parks and the hotels. A number of the Disney Village facilities are operated by third parties that pay rent and license fees to a subsidiary of Euro Disney S.C.A.
Val dEurope is a planned community that is being developed near Disneyland Paris. The completed phases of the development include: a town center, which consists of a shopping center; a 150-room hotel; office, commercial, and residential space; and a regional train station. Third parties operate these developments on land leased or purchased from Euro Disney S.C.A. and its subsidiaries.
In fiscal 2005, Euro Disney S.C.A. completed a financial restructuring, which provided for an increase in capital and refinancing of its borrowings. Pursuant to the financial restructuring, the Company agreed to conditionally and unconditionally defer certain management fees and royalties and convert them into long-term subordinated debt and provide a new ten year line of credit for liquidity needs, which is currently 100 million.
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
The Company owns a 47% interest in Hong Kong Disneyland Resort through Hongkong International Theme Parks Limited, an entity in which the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) owns a 53% majority interest. A separate Hong Kong subsidiary of the Company is responsible for managing Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.
Located on 311 acres on Lantau Island, the resort is in close proximity to the Hong Kong International Airport. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort includes one theme park and two themed hotels.
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Hong Kong Disneyland Hong Kong Disneyland opened in 2005 and consists of the following themed lands: Adventureland, Fantasyland, Main Street USA and Tomorrowland. These areas feature themed rides and attractions, shows, restaurants, merchandise shops and refreshment stands. Additionally, there are daily parades and a nighttime fireworks extravaganza.
Hotels Hong Kong Disneyland Resort includes two themed hotels: the 400-room Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and the 600-room Disneys Hollywood Hotel.
In July 2009, the Company and the HKSAR agreed to a capital realignment and expansion plan for Hong Kong Disneyland. The expansion will bring three new themed areas to Hong Kong Disneyland, which are scheduled to be completed in phases by 2014. Pursuant to the plan, the Company converted a loan to Hong Kong Disneyland into equity and made an additional $40 million capital contribution and the HKSAR converted a like amount of its loan into equity. This increased the Companys effective ownership interest from 43% to 47% as of October 3, 2009. The Company expects to make additional capital contributions over approximately five years to fund the expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Based on the operating performance of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, the Company is entitled to receive royalties and management fees. The Company has, however, waived management fees and deferred royalties for the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years.
Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo Disney Resort is located on approximately 494 acres of land, six miles east of downtown Tokyo, Japan. The resort includes two theme parks (Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea); three Disney-branded hotels; six independently operated hotels; and a retail, dining and entertainment complex.
Tokyo Disneyland Tokyo Disneyland, which opened in 1983, was the first Disney theme park to open outside the United States. Tokyo Disneyland consists of seven principal areas: Adventureland, Critter Country, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Toontown, Westernland and World Bazaar.
Tokyo DisneySea Tokyo DisneySea, adjacent to Tokyo Disneyland, opened in 2001. The park is divided into seven unique ports of call, including Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Port Discovery, Lost River Delta, Mermaid Lagoon, Mysterious Island and Arabian Coast.
Hotels and Other Resort Facilities The resort includes the 504-room Disney Ambassador Hotel, the 502-room Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta and the 705-room Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. The resort also includes the Disney Resort Line monorail, which links theme parks and resort hotels with Ikspiari, a retail, dining and entertainment complex; Bon Voyage, a Disney-themed merchandise location; as well as the first Cirque du Soleil theatre in Japan.
The Company earns royalties on revenues generated by the Tokyo Disney Resort, which is owned and operated by Oriental Land Co., Ltd. (OLC), a Japanese corporation in which the Company has no equity interest. OLC markets the Tokyo Disney Resort through a variety of local, domestic and international advertising and promotional activities. In addition, third parties sponsor many of the theme park attractions under long-term arrangements.
Disney Vacation Club
The Disney Vacation Club (DVC) offers ownership interests in ten resort facilities located at the Walt Disney World Resort; Disneyland Resort; Vero Beach, Florida; and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Available units at each facility are offered for sale under a vacation ownership plan and are operated as rental property until the units are sold. DVC inventory consists of a mix of units ranging from one bedroom studios to three bedroom villas. Unit counts in this document are presented in terms of two bedroom equivalents. As of October 3, 2009, DVC has 3,060 units including the second phase of Disneys Animal Kingdom Villas, Bay Lake Tower at Disneys Contemporary Resort and the Treehouse Villas at Disneys Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, all of which opened in 2009 on Walt Disney World Resort property. Additionally, DVC opened its first property on the West Coast in 2009 with the opening of 50 units at Disneys Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at Disneyland Resort. In 2007, the Company purchased 21 acres of oceanfront property on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, which will be home to a new DVC resort. This resort, scheduled to open in phases beginning in 2011, will include 350 traditional hotel rooms and 480 vacation club units.
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Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line, which is operated out of Port Canaveral, Florida, is a vacation cruise line that includes two 85,000-ton ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. Both ships cater to children, families and adults, with distinctly-themed areas and activities for each group. Each ship features 877 staterooms, 73% of which are outside and provide guests with ocean views. Cruise vacations often include a visit to Disneys Castaway Cay, a 1,000-acre private Bahamian island. The Company packages three, four and seven-day cruise vacations with visits to the Walt Disney World Resort and also offers cruise-only options.
In 2007, the Company announced that it is expanding its cruise business by adding two new ships, the Disney Dream in 2011 and the Disney Fantasy in 2012. The new ships will each be approximately 128,000 tons with 1,250 staterooms. In 2009, the Company announced that the Disney Wonder will move its home to the Port of Los Angeles in 2011, to accommodate Pacific itineraries.
Adventures by Disney
Adventures by Disney, which began operations in 2005, offers a series of all-inclusive guided vacation tour packages at predominantly non-Disney sites around the world. The Company provided 22 specialized excursion packages during 2009.
Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering provides master planning, real estate development, attraction and show design, engineering support, production support, project management and other development services, including research and development for the Companys operations.
Competition and Seasonality
The Companys theme parks and resorts as well as Disney Cruise Line and Disney Vacation Club compete with other forms of entertainment, lodging, tourism and recreational activities. The profitability of the leisure-time industry may be influenced by various factors that are not directly controllable, such as economic conditions including business cycle and exchange rate fluctuations, travel industry trends, amount of available leisure time, oil and transportation prices and weather patterns.
All of the theme parks and the associated resort facilities are operated on a year-round basis. Historically, the theme parks and resort business experiences fluctuations in theme park attendance and resort occupancy resulting from the seasonal nature of vacation travel and local entertainment excursions. Peak attendance and resort occupancy generally occur during the summer months when school vacations occur and during early-winter and spring-holiday periods.
STUDIO ENTERTAINMENT
The Studio Entertainment segment produces and acquires live-action and animated motion pictures, direct-to-video content, musical recordings and live stage plays.
The Company distributes produced and acquired films (including its film and television library) in the theatrical, home entertainment and television markets. Each of these market windows is discussed in more detail below.
In August 2009, the Company entered into an agreement with DreamWorks Studios (DreamWorks) to distribute live-action motion pictures produced by DreamWorks over the next seven years under the Touchstone Pictures banner. As part of the agreement, the Company will provide certain financing, which as of October 3, 2009, totaled $100 million.
Theatrical Market
Walt Disney Pictures, a subsidiary of the Company, produces and acquires live-action motion pictures focusing on the production of Disney-branded films that are distributed primarily under the Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Disneynature banners. Miramax Film Corp. (Miramax), another subsidiary of the Company, acquires and
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produces motion pictures under the Miramax banner. The Company also owns and distributes motion pictures under the Dimension banner that were produced and distributed by the Company under that banner with initial release dates before September 30, 2005. The Company also produces and distributes animated motion pictures under the banners Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar.
During fiscal 2010, we expect to distribute domestically approximately 14 feature films under the Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures and Disneynature banners and approximately seven films under the Miramax banner. These releases include several live-action family films and full-length animated films, with the remainder targeted to teenagers and/or adults. As of October 3, 2009, the Company had released domestically 949 full-length live-action features, 83 full-length animated features, approximately 548 cartoon shorts and 53 live action shorts under the Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Dimension banners.
We distribute and market our filmed products principally through our own distribution and marketing companies in the U.S. In the international markets, we distribute our filmed products both directly and through independent distribution companies or joint ventures. Films released theatrically in the U.S. can be released simultaneously in international territories or generally up to six months later.
The Company incurs significant marketing and advertising costs before and throughout the theatrical release of a film in an effort to generate public awareness of the film, to increase the publics intent to view the film and to help generate consumer interest in the subsequent home entertainment and other ancillary markets. These costs are expensed as incurred; therefore, we typically incur losses on a film in the theatrical markets, including in periods prior to the theatrical release of the film.
Home Entertainment Market
In the domestic market, we distribute home entertainment releases directly under each of our motion picture banners. In the international market, we distribute home entertainment releases under each of our motion picture banners both directly and through independent foreign distribution companies. In addition, we acquire and produce original content for direct-to-video release.
The domestic and international home entertainment window typically starts four to six months after the theatrical release in each market with the issuance of a variety of physical and electronic versions of each title (including DVD, Blu-ray and electronic formats). Most titles are sold simultaneously to both rentailers, such as Blockbuster, and retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy.
As of October 3, 2009 under the banners Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Dimension, there were approximately 1,900 active produced and acquired titles, including 1,500 live-action titles and 400 animated titles, in the domestic home entertainment marketplace and approximately 2,900 active produced and acquired titles, including 2,400 live-action titles and 500 animated titles, in the international marketplace.
Television Market
Pay-Per-View (PPV)/Video-on-Demand (VOD): Generally about one to two months after the home entertainment window begins, the studios television distributors, Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Disney-ABC-ESPN Television International, license titles for use on a PPV/VOD basis in the cable and satellite markets, as well as for internet, console games, and mobile platforms. PPV/VOD services deliver one-time rentals electronically to consumers at a price comparable to that of physical media rentals.
Pay Television (Pay 1): There are generally two pay television windows. The first window is generally sixteen months in duration and follows the PPV/VOD window. The Company has licensed exclusive domestic pay television rights to substantially all films released under the Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Dimension banners to the Starz pay television service through fiscal 2013.
Free Television (Free 1): The Pay 1 window is followed by a television window with telecasts accessible to consumers without charge. This free window may last up to 84 months. Motion pictures are usually sold in the Free 1 window on an ad-hoc basis to major networks, including the ABC Television Network, and basic cable services, including ABC Family, Disney Channel, Disney XD, and SOAPnet.
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Pay Television 2 (Pay 2) and Free Television 2 (Free 2): In the U.S., Free 1 is generally followed by a fourteen- month Pay 2 window under our license arrangement with Starz, and finally by a Free 2 window. The Free 2 window is a syndication window where films are licensed both to basic cable networks and to third-party television station groups. Major packages of the Companys feature films have been licensed for broadcast under multi-year agreements.
International Television: The Company also licenses its theatrical and television properties outside of the U.S. The typical windowing sequence is broadly consistent with the domestic cycle such that titles premiere on television in PPV/VOD then air in pay TV before airing in free TV. Windowing strategies are developed in response to local market practices and conditions, and the exact sequence and length of each window can vary country by country.
Disney Music Group
The Disney Music Group includes Walt Disney Records, Hollywood Records (including the Mammoth Records and Buena Vista Records labels), Lyric Street Records, Buena Vista Concerts and Disney Music Publishing.
Walt Disney Records produces and distributes compact discs and music DVDs in the United States and licenses our music properties throughout the rest of the world. Music categories include infant, childrens read-along, teens, all-family and soundtracks from film and television series distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and Disney Channel. Hollywood Records develops, produces and markets recordings from talent across a spectrum of popular music. Nashville-based Lyric Street Records develops, produces and markets recordings in the country music genre.
Each of the labels commissions new music for the Companys motion picture and television programs, records the songs and licenses the song copyrights to others for printed music, records, audio-visual devices, public performances and digital distribution. Buena Vista Concerts produces live-entertainment events with artists signed to the Disney Music Group record labels.
Disney Music Publishing controls the copyrights of thousands of musical compositions derived from the Companys motion picture, television, record and theme park properties, as well as musical compositions written by songwriters under exclusive contract. It is responsible for the management, protection, and licensing of the Disney song catalog on a worldwide basis, including licensing for printed music, records, audio-visual works and new media.
Disney Theatrical Group
The Disney Theatrical Group includes both Disney Theatrical Productions and Disney Live Family Entertainment.
Disney Theatrical Productions develops, produces and licenses live entertainment events. The Company has produced and licensed Broadway musicals around the world, including Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Elton John & Tim Rices Aida, Mary Poppins (a co-production with Cameron Mackintosh Ltd), TARZAN®, the professional touring stage version of High School Musical, and The Little Mermaid. In addition, the Company licenses musicals for local school and community theatre productions.
Disney Live Family Entertainment delivers worldwide touring productions under the Disney On Ice and Disney Live! brands under a license to Feld Entertainment. North American tours for Disney Live! Rockin Road Show and Disney On Ices latest ice show, Celebrations!, were launched in August 2009 and September 2009, respectively.
Competition and Seasonality
The Studio Entertainment businesses compete with all forms of entertainment. A significant number of companies produce and/or distribute theatrical and television films, exploit products in the home entertainment market, provide pay television programming services and sponsor live theater. We also compete to obtain creative and performing talents, story properties, advertiser support and broadcast rights that are essential to the success of our Studio Entertainment businesses.
The success of Studio Entertainment operations is heavily dependent upon public taste and preferences. In addition, Studio Entertainment operating results fluctuate due to the timing and performance of releases in the theatrical, home entertainment and television markets. Release dates are determined by several factors, including competition and the timing of vacation and holiday periods.
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CONSUMER PRODUCTS
The Consumer Products segment engages with licensees, manufacturers, publishers and retailers throughout the world to design, develop, publish, promote and sell a wide variety of products based on existing and new Disney characters and other Company intellectual property through its Merchandise Licensing, Publishing and Retail businesses. In addition to leveraging the Companys film and television properties, Consumer Products also develops new intellectual property with the potential of also being used in the Companys other businesses.
Merchandise Licensing
The Companys worldwide merchandise licensing operations include a diverse range of product categories, the most significant of which are: toys, apparel, accessories, footwear, home furnishings, home décor, health, beauty, food, stationery and consumer electronics. The Company licenses characters from its film, television and other properties and earns royalties, which are usually based on a fixed percentage of the wholesale or retail selling price of the products. Some of the major properties licensed by the Company include Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Disney Princess, Cars, Hannah Montana, and High School Musical. The Company also designs individual products and creates exclusive themed and seasonal promotional campaigns for retailers based on characters, movies and TV shows.
Publishing
Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) publishes childrens books and magazines in multiple countries and languages. DPWs businesses include Disney Global Book Group, Global Childrens Magazines, Disney FamilyFun Group, and Disney English. In fiscal 2009, the Disney Global Books Group published titles around the world in support of such franchises as Disney Princess, Disney Fairies, Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, High School Musical, Cars and Hannah Montana, and of the films Bolt, UP, and G-Force. The Global Childrens Magazines business launched new titles in over 30 languages to support Disney Channel hits, including High School Musical, Hannah Montana, JONAS, and Camp Rock. The Disney FamilyFun Group includes the Disney FamilyFun and Disney en Familia magazines, special publications and branded books, and custom media solutions. Disney English currently offers more than 400 hours of classroom programming for young children at five Disney English centers in Shanghai.
Retail
The Company markets Disney-themed products directly through retail stores operated under the Disney Store name and through internet sites in North America (as DisneyStore.com and DisneyOutlet.com) and the United Kingdom (as DisneyStore.co.uk). The stores, which are generally located in leading shopping malls and other retail complexes, carry a wide variety of Disney merchandise and promote other businesses of the Company. The Company owns and operates 231 stores in North America and 109 stores in Europe. In Japan, the stores are operated by a subsidiary of Oriental Land Co., Ltd. under a licensing arrangement.
Competition and Seasonality
The Companys merchandise licensing, publishing and retail businesses compete with other licensors, publishers and retailers of character, brand and celebrity names. Based on independent surveys, we believe the Company is the largest worldwide licensor of character-based merchandise based on retail sales. Operating results for the licensing and retail businesses are influenced by seasonal consumer purchasing behavior and by the timing and performance of animated theatrical releases and cable programming broadcasts.
INTERACTIVE MEDIA
The Disney Interactive Media Group creates and delivers Disney-branded entertainment and lifestyle content across interactive media platforms. The primary operating businesses of the Disney Interactive Media Group are Disney Interactive Studios which produces video games for global distribution and Disney Online which produces web sites and online virtual worlds in the United States and internationally. The Disney Interactive Media Groups internet operations derive revenue from a combination of advertising and sponsorships, subscription services and e-commerce. The Disney Interactive Media Group also manages the Companys Disney-branded mobile phone initiative in Japan and provides technical infrastructure services to the Companys non Disney-branded websites, such
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as ABC.com and ESPN.com, and to its Disney-branded e-commerce websites, principally DisneyStore.com and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online. The Disney Interactive Media Group is reimbursed for the cost of providing these technical infrastructure services, and since these other websites are managed within the Companys other segments, the financial results of these websites are reported within the Companys other segments rather than as part of the Disney Interactive Media Group.
Disney Interactive Studios
Disney Interactive Studios creates, develops, markets and distributes multi-platform video games worldwide based on the Companys creative content, including Pirates of the Caribbean, High School Musical and The Chronicles of Narnia and from properties developed by Disney Interactive Studios, such as Pure and Spectrobes. The division has been increasing its investment in internally developed and published games through the acquisition of studios and increased product development spending. Disney Interactive Studios also licenses properties for games, such as Cars, Finding Nemo and Ratatouille to third-party publishers. The Company has a licensing agreement with THQ, Inc. that includes one upcoming Pixar title.
Disney Online
Disney Online develops, publishes and distributes content for Disney-branded online services intended for family entertainment. Disney Online produces Disney.com, DisneyFamily.com, which is an online lifestyle destination for moms, and a portfolio of virtual worlds, including Club Penguin, Disneys Toontown and Disneys Pirates of the Caribbean Online. Disney.com integrates many of the Companys Disney-branded internet sites including sites for the Disney Channel, Disney Parks and Resorts, Walt Disney Pictures and Disney Consumer Products.
Competition and Seasonality
The Companys internet sites and products compete with other internet sites and products. The Companys video game business competes primarily with other publishers of video game software and other types of home entertainment. Operating results for the video game business fluctuate due to the timing and performance of video game releases which are determined by several factors, including theatrical releases and cable programming broadcasts, competition and the timing of holiday periods. Revenues from our internet and mobile operations are generally not subject to significant seasonal trends.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
The Companys businesses throughout the world are affected by its ability to exploit and protect against infringement of its intellectual property, including trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents and trade secrets. Important intellectual property includes rights in the content of motion pictures, television programs, electronic games, sound recordings, character likenesses, theme park attractions, books and magazines. Risks related to the protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights are set forth in Item 1A Risk Factors.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports are available without charge on our website, www.disney.com/investors, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed electronically with the SEC. We are providing the address to our internet site solely for the information of investors. We do not intend the address to be an active link or to otherwise incorporate the contents of the website into this report.
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For an enterprise as large and complex as the Company, a wide range of factors could materially affect future developments and performance. In addition to the factors affecting specific business operations identified in connection with the description of these operations and the financial results of these operations elsewhere in this report, the most significant factors affecting our operations include the following:
Recent changes in U.S., global, or regional economic conditions could have a continuing adverse effect on the profitability of some or all of our businesses.
The recent decline in economic activity in the United States and other regions of the world in which we do business has affected demand for some of our products and services, and continuation of this condition could adversely affect demand for any of our businesses, thus reducing our revenue and earnings. The decline in economic conditions has reduced and could continue to reduce spending at our parks and resorts, purchase of or prices for advertising on our broadcast or cable networks or owned stations, performance of our home entertainment releases, and purchases of Company-branded consumer products. A continuing decline in economic conditions could also reduce attendance at our parks and resorts or prices that MVSPs pay for our cable programming. Economic conditions have also and could continue to impair the ability of those with whom we do business to satisfy their obligations to us. In addition, an increase in price levels generally, or in price levels in a particular sector such as the energy sector, could result in a shift in consumer demand away from the entertainment and consumer products we offer, which could also adversely affect our revenues and, at the same time, increase our costs. Changes in exchange rates for foreign currencies may reduce international demand for our products, increase our labor or supply costs in non-United States markets, or reduce the United States dollar value of revenue we receive from other markets.
Changes in public and consumer tastes and preferences for entertainment and consumer products could reduce demand for our entertainment offerings and products and adversely affect the profitability of any of our businesses.
Each of our businesses creates entertainment or consumer products whose success depends substantially on consumer tastes and preferences that change in often unpredictable ways. The success of our businesses depends on our ability to consistently create and distribute filmed entertainment, broadcast and cable programming, online material, electronic games, theme park attractions, hotels and other resort facilities and consumer products that meet the changing preferences of the broad consumer market. Many of our businesses increasingly depend on worldwide acceptance of our offerings and products outside the United States, and their success therefore depends on our ability to successfully predict and adapt to changing consumer tastes and preferences outside as well as inside the United States. Moreover, we must often invest substantial amounts in film production, broadcast and cable programming, electronic games, theme park attractions, or hotels and other resort facilities before we learn the extent to which these products will earn consumer acceptance. If our entertainment offerings and products do not achieve sufficient consumer acceptance, our revenue from advertising sales (which are based in part on ratings for the programs in which advertisements air) or subscription fees for broadcast and cable programming and online services, from theatrical film receipts or home video or electronic game sales, from theme park admissions, hotel room charges and merchandise, food and beverage sales, from sales of licensed consumer products or from sales of our other consumer products and services may decline and adversely affect the profitability of one or more of our businesses.
Changes in technology and in consumer consumption patterns may affect demand for our entertainment products or the cost of producing or distributing products.
The media entertainment and internet businesses in which we participate depend significantly on our ability to acquire, develop, adopt and exploit new technologies to distinguish our products and services from those of our competitors. In addition, new technologies affect the demand for our products, the time and manner in which consumers acquire and view some of our entertainment products and the options available to advertisers for reaching their desired markets. For example:
| the success of our offerings in the home entertainment market depends in part on consumer preferences with respect to home entertainment formats, including DVD players and personal video recorders, as well as the availability of alternative home entertainment offerings and technologies, including web-based delivery of entertainment offerings; |
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| technological developments offer consumers an expanding array of entertainment options and if consumers favor options we have not yet fully developed rather than the entertainment products we offer, our sales may be adversely affected. |
The success of our businesses is highly dependent on the existence and maintenance of intellectual property rights in the entertainment products and services we create.
The value to us of our intellectual property rights is dependent on the scope and duration of our rights as defined by applicable laws in the United States and abroad and the manner in which those laws are construed. If those laws are drafted or interpreted in ways that limit the extent or duration of our rights, or if existing laws are changed, our ability to generate revenue from our intellectual property may decrease, or the cost of obtaining and maintaining rights may increase.
The unauthorized use of our intellectual property rights may increase the cost of protecting these rights or reduce our revenues. New technologies such as the convergence of computing, communication, and entertainment devices, the falling prices of devices incorporating such technologies, and increased broadband internet speed and penetration have made the unauthorized digital copying and distribution of our films, television productions and other creative works easier and faster and enforcement of intellectual property rights more challenging. There is evidence that unauthorized use of intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry generally is a significant and rapidly growing phenomenon. Inadequate laws or weak enforcement mechanisms to protect intellectual property in one country can adversely affect the results of the Companys operations worldwide, despite the Companys efforts to protect its intellectual property rights. These developments require us to devote substantial resources to protecting our intellectual property against unlicensed use and present the risk of increased losses of revenue as a result of unlicensed digital distribution of our content and sales of unauthorized DVDs, Blu-ray discs and other products.
With respect to intellectual property developed by the Company and rights acquired by the Company from others, the Company is subject to the risk of challenges to our rights in intellectual property by third parties. Successful challenges to our rights in intellectual property may result in increased costs for obtaining rights or the loss of the opportunity to earn revenue from the intellectual property that is the subject of challenged rights. The Company is not aware of any challenges to its intellectual property rights that it currently foresees having a material effect on its operations.
A variety of uncontrollable events may reduce demand for our products and services, impair our ability to provide our products and services or increase the cost of providing our products and services.
Demand for our products and services, particularly our theme parks and resorts, is highly dependent on the general environment for travel and tourism. The environment for travel and tourism, as well as demand for other entertainment products, can be significantly adversely affected in the United States, globally or in specific regions as a result of a variety of factors beyond our control, including: adverse weather conditions or natural disasters (such as excessive heat or rain, hurricanes and earthquakes); health concerns; international, political or military developments; and terrorist attacks. These events and others, such as fluctuations in travel and energy costs and computer virus attacks or other widespread computing or telecommunications failures, may also damage our ability to provide our products and services or to obtain insurance coverage with respect to these events. In addition, we derive royalties from the sales of our licensed goods and services by third parties and the management of businesses operated under brands licensed from the Company, and we are therefore dependent on the successes of those third parties for that portion of our revenue. A wide variety of factors could influence the success of those third parties and if negative factors significantly impacted a sufficient number of our licensees they could adversely affect the profitability of one or more of our businesses. We obtain insurance against the risk of losses relating to some but not all of these events, and when insurance is obtained it is subject to deductibles, exclusions and caps. The types and levels of coverage we obtain vary from time to time depending on our view of the likelihood of specific types and levels of loss in relation to the cost of obtaining coverage for such types and levels of loss.
Changes in our business strategy or restructuring of our businesses may increase our costs or otherwise affect the profitability of our businesses.
As changes in our business environment occur we may need to adjust our business strategies to meet these changes or we may otherwise find it necessary to restructure our operations or particular businesses or assets. In
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addition, external events including acceptance of our theatrical offerings and changes in macro-economic conditions may impair the value of our assets. When these changes or events occur, we may incur costs to change our business strategy and may need to write down the value of assets. We may also need to invest in new businesses that have short-term returns that are negative or low and whose ultimate business prospects are uncertain. In any of these events, our costs may increase, we may have significant charges associated with the write-down of assets or returns on new investments may be lower than prior to the change in strategy or restructuring.
Turmoil in the financial markets could increase our cost of borrowing and impede access to or increase the cost of financing our operations and investments.
U.S. and global credit and equity markets experienced significant disruption beginning in late 2008, making it difficult for many businesses to obtain financing on acceptable terms. In addition, equity markets experienced rapid and wide fluctuations in value. These conditions tended to increase the cost of borrowing and if they recur, our cost of borrowing could increase and it may be more difficult to obtain financing for our operations or investments. In addition, our borrowing costs can be affected by short and long-term debt ratings assigned by independent rating agencies which are based, in significant part, on the Companys performance as measured by credit metrics such as interest coverage and leverage ratios. A decrease in these ratings would likely increase our cost of borrowing and/or make it more difficult for us to obtain financing. The disruption in the global financial markets also impacted some of the financial institutions with which we do business. A similar decline in the financial stability of financial institutions could affect our ability to secure credit-worthy counterparties for our interest rate and foreign currency hedging programs and could affect our ability to settle existing contracts.
Increased competitive pressures may reduce our revenues or increase our costs.
We face substantial competition in each of our businesses from alternative providers of the products and services we offer and from other forms of entertainment, lodging, tourism and recreational activities. We also must compete to obtain human resources, programming and other resources we require in operating our business. For example:
| Our broadcast and cable networks, stations and online offerings compete for viewers with other broadcast, cable and satellite services as well as with home video products and internet usage. |
| Our broadcast and cable networks and stations compete for the sale of advertising time with other broadcast, cable and satellite services, and the internet, as well as with newspapers, magazines and billboards. |
| Our cable networks compete for carriage of their programming with other programming providers. |
| Our broadcast and cable networks compete for the acquisition of creative talent and sports and other programming with other broadcast and cable networks. |
| Our theme parks and resorts compete for guests with all other forms of entertainment, lodging, tourism and recreation activities. |
| Our studio operations compete for customers with all other forms of entertainment. |
| Our studio operations, broadcast and cable networks and publishing businesses compete to obtain creative and performing talent, story properties, advertiser support, broadcast rights and market share. |
| Our consumer products segment competes in the character merchandising and other licensing, publishing, and retail activities with other licensors, publishers and retailers of character, brand and celebrity names. |
| Our interactive media video game operations compete primarily with other publishers of video game software and other types of home entertainment. |
Competition in each of these areas may divert consumers from our creative or other products, or to other products or other forms of entertainment, which could reduce our revenue or increase our marketing costs. Competition for the acquisition of resources can increase the cost of producing our products and services.
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Sustained increases in costs of pension and postretirement medical and other employee health and welfare benefits may reduce our profitability.
With approximately 144,000 employees, our profitability is substantially affected by costs of pension benefits and current and postretirement medical benefits. We may experience significant increases in these costs as a result of macro-economic factors, which are beyond our control, including increases in the cost of health care. In addition, changes in investment returns and discount rates used to calculate pension expense and related assets and liabilities can be volatile and may have an unfavorable impact on our costs in some years. These macro-economic factors as well as the decline in the fair value of pension plan assets may put upward pressure on the cost of providing pension and medical benefits and may increase future funding contributions. Although we have actively sought to control increases in these costs, there can be no assurance that we will succeed in limiting cost increases, and continued upward pressure could reduce the profitability of our businesses.
Our results may be adversely affected if long-term programming or carriage contracts are not renewed on sufficiently favorable terms.
We enter into long-term contracts for both the acquisition and the distribution of media programming and products, including contracts for the acquisition of programming rights for sporting events and other programs, and contracts for the distribution of our programming to MVSPs. As these contracts expire, we must renew or renegotiate the contracts, and if we are unable to renew them on acceptable terms, we may lose programming rights or distribution rights. Even if these contracts are renewed, the cost of obtaining programming rights may increase (or increase at faster rates than our historical experience) or the revenue from distribution of programs may be reduced (or increase at slower rates than our historical experience). With respect to the acquisition of programming rights, particularly sports programming rights, the impact of these long-term contracts on our results over the term of the contracts depends on a number of factors, including the strength of advertising markets, effectiveness of marketing efforts and the size of viewer audiences. There can be no assurance that revenues from programming based on these rights will exceed the cost of the rights plus the other costs of producing and distributing the programming.
Changes in regulations applicable to our businesses may impair the profitability of our businesses.
Our broadcast networks and television stations are highly regulated, and each of our other businesses is subject to a variety of United States and overseas regulations. These regulations include:
| United States FCC regulation of our television and radio networks, our national programming networks, and our owned television stations. See Item 1 Business Media Networks, Federal Regulation. |
| Environmental protection regulations. |
| Federal, state and foreign privacy and data protection laws and regulations. |
| Regulation of the safety of consumer products and theme park operations. |
| Imposition by foreign countries of trade restrictions or motion picture or television content requirements or quotas. |
| Domestic and international tax laws or currency controls. |
Changes in any of these regulatory areas may require us to spend additional amounts to comply with the regulations, or may restrict our ability to offer products and services that are profitable.
Labor disputes may disrupt our operations and adversely affect the profitability of any of our businesses.
A significant number of employees in various of our businesses are covered by collective bargaining agreements, including employees of our theme parks and resorts as well as writers, directors, actors, production personnel and others employed in our media networks and studio operations. In addition, the employees of licensees who manufacture and retailers who sell our consumer products may be covered by labor agreements with their employers. In general, a labor dispute involving our employees or the employees of our licensees or retailers who sell our consumer products may disrupt our operations and reduce our revenues, and resolution of disputes may increase our costs.
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Provisions in our corporate documents and Delaware state law could delay or prevent a change of control, even if that change would be beneficial to shareholders.
Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision regulating the ability of shareholders to bring matters for action before annual and special meetings and authorizes our Board of Directors to issue and set the terms of preferred stock. The regulations on shareholder action could make it more difficult for any person seeking to acquire control of the Company to obtain shareholder approval of actions that would support this effort. The issuance of preferred stock could effectively dilute the interests of any person seeking control or otherwise make it more difficult to obtain control. In addition, provisions in our Restated Certificate of Incorporation require supermajority shareholder approval of some acquisition transactions and we are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, either of which could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control in some circumstances.
The seasonality of certain of our businesses could exacerbate negative impacts on our operations.
Each of our businesses is normally subject to seasonal variations, as follows:
| Revenues in our Media Networks segment are subject to seasonal advertising patterns and changes in viewership levels. In general, advertising revenues are somewhat higher during the fall and somewhat lower during the summer months. Affiliate revenues are typically collected ratably throughout the year. Certain affiliate revenues at ESPN are deferred until annual programming commitments are met, and these commitments are typically satisfied during the second half of the Companys fiscal year, which generally results in higher revenue recognition during this period. |
| Revenues in our Parks and Resorts segment fluctuate with changes in theme park attendance and resort occupancy resulting from the seasonal nature of vacation travel and local entertainment excursions. Peak attendance and resort occupancy generally occur during the summer months when school vacations occur and during early-winter and spring-holiday periods. |
| Revenues in our Studio Entertainment segment fluctuate due to the timing and performance of releases in the theatrical, home entertainment, and television markets. Release dates are determined by several factors, including competition and the timing of vacation and holiday periods. |
| Revenues in our Consumer Products segment are influenced by seasonal consumer purchasing behavior and by the timing and performance of theatrical releases and cable programming broadcasts. |
| Revenues in our Interactive Media segment fluctuate due to the timing and performance of video game releases which are determined by several factors, including theatrical releases and cable programming broadcasts, competition and the timing of holiday periods. Revenues from certain of our internet and mobile operations are subject to similar seasonal trends. |
Accordingly, if a short term negative impact on our business occurs during a time of high seasonal demand (such as hurricane damage to our parks during the summer travel season), the effect could have a disproportionate effect on the results of that business for the year.
The Companys acquisition of Marvel is expected to cause short term dilution in earnings per share and there can be no assurance that anticipated improvements in earnings per share will be realized.
On August 31, 2009, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. in a merger transaction. Based on the number of fully diluted shares of Marvel common stock outstanding as of September 18, 2009, the Company expects (assuming there is no adjustment to the exchange ratio) that the number of issued and outstanding shares will increase by approximately 58.5 million shares as a result of the merger. We expect that the merger will initially result in lower earnings per share than we would have earned in the absence of the merger. We expect that over time the merger will yield benefits to the combined company such that the merger will ultimately be accretive to earnings per share. However, there can be no assurance that the increase in earnings per share expected in the long term will be achieved. In order to achieve increases in earnings per share as a result of the merger, the combined company will, among other things, need to effectively continue the successful operations of Marvel after the
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merger, develop successful new content (including future feature films and television series or sequels to Marvel productions) based on Marvel characters and successfully integrate Marvel products into the combined companys various distribution channels.
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
The Company has received no written comments regarding its periodic or current reports from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission that were issued 180 days or more preceding the end of its 2009 fiscal year and that remain unresolved.
The Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and other properties of the Company and its subsidiaries are described in Item 1 under the caption Parks and Resorts. Film library properties are described in Item 1 under the caption Studio Entertainment. Radio and television stations owned by the Company are described under the caption Media Networks.
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The Company and its subsidiaries own and lease properties throughout the world. In addition to the properties noted above, the table below provides a brief description of other significant properties and the related business segment.
Location |
Property / Approximate Size |
Use |
Business Segment (1) | |||
Burbank, CA |
Land (52 acres) & Buildings (2,000,000 ft2) |
Owned Office/Production/ Warehouse |
Corp/Studio/Media/CP | |||
Burbank, CA & surrounding cities (2) |
Buildings (1,800,000 ft2) | Leased Office/Warehouse (includes 12,000 ft2 sublet to third party tenants) | Corp/Studio/Media/CP/IMG | |||
Glendale, CA & North Hollywood, CA |
Land (154 acres) & Buildings (2,500,000 ft2) |
Owned Office/Warehouse (includes 650,000 ft2 sublet to third party tenants) | Corp/Studio/Media/CP/TP&R/IMG | |||
Glendale, CA |
Buildings (160,000 ft2) | Leased Office/Warehouse | Corp | |||
Los Angeles, CA |
Land (22 acres) & Buildings (600,000 ft2) |
Owned Office/Production/ Technical |
Media | |||
Los Angeles, CA |
Buildings (180,000 ft2) | Leased Office/Production/ Technical |
Media/Studio/IMG | |||
New York, NY |
Land (6.5 acres) & Buildings (1,400,000 ft2) |
Owned Office/Production/ Technical (includes 15,000 ft2 sublet to third party tenants) |
Media | |||
New York, NY |
Buildings (660,000 ft2) | Leased Office/Production/ Warehouse (includes 10,000 ft2 sublet to third party tenants) |
Studio/Media/IMG | |||
Bristol, CT |
Land (115 acres) & Buildings (720,000 ft2 ) |
Owned Office/Production/ Technical |
Media | |||
Bristol, CT |
Buildings (440,000 ft2) | Leased Office/Warehouse/ Technical |
Media | |||
Emeryville, CA |
Land (21 acres) & Buildings (270,000ft2 ) |
Owned Office/Production/ Technical (includes 20,000 ft2 sublet to third party tenants) |
Studio | |||
Emeryville, CA |
Buildings (125,000 ft2) | Leased Office/Storage | Studio | |||
USA & Canada |
Land and Buildings (Multiple sites and sizes) | Owned and Leased Office/ Production/Transmitter/Retail/ Warehouse | Corp/Studio/Media/CP/ TP&R/IMG | |||
Hammersmith, England |
Land (1 acre) & Building (85,000 ft2) |
Owned Office | Corp/Studio/Media/CP/IMG | |||
Hammersmith, England |
Building (225,000 ft2) | Leased Office (includes 25,000 ft2 sublet to third party tenants) | Corp/Studio/Media/CP/IMG | |||
Europe, Asia, Australia & Latin America |
Buildings (Multiple sites and sizes) | Leased Office/Retail/Warehouse | Corp/Studio/Media/CP/IMG |
(1) | Corp Corporate, CP Consumer Products, TP&R Theme Parks and Resorts and IMG Interactive Media Group |
(2) | Surrounding cities include North Hollywood, CA and Sun Valley, CA |
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Milne and Disney Enterprises, Inc. v. Stephen Slesinger, Inc. On November 5, 2002, Clare Milne, the granddaughter of A. A. Milne, author of the Winnie the Pooh books, and the Companys subsidiary Disney Enterprises, Inc. (DEI) filed a complaint against Stephen Slesinger, Inc. (SSI) in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. On November 4, 2002, Ms. Milne served notices to SSI and DEI terminating A. A. Milnes prior grant of rights to Winnie the Pooh, effective November 5, 2004, and granted all of those rights to DEI. In their lawsuit, Ms. Milne and DEI sought a declaratory judgment, under United States copyright law, that Ms. Milnes termination notices were valid; that SSIs rights to Winnie the Pooh in the United States terminated effective November 5, 2004; that upon termination of SSIs rights in the United States, the 1983 licensing agreement that is the subject of the Stephen Slesinger, Inc. v. The Walt Disney Company lawsuit (the state court action) terminated by operation of law; and that, as of November 5, 2004, SSI was entitled to no further royalties for uses of Winnie the Pooh. SSI filed (a) an answer denying the material allegations of the complaint and (b) counterclaims seeking a declaration that (i) Ms. Milnes grant of rights to DEI is void and unenforceable and (ii) DEI remains obligated to pay SSI royalties under the 1983 licensing agreement. The District Court ruled that Milnes termination notices were invalid. The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed, and on June 26, 2006, the United States Supreme Court denied Milnes petition for a writ of certiorari. On August 1, 2003, SSI filed an amended answer and counterclaims and a third-party complaint against Harriet Hunt (heir to E. H. Shepard, illustrator of the original Winnie the Pooh stories), who had served a notice of termination and a grant of rights similar to Ms. Milnes, and asserted counterclaims against the Company allegedly arising from the Milne and Hunt terminations and the grant of rights to DEI for (a) unlawful and unfair business practices; and (b) breach of the 1983 licensing agreement.
On October 19, 2006, the parties stipulated to SSIs filing its Fourth Amended Answer and Counterclaims (Fourth Amended Answer) seeking (a) to invalidate the Hunt termination notice, (b) to terminate the Companys rights vis-à-vis SSI, and (c) damages in excess of two billion dollars, among other relief. That stipulation also provided that Hunt and the Company need not respond to the Fourth Amended Answer until the conclusion of two events: the state court appeal in Stephen Slesinger, Inc. v. The Walt Disney Company, and the trial in the District Court on the validity of the Hunt termination notice. SSI then sought to withdraw both the Fourth Amended Answer and its stipulation, but on November 3, 2006, the District Court denied that request. SSIs motion for summary judgment on the validity of Hunts 2002 attempt to recapture E. H. Shepards rights was granted on February 15, 2007, and thereafter, on March 27, 2007, the District Court dismissed as moot all claims against Hunt and three of SSIs counterclaims against the Company related to the Companys agreements with Milne and Hunt concerning the termination and disposition of their rights. On January 3, 2008, the California Supreme Court denied SSIs petition for review in the state court action, whereupon on April 21, 2008, the Company moved for summary judgment on all of SSIs claims in the District Court action. On June 3, 2008, the District Court ordered further briefing on the issue of whether SSIs misconduct in the state court action warrants dismissal of all of its claims in the District Court, and then on July 29, 2008, the District Court referred the summary judgment motion to a Special Master, who rendered a sealed recommendation on March 26, 2009. On May 19, 2009, the District Court granted the Companys motion for summary judgment and dismissed without prejudice SSIs four contract and fraud counterclaims and invited the parties to file summary judgment motions on the remaining infringement and unfair competition claims. On September 25, 2009, the District Court granted the Companys motion for summary judgment on SSIs remaining claims and on October 21, 2009, SSI and the Company filed applications for attorneys fees. On November 5, 2009, SSI appealed from the District Courts judgment to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Relatedly, on December 4, 2006, August 22, 2007, February 8, April 18, August 27 and October 31, 2008, and February 17, July 27, and November 17, 2009, SSI initiated proceedings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) seeking cancellation of certain Winnie the Pooh trademark registrations and opposing applications for other Winnie the Pooh trademarks. Prior to July 27, the PTO had already suspended the then-pending proceedings on the grounds that the relief sought is effectively duplicative of that sought in the Fourth Amended Answer. On October 8, 2009, the Company advised the PTO of the District Courts grant of summary judgment against SSI, and requested dismissal of all of SSIs pending proceedings. Also, on April 18, October 16 and October 27, 2008 and July 28, 2009, SSI initiated actions before the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) opposing applications for certain Winnie the Pooh trademarks. On August 4, 2009, SSI requested an extension of time to oppose another application by the Company for a Winnie the Pooh trademark. On September 4, 2008, and February 12 and March 10, 2009, the Company filed answers to the actions before the CIPO, denying SSIs claims.
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The Company, together with, in some instances, certain of its directors and officers, is a defendant or codefendant in various other legal actions involving copyright, breach of contract and various other claims incident to the conduct of its businesses. Management does not expect the Company to suffer any material liability by reason of such actions.
ITEM 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No matters were submitted to a vote of shareholders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.
Executive Officers of the Company
The executive officers of the Company are elected each year at the organizational meeting of the Board of Directors, which follows the annual meeting of the shareholders, and at other Board of Directors meetings, as appropriate. Each of the executive officers has been employed by the Company in the position or positions indicated in the list and pertinent notes below. Except as noted, each of the executive officers has been employed by the Company for more than five years.
At October 3, 2009, the executive officers of the Company were as follows:
Name |
Age | Title |
Executive Officer Since | |||
Robert A. Iger |
58 | President and Chief Executive Officer (1) | 2000 | |||
Thomas O. Staggs |
48 | Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
1998 | |||
Alan N. Braverman |
61 | Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
2003 | |||
Kevin A. Mayer |
47 | Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Business Development and Technology (2) | 2005 | |||
Christine M. McCarthy |
54 | Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance and Real Estate and Treasurer (3) |
2005 | |||
Mary Jayne Parker |
48 | Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (4) | 2009 |
(1) | Mr. Iger was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer effective October 2, 2005. He was President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2000. |
(2) | Mr. Mayer was named Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Business Development, and Technology of the Company in June 2005 and was designated an executive officer in October 2005. He previously was Partner and Head of the Global Media and Entertainment Practice of L.E.K. Consulting LLC, a consulting firm, from February 2002. |
(3) | Ms. McCarthy was named Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance and Real Estate in June 2005 and has been Treasurer since January 2000. Prior to her appointment as Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance and Real Estate, Ms. McCarthy was Senior Vice President and Treasurer from January 2000 to June 2005. |
(4) | Ms. Parker was named Executive Vice President Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Company, effective September 1, 2009, and designated an executive officer of the Company October 2, 2009. Ms. Parker was previously Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts from October 2005 to July 2007 and Vice President Human Resources Administration for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts from March 2003 to October 2005. |
On November 12, 2009, the Company announced that Mr. Staggs would become Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide, effective January 1, 2010, and that James A. Rasulo, currently Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide, will become Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. Rasulo, 53, has held his current position since 2005, and before that was President, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, since 2002.
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PART II
ITEM 5. Market for the Companys Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Companys common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DIS. The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of common stock as reported in the Bloomberg Financial markets services.
Sales Price | ||||||
High | Low | |||||
2009 |
||||||
4th Quarter |
$ | 28.68 | $ | 22.05 | ||
3rd Quarter |
26.29 | 17.54 | ||||
2nd Quarter |
24.83 | 15.14 | ||||
1st Quarter |
32.95 | 18.60 | ||||
2008 |
||||||
4th Quarter |
$ | 34.85 | $ | 28.55 | ||
3rd Quarter |
35.02 | 29.57 | ||||
2nd Quarter |
33.23 | 26.30 | ||||
1st Quarter |
35.69 | 30.68 |
The Company declared a $648 million dividend ($0.35 per share) on December 3, 2008 related to fiscal 2008, which was paid in the second quarter of fiscal 2009. The Board of Directors has not declared a dividend related to fiscal 2009 as of the date of this report.
As of October 3, 2009, the approximate number of common shareholders of record was 1,009,288.
The following table provides information about Company purchases of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act during the quarter ended October 3, 2009:
Period |
Total Number of Shares Purchased (1) |
Average Price Paid per Share |
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs |
Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2) | |||||
June 28, 2009 July 31, 2009 |
156,772 | $ | 24.28 | | 180 million | ||||
August 1, 2009 August 31, 2009 |
118,524 | 26.27 | | 180 million | |||||
September 1, 2009 October 3, 2009 |
1,443,928 | 26.08 | 1,310,900 | 179 million | |||||
Total |
1,719,224 | 25.93 | 1,310,900 | 179 million | |||||
(1) | 408,324 shares were purchased on the open market to provide shares to participants in the Walt Disney Investment Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan. These purchases were not made pursuant to a publicly announced repurchase plan or program. |
(2) | Under a share repurchase program implemented effective June 10, 1998, the Company is authorized to repurchase shares of its common stock. On May 1, 2007, following share repurchases made through May 1, 2007, the Companys Board of Directors increased the repurchase authorization to a total of 400 million shares as of that date. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date. |
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ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data
(in millions, except per share data) | 2009 (1) | 2008 (2) | 2007 (3)(4) | 2006 (3)(5) | 2005 (3)(6) | ||||||||||
Statements of income |
|||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 36,149 | $ | 37,843 | $ | 35,510 | $ | 33,747 | $ | 31,374 | |||||
Income from continuing operations before the cumulative effect of accounting changes |
3,307 | 4,427 | 4,674 | 3,304 | 2,460 | ||||||||||
Per common share |
|||||||||||||||
Earnings from continuing operations before the cumulative effect of accounting changes |
|||||||||||||||
Diluted |
$ | 1.76 | $ | 2.28 | $ | 2.24 | $ | 1.60 | $ | 1.19 | |||||
Basic |
1.78 | 2.34 | 2.33 | 1.65 | 1.21 | ||||||||||
Dividends |
0.35 | 0.35 | 0.31 | 0.27 | 0.24 | ||||||||||
Balance sheets |
|||||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 63,117 | $ | 62,497 | $ | 60,928 | $ | 59,998 | $ | 53,158 | |||||
Long-term obligations |
16,939 | 14,889 | 14,916 | 13,974 | 14,102 | ||||||||||
Shareholders equity |
33,734 | 32,323 | 30,753 | 31,820 | 26,210 | ||||||||||
Statements of cash flows Cash provided (used) by: |
|||||||||||||||
Continuing operating activities |
$ | 5,064 | $ | 5,446 | $ | 5,398 | $ | 5,960 | $ | 4,139 | |||||
Continuing investing activities |
(2,096) | (2,162) | (618) | (220) | (1,682) | ||||||||||
Continuing financing activities |
(2,552) | (3,953) | (3,619) | (5,166) | (2,899) |
(1) | The fiscal 2009 results include restructuring and impairment charges ($0.17 per diluted share), a non-cash gain in connection with the merger of Lifetime and AETN ($0.08 per diluted share) and a gain on the sale of our investment in two pay television services in Latin America ($0.04 per diluted share). Including the impact of rounding, these items collectively resulted in a net adverse impact of $0.06 per diluted share. |
(2) | The fiscal 2008 results include an accounting gain related to the acquisition of the Disney Stores North America and a gain on the sale of movies.com (together $0.01 per diluted share), the favorable resolution of certain income tax matters ($0.03 per diluted share), a bad debt charge for a receivable from Lehman Brothers ($0.03 per diluted share) and an impairment charge ($0.01 per diluted share). These items collectively had no net impact on earnings per share. |
(3) | During fiscal 2007, the Company concluded the spin-off of the ABC Radio business and thus reports ABC Radio as discontinued operations for all periods presented (see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion). |
(4) | The fiscal 2007 results include gains from the sales of E! Entertainment and Us Weekly (together $0.31 per diluted share), the favorable resolution of certain income tax matters ($0.03 per diluted share), an equity-based compensation plan modification charge ($0.01 per diluted share) and an impairment charge ($0.01 per diluted share). These items collectively resulted in a net benefit of $0.32 per diluted share. |
(5) | During fiscal 2006, the Company completed an all stock acquisition of Pixar for $7.5 billion. In addition, results include gains on sales of a Spanish cable equity investment and Discover Magazine (together $0.02 per diluted share), the favorable resolution of certain income tax matters ($0.02 per diluted share), a net benefit associated with the completion of the Pixar acquisition ($0.01 per diluted share) and an impairment charge ($0.01 per diluted share). These items collectively resulted in a net benefit of $0.04 per diluted share. |
(6) | The fiscal 2005 results include the favorable resolution of certain income tax matters ($0.06 per diluted share), a benefit from the restructuring of Euro Disneys borrowings ($0.02 per diluted share), an income tax benefit from the repatriation of foreign earnings under the American Jobs Creation Act ($0.02 per diluted share), a gain on the sale of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim ($0.01 per diluted share), a write-off of investments in leveraged leases ($0.03 per diluted share), a write-down related to the MovieBeam venture ($0.02 per diluted share), an impairment charge for a cable television investment in Latin America ($0.01 per diluted share) and restructuring and impairment charges related to the sale of The Disney Stores North America ($0.01 per diluted share). These items collectively resulted in a net benefit of $0.04 per diluted share. |
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ITEM 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
(in millions, except per share data)
% Change Better/(Worse) | |||||||||||||
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2009 vs. 2008 |
2008 vs. 2007 | |||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 36,149 | $ | 37,843 | $ | 35,510 | (4) % | 7 % | |||||
Costs and expenses |
(30,452) | (30,400) | (28,655) | % | (6) % | ||||||||
Restructuring and impairment charges |
(492) | (39) | (26) | nm | (50) % | ||||||||
Other income (expense) |
342 | (59) | 1,004 | nm | nm | ||||||||
Net interest expense |
(466) | (524) | (593) | 11 % | 12 % | ||||||||
Equity in the income of investees |
577 | 581 | 485 | (1) % | 20 % | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interests |
5,658 | 7,402 | 7,725 | (24) % | (4) % | ||||||||
Income taxes |
(2,049) | (2,673) | (2,874) | 23 % | 7 % | ||||||||
Minority interests |
(302) | (302) | (177) | % | (71) % | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
3,307 | 4,427 | 4,674 | (25) % | (5) % | ||||||||
Discontinued operations, net of tax |
| | 13 | nm | nm | ||||||||
Net income |
$ | 3,307 | $ | 4,427 | $ | 4,687 | (25) % | (6) % | |||||
Diluted Earnings per share (1): |
|||||||||||||
Earnings per share, continuing operations |
$ | 1.76 | $ | 2.28 | $ | 2.24 | (23) % | 2 % | |||||
Earnings per share, discontinued operations |
| | 0.01 | nm | nm | ||||||||
Earnings per share |
$ | 1.76 | $ | 2.28 | $ | 2.25 | (23) % | 1 % | |||||
Basic Earnings per share: |
|||||||||||||
Earnings per share, continuing operations |
$ | 1.78 | $ | 2.34 | $ | 2.33 | (24) % | % | |||||
Earnings per share, discontinued operations |
| | 0.01 | nm | nm | ||||||||
Earnings per share |
$ | 1.78 | $ | 2.34 | $ | 2.34 | (24) % | % | |||||
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding: |
|||||||||||||
Diluted |
1,875 | 1,948 | 2,092 | ||||||||||
Basic |
1,856 | 1,890 | 2,004 | ||||||||||
(1) | The calculation of diluted earnings per share assumes the conversion of the Companys convertible senior notes into 45 million shares of common stock for periods presented prior to their redemption in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. Related after-tax interest expense of $12 million for fiscal 2008 and $21 million for fiscal 2007 has been added back for the calculation of diluted earnings per share. |
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Organization of Information
Managements Discussion and Analysis provides a narrative on the Companys financial performance and condition that should be read in conjunction with the accompanying financial statements. It includes the following sections:
| Consolidated Results |
| Business Segment Results 2009 vs. 2008 |
| Non-Segment Items 2009 vs. 2008 |
| Pension and Benefit Costs |
| Business Segment Results 2008 vs. 2007 |
| Non-Segment Items 2008 vs. 2007 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources |
| Contractual Obligations, Commitments, and Off Balance Sheet Arrangements |
| Accounting Policies and Estimates |
| Accounting Changes |
| Forward-Looking Statements |
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
2009 vs. 2008
Revenues for the year decreased 4%, or $1.7 billion, to $36.1 billion; net income decreased 25%, or $1.1 billion, to $3.3 billion; and diluted earnings per share decreased 23% to $1.76.
Net income for the current year included certain items that affected comparability, including restructuring and impairment charges ($0.17 per diluted share), a non-cash gain in connection with the merger of Lifetime and AETN ($0.08 per diluted share) and a gain on the sale of our investment in two pay television services in Latin America ($0.04 per diluted share). Including the impact of rounding, these items collectively resulted in a net adverse impact of $0.06 per diluted share. Fiscal 2008 included an accounting gain related to the acquisition of the Disney Stores North America and a gain on the sale of movies.com (together $0.01 per diluted share), the favorable resolution of certain income tax matters ($0.03 per diluted share), a bad debt charge for a receivable from Lehman Brothers ($0.03 per diluted share) and an impairment charge ($0.01 per diluted share). These items collectively had no net impact on earnings per share. The current year results also include the benefit from one additional week of operations compared to fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007 due to the timing of our fiscal period end. Fiscal 2010 will not include an additional week and will be a fifty-two week fiscal year.
The decrease in diluted earnings per share reflected lower operating results and the items discussed above, partially offset by a decrease in weighted average shares outstanding. The decrease in operating results was primarily due to lower broadcast and cable advertising revenues, a decline in worldwide sales of DVD units, decreased guest spending at our domestic parks and resorts and Disneyland Paris, higher programming costs and production cost amortization at our cable and broadcast businesses, lower performance of our movies in worldwide theatrical and television distribution and lower earned revenue at our licensing business. These decreases were partially offset by contractual rate increases on revenues from MVSPs (Affiliate Fees), principally at ESPN, cost mitigation activities at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Paris and higher international and domestic sales of ABC Studios productions.
2008 vs. 2007
Revenues for the year increased 7%, or $2.3 billion, to $37.8 billion; net income decreased 6%, or $260 million, to $4.4 billion; and diluted earnings per share increased 1% to $2.28.
As discussed above, net income for fiscal 2008 included certain items which affected comparability. Fiscal 2007 included gains from the sales of E! Entertainment and Us Weekly (together $0.31 per diluted share), the favorable resolution of certain income tax matters ($0.03 per diluted share), income from the discontinued operations of the ABC Radio business ($0.01 per diluted share), an equity-based compensation plan modification charge ($0.01 per diluted share) and an impairment charge ($0.01 per diluted share). These items collectively resulted in a net benefit of $0.33 per diluted share.
30
The increase in diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2008 was the result of an increase in segment operating results and a decrease in weighted average shares outstanding, partially offset by the absence of the gains in fiscal 2007 discussed above. Higher segment operating results reflected increases in Affiliate Fees and advertising revenues at our cable businesses, higher guest spending and attendance at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Paris, and strong sales of licensed products, partially offset by a decline in worldwide DVD sales.
Restructuring and Impairment Charges
The Company recorded charges totaling $492 million for the current year which included impairment charges of $279 million and restructuring costs of $213 million. The most significant of the impairment charges were $142 million related to FCC radio licenses and $65 million related to our investment in UTV Software Communications Limited (UTV). The restructuring charges included severance and other related costs as a result of various ongoing organizational and cost structure initiatives across our businesses. Restructuring and impairment charges for the prior year consisted of an impairment charge of $39 million related to FCC radio licenses.
Other Income (Expense)
Other income (expense) is as follows (in millions):
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Gain on Lifetime/AETN transaction (1) |
$ | 228 | $ | | $ | | |||
Gain on sale of investment in two pay television services in Latin America |
114 | | | ||||||
Gain related to the acquisition of the Disney Stores North America |
| 18 | | ||||||
Gain on sale of movies.com |
| 14 | | ||||||
Bad debt charge for Lehman Brothers receivable |
| (91) | | ||||||
Gain on sale of equity investment in E! Entertainment |
| | 780 | ||||||
Gain on sale of equity investment in Us Weekly |
| | 272 | ||||||
Equity-based compensation plan modification charge |
| | (48) | ||||||
Other income (expense) |
$ | 342 | $ | (59) | $ | 1,004 | |||
(1) | On September 15, 2009, the Company and Hearst both contributed their 50% interest in Lifetime to AETN in exchange for an increased interest in AETN. The transaction resulted in a $228 million non-cash gain. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details of this transaction. |
BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS 2009 vs. 2008
% Change Better/(Worse) |
|||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2009 vs. 2008 |
2008 vs. 2007 |
||||||||||
Revenues: |
|||||||||||||||
Media Networks |
$ | 16,209 | $ | 15,857 | $ | 14,913 | 2 | % | 6 | % | |||||
Parks and Resorts |
10,667 | 11,504 | 10,626 | (7) | % | 8 | % | ||||||||
Studio Entertainment |
6,136 | 7,348 | 7,491 | (16) | % | (2) | % | ||||||||
Consumer Products |
2,425 | 2,415 | 1,990 | | % | 21 | % | ||||||||
Interactive Media |
712 | 719 | 490 | (1) | % | 47 | % | ||||||||
$ | 36,149 | $ | 37,843 | $ | 35,510 | (4) | % | 7 | % | ||||||
Segment operating income (loss) (1): |
|||||||||||||||
Media Networks |
$ | 4,765 | $ | 4,981 | $ | 4,534 | (4) | % | 10 | % | |||||
Parks and Resorts |
1,418 | 1,897 | 1,710 | (25) | % | 11 | % | ||||||||
Studio Entertainment |
175 | 1,086 | 1,195 | (84) | % | (9) | % | ||||||||
Consumer Products |
609 | 778 | 689 | (22) | % | 13 | % | ||||||||
Interactive Media |
(295) | (258) | (291) | (14) | % | 11 | % | ||||||||
$ | 6,672 | $ | 8,484 | $ | 7,837 | (21) | % | 8 | % | ||||||
(1) | Segment operating income includes equity in the income of investees. In the Business Segment results discussion, equity in the income of investees is included in segment operating income but does not affect segment revenues or costs and expenses. |
31
The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based on segment operating income, and management uses aggregate segment operating income as a measure of the overall performance of the operating businesses. The Company believes that information about aggregate segment operating income assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of the Companys portfolio of businesses separate from factors other than business operations that affect net income. The following table reconciles segment operating income to income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interests.
% Change Better/(Worse) |
|||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2009 vs. 2008 |
2008 vs. 2007 |
||||||||||
Segment operating income |
$ | 6,672 | $ | 8,484 | $ | 7,837 | (21) | % | 8 | % | |||||
Corporate and unallocated shared expenses |
(398) | (460) | (497) | 13 | % | 7 | % | ||||||||
Restructuring and impairment charges (1) |
(492) | (39) | (26) | nm | (50) | % | |||||||||
Other income (expense) |
342 | (59) | 1,004 | nm | nm | ||||||||||
Net interest expense |
(466) | (524) | (593) | 11 | % | 12 | % | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interests |
$ | 5,658 | $ | 7,402 | $ | 7,725 | (24) | % | (4) | % | |||||
(1) | The fiscal 2008 and 2007 amounts consist of impairment charges for FCC radio licenses which were previously reported in Media Networks operating income in the fiscal 2008 and 2007 financial statements. For the fiscal 2009 financial statements, these amounts have been reclassified to Restructuring and Impairment Charges in the consolidated statements of income to conform to the fiscal 2009 presentation. |
Media Networks
The following table provides supplemental revenue and operating income detail for the Media Networks segment:
% Change Better/(Worse) |
||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2009 vs. 2008 |
2008 vs. 2007 |
|||||||||
Revenues |
||||||||||||||
Cable Networks |
$ | 10,555 | $ | 10,041 | $ | 9,167 | 5 % | 10 | % | |||||
Broadcasting |
5,654 | 5,816 | 5,746 | (3) % | 1 | % | ||||||||
$ | 16,209 | $ | 15,857 | $ | 14,913 | 2 % | 6 | % | ||||||
Segment operating income |
||||||||||||||
Cable Networks |
$ | 4,260 | $ | 4,139 | $ | 3,603 | 3 % | 15 | % | |||||
Broadcasting |
505 | 842 | 931 | (40) % | (10) | % | ||||||||
$ | 4,765 | $ | 4,981 | $ | 4,534 | (4) % | 10 | % | ||||||
Revenues
Media Networks revenues increased 2%, or $352 million, to $16.2 billion, consisting of a 5% increase, or $514 million, at the Cable Networks offset by a 3% decrease, or $162 million, at Broadcasting.
Increased Cable Networks revenues were primarily due to growth of $614 million from Affiliate Fees, partially offset by a decrease of $149 million from advertising revenues. Affiliate Fees are generally derived from fees charged on a per-subscriber basis, and the increase in the current year was primarily due to contractual rate increases at ESPN and, to a lesser extent, at the domestic Disney Channel and ABC Family, the impact of the additional week of
32
operations and subscriber growth at ESPN. Lower advertising revenue reflected a decrease at ESPN, partially offset by an increase at ABC Family. The decrease at ESPN reflected fewer units sold, partially offset by higher rates. The increase at ABC Family reflected increased units sold and higher rates. Higher Affiliate Fees at the domestic Disney Channel were more than offset by lower DVD sales.
Certain of the Companys contracts with cable and satellite operators include annual live programming commitments. In these cases, recognition of revenues subject to the commitments is deferred until the annual commitments are satisfied, which generally results in higher revenue recognition in the second half of the year.
Decreased Broadcasting revenues were primarily due to lower advertising sales at the ABC Television Network and at the owned television stations, partially offset by higher international and domestic sales of ABC Studios productions driven by Greys Anatomy, Private Practice, and Criminal Minds. Lower advertising revenues at the ABC Television Network reflected lower primetime ratings.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses, which consist primarily of programming rights costs, production costs, participation costs, distribution and marketing expenses and general and administrative costs, increased 5%, or $539 million, to $12.0 billion, consisting of a 6% increase, or $367 million, at the Cable Networks and a 3% increase, or $172 million, at Broadcasting. The increase at Cable Networks was driven by higher rights costs at ESPN due to contractual rate increases for key contracts and costs of new and renewed contracts for college and international sports programming and increased programming costs at ABC Family due to more original series. The increase at Broadcasting was driven by higher programming and production costs and a bad debt charge in connection with a bankruptcy of a syndication customer. Higher programming and production costs reflected more hours of original scripted primetime programming at the ABC Television Network and higher production cost amortization related to sales of ABC Studios productions.
Sports Programming Costs
The Company has various contractual commitments for the purchase of rights for multi-year sports programming packages, including the National Football League, college football (including college bowl games) and basketball conferences, National Basketball Association, NASCAR, Major League Baseball, World Cup and various soccer leagues, and Golf and Tennis Associations. The costs of these contracts have increased significantly in recent years. We enter into these contractual commitments with the expectation that, over the life of the contracts, revenue from advertising during the programming and Affiliate Fees will exceed the costs of the programming. While contract costs may initially exceed incremental revenues and negatively impact operating income, it is our expectation that the combined value to our networks from all of these contracts will result in long-term benefits. The actual impact of these contracts on the Companys results over the term of the contracts is dependent upon a number of factors, including the strength of advertising markets, effectiveness of marketing efforts and the size of viewer audiences.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income decreased 4%, or $216 million, to $4.8 billion for the year due to a decrease of $337 million at Broadcasting, partially offset by an increase of $121 million at the Cable Networks. The decrease at Broadcasting was primarily due to lower advertising sales, higher programming costs and the syndication customer bad debt charge, partially offset by increased sales of ABC Studios productions. The increase at the Cable Networks was primarily due to growth at ESPN and ABC Family.
Parks and Resorts
Revenues
Parks and Resorts revenues decreased 7%, or $837 million, to $10.7 billion due to decreases of $531 million at our domestic operations and $306 million at our international operations.
33
The following table presents attendance, per capita theme park guest spending, and hotel statistics for our domestic properties:
East Coast | West Coast | Total Domestic | ||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Year 2009 |
Fiscal Year 2008 |
Fiscal Year 2009 |
Fiscal Year 2008 |
Fiscal Year 2009 |
Fiscal Year 2008 | |||||||||||||
Parks |
||||||||||||||||||
Increase/ (decrease) |
||||||||||||||||||
Attendance |
% | 2 % | 7 % | % | 2 % | 2 % | ||||||||||||
Per Capita Guest Spending |
(4) % | 3 % | (9) % | 2 % | (6) % | 3 % | ||||||||||||
Hotels (1) |
||||||||||||||||||
Occupancy |
87 % | 90 % | 80 % | 88 % | 87 % | 89 % | ||||||||||||
Available Room Nights (in thousands) |
8,732 | 8,566 | 817 | 801 | 9,549 | 9,367 | ||||||||||||
Per Room Guest Spending |
$ | 205 | $ | 223 | $ | 315 | $ | 339 | $ | 214 | $ | 233 |
(1) | Per room guest spending consists of the average daily hotel room rate as well as guest spending on food, beverages and merchandise at the hotels. Hotel statistics include rentals of Disney Vacation Club units. |
At our domestic operations, decreased revenue reflected a decrease in guest spending, principally at our parks and resorts, and lower gains on securitized sales of ownership interests at Disney Vacation Club. Decreased guest spending at the domestic parks and resorts reflected lower average ticket prices, lower average daily hotel room rates and decreased merchandise spending. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in revenue recognition at Disney Vacation Club in connection with the completion of a vacation club property.
At our international operations, lower revenues resulted from a decrease at Disneyland Paris due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro and decreased guest spending. Decreased guest spending was due to lower average ticket prices, decreased merchandise spending and lower average daily hotel room rates.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses, which consist primarily of labor, depreciation, costs of merchandise, food and beverage sold, marketing and sales expense, repairs and maintenance and entertainment, decreased 4%, or $358 million. The decrease in costs and expenses was driven by decreases at Disneyland Paris and the Walt Disney World Resort, partially offset by an increase at Disney Vacation Club. The decrease at Disneyland Paris was due to the favorable impact of foreign currency translation as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro and savings from cost mitigation activities partially offset by labor and other cost inflation. The decrease at the Walt Disney World Resort was driven by savings from cost mitigation activities, partially offset by labor and other cost inflation. The increase at Disney Vacation Club was driven by higher per unit cost of sales and expense recognition in connection with the completion of a vacation club property.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income decreased 25%, or $479 million, to $1.4 billion, due to decreases at our domestic operations and at Disneyland Paris.
Studio Entertainment
Revenues
Revenues decreased 16%, or $1.2 billion, to $6.1 billion primarily due to decreases of $978 million in worldwide home entertainment, $129 million in music distribution and $106 million in worldwide television distribution.
The decrease in worldwide home entertainment revenues was primarily due to lower unit sales and net effective pricing, reflecting the overall decline in the DVD market and the strength of Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End in the prior year. Significant other titles included WALL-E and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian in the current year while the prior year included Ratatouille, National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets and Enchanted.
34
Lower revenues in music distribution reflected the strong performance of the Hannah Montana concert tour and Miley Cyrus and Jonas Brothers CD titles in the prior year. The decrease in worldwide television distribution was driven by fewer significant titles in the current year.
Cost and Expenses
Costs and expenses, which consist primarily of production cost amortization, distribution and marketing expenses, product costs and participation costs decreased 5%, or $305 million, primarily due to decreases in worldwide home entertainment and music distribution, partially offset by an increase in worldwide theatrical distribution.
The decrease in costs at worldwide home entertainment was primarily due to lower distribution costs and production cost amortization resulting from a decline in DVD unit sales. The decrease in music distribution reflected the absence of costs associated with the Hannah Montana concert tour in the prior year. Increased costs and expenses in worldwide theatrical distribution reflected higher marketing costs for current year releases and higher film cost write-downs.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income decreased 84%, or $911 million, to $175 million primarily due to decreases at worldwide home entertainment, worldwide theatrical distribution and worldwide television distribution.
Consumer Products
Revenues
Revenues were essentially flat at $2.4 billion as an increase of $131 million at our retail business was offset by decreases of $86 million at Merchandise Licensing and $44 million at Publishing. The increase at our retail business was primarily due to the acquisition of the Disney Stores North America during the third quarter of fiscal 2008 (see discussion of the Disney Stores acquisition below), partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation at The Disney Stores Europe as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British pound and Euro. The decrease at Merchandise Licensing was primarily due to lower earned royalty revenue across multiple product categories due to the difficult retail environment as well as the strength of Hannah Montana and High School Musical properties in the prior year. The decrease at Publishing reflected lower magazine sales driven by the closure of Wondertime magazine.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses, which consist primarily of cost of sales, salaries and benefits, marketing and occupancy, increased 11%, or $181 million, to $1.8 billion primarily due to an increase at our retail business, partially offset by a decrease at Publishing. The increase at retail was due to the acquisition of the Disney Stores North America in the third quarter of fiscal 2008, partially offset by a favorable impact of foreign currency translation at The Disney Stores Europe as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British pound and Euro. The decrease at Publishing reflected lower cost of sales and other operating costs.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income decreased 22%, or $169 million, to $609 million due to lower results at Merchandise Licensing and at our retail business, which reflected the adverse impact of a full year of company-owned operations at the Disney Stores North America in fiscal 2009 whereas the prior year included five months of company-owned operations and seven months of licensed operations.
Disney Stores Acquisition
On April 30, 2008, the Company acquired certain assets of the Disney Stores North America for approximately $64 million of cash from, and terminated its long-term licensing arrangement for the Disney Stores with, The Childrens Place, the former licensee. The Company acquired the inventory, leasehold improvements, and certain fixed assets of, and assumed the leases on, 229 stores. The Company conducted the wind-down and closure of an additional 88 stores but did not assume the leases on these stores.
35
Interactive Media
Revenues
Interactive Media revenues decreased 1%, or $7 million, to $712 million primarily due to a decrease of $58 million at Disney Interactive Studios, driven by lower sales of self-published video games and decreased licensing revenues, partially offset by increases of $39 million at our mobile phone service business in Japan, which was launched in the second quarter of fiscal 2008, and $11 million at Disney Online driven by increased subscription revenues at Club Penguin.
At Disney Interactive Studios, lower self-published video games sales reflected decreased net effective pricing and unit sales. Significant current year titles included High School Musical 3, Sing It and Bolt as compared to the prior year, which included High School Musical, Turok, Hannah Montana 2 and Pure. The decrease in licensing revenues was primarily due to the performance of WALL-E, Cars and Ratatouille in the prior year.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses, which consist primarily of video game and internet product development costs, cost of sales, distribution and marketing expenses, general and administrative costs, and technology infrastructure costs, increased 4%, or $35 million, to $1.0 billion.
The increase was primarily due to higher unit cost of sales and distribution costs, which included the costs for bundled accessories and music royalties for certain current-year titles at Disney Interactive Studios, higher expenses at our mobile phone service business in Japan driven by a full year of operations, partially offset by a decrease at Disney Online driven by lower marketing costs.
Segment Operating Loss
Segment operating loss increased 14%, or $37 million, to $295 million driven by lower results at Disney Interactive Studio partially offset by improved results at Disney Online.
NON-SEGMENT ITEMS 2009 vs. 2008
Corporate and Unallocated Shared Expenses
Corporate and unallocated shared expense decreased 13%, from $460 million to $398 million, driven by savings from cost mitigation activities and an increase in allocation of costs to the business segments.
Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense is detailed below:
(in millions) |
2009 | 2008 | % Change Better/(Worse) |
||||||
Interest expense |
$ | (588) | $ | (712) | 17 | % | |||
Interest and investment income |
122 | 188 | (35) | % | |||||
Net interest expense |
$ | (466) | $ | (524) | 11 | % | |||
The decrease in interest expense and interest and investment income for the year was driven by lower effective interest rates.
Effective Income Tax Rate
The effective tax rate was comparable to the prior year at 36.2% as the favorable impact of legislative changes in the current year was offset by the favorable resolution of certain income tax matters in the prior year.
Minority Interests
Minority interest expense was flat at $302 million for the current year as the impact of lower financing costs at Hong Kong Disneyland and improved operating results at ESPN were offset by lower performance at Disneyland Paris. The minority interest is determined on income after royalties, financing costs and income taxes.
36
PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT MEDICAL BENEFIT COSTS
Pension and postretirement medical benefit plan costs affect results in all five segments, with approximately one-half of these costs being borne by the Parks and Resorts segment. The Company recognized pension and postretirement medical benefit plan expenses of $214 million, $255 million and $278 million for fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The decrease in fiscal 2009 was primarily due to an increase in the discount rate used to measure the present value of plan obligations. The assumed discount rate reflects market rates for high-quality corporate bonds currently available. The Companys discount rate was determined by considering the average of pension yield curves constructed from a large population of high quality corporate bonds. The resulting discount rate reflects the matching of plan liability cash flows to the yield curves.
We expect pension and postretirement medical costs to increase by approximately $268 million to $482 million in fiscal 2010 primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate used to measure the present value of plan obligations and asset returns that were below the assumed return. The decrease in the discount rate and the asset return shortfall versus our expected return in fiscal 2009 also resulted in an increase in the underfunded status of our plans and an increase in unrecognized pension and postretirement medical expense which totals $2.8 billion ($1.8 billion after-tax) as of October 3, 2009. If our investment performance does not improve relative to our long-term assumption and/or discount rates do not increase, we expect that pension and post-retirement medical costs will continue to be considerably higher than fiscal 2009 for the next few years as a result of amortizing these unrecognized expenses. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details of the impacts of our pension and postretirement medical plans on our financial statements. During fiscal 2009, the Company made contributions to its pension and postretirement medical plans totaling $473 million, which included discretionary contributions above the minimum requirements for pension plans. The Company expects pension and post-retirement medical plan contributions in fiscal 2010 to range from $350 million to $450 million, which is expected to include discretionary contributions above the minimum requirements. Final minimum funding requirements for fiscal 2010 will be determined based on our January 1, 2010 funding actuarial valuation which will be available late fiscal 2010. See Item 1A Risk Factors for the impact of factors affecting pension and postretirement medical costs.
BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS 2008 vs. 2007
Media Networks
Revenues
Media Networks revenues increased 6%, or $944 million, to $15.9 billion, consisting of a 10% increase, or $874 million, at the Cable Networks and a 1% increase, or $70 million, at Broadcasting.
Increased Cable Networks revenues were primarily due to growth of $654 million from Affiliate Fees and $206 million from advertising revenues. Increased Affilitate Fees in fiscal 2008 were driven by increases at ESPN and, to a lesser extent, the worldwide Disney Channels and ABC Family. The increase at ESPN was primarily due to contractual rate increases and subscriber growth, the increase at the worldwide Disney Channels was driven by subscriber growth and the increase at ABC Family was due to contractual rate increases. Higher advertising revenues at ESPN and ABC Family reflected improved rates and ratings. Higher DVD sales, primarily High School Musical, were partially offset by the favorable settlement of a claim with an international distributor in fiscal 2007.
Increased Broadcasting revenues reflected higher international sales of ABC Studios productions partially offset by decreased advertising revenues, largely at the owned television stations. Increased international sales of ABC Studios productions were driven by Greys Anatomy, Private Practice and Reaper. Fiscal 2008 revenues at the ABC Television Network were comparable to fiscal 2007 as the impact of lower ratings was offset by higher advertising rates and digital media revenues.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses increased 6%, or $609 million, to $11.5 billion, consisting of an 7% increase, or $448 million, at the Cable Networks and a 3% increase, or $161 million, at Broadcasting. The increase at Cable Networks was primarily due to increased costs at ESPN and to a lesser extent, the worldwide Disney Channels, driven by higher programming, administrative and marketing costs. These increases were partially offset by the absence of Major League Baseball programming costs at ABC Family. The increase at Broadcasting was primarily due to higher production cost amortization related to international sales of our programs.
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Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income increased 10%, or $447 million, to $5.0 billion due to an increase of $536 million at the Cable Networks partially offset by a decrease of $89 million at Broadcasting. The increase at the Cable Networks was primarily due to growth at ESPN, higher income at our cable equity investments, and increases at ABC Family and the domestic Disney Channels, partially offset by a favorable settlement of a claim with an international distributor in fiscal 2007. The decrease at Broadcasting was due to lower advertising revenues at the owned television stations. The increase in income at our cable equity investments was primarily due to higher affiliate and advertising revenue at Lifetime and a gain on the sale of a European cable channel.
ABC Radio Transaction
On June 12, 2007, the Company completed the spin-off of its wholly-owned subsidiary, ABC Radio Holdings, Inc., which was then merged into a subsidiary of Citadel Broadcasting Corporation (Citadel). Prior to the spin-off, the Company consolidated its ABC Radio business, consisting of 22 large-market radio stations and the ABC Radio Network businesses, under ABC Radio Holdings, Inc. The transaction did not include the Companys ESPN Radio or Radio Disney network and station businesses. The results of the ABC Radio business have been reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. The Company now includes the ESPN Radio and Radio Disney network and stations businesses with Cable Networks in the Media Networks segment. Prior to the transaction, the Companys radio businesses were included with Broadcasting in the Media Networks segment. Previously reported results have been reclassified to reflect this presentation.
Summarized financial information for the discontinued operations is as follows (in millions, except per share data):
2007 | |||||
Revenues |
$ | 372 | |||
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes |
45 | ||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax |
13 | ||||
Diluted EPS, discontinued operations |
0.01 |
Parks and Resorts
Revenues
Parks and Resorts revenues increased 8%, or $878 million, to $11.5 billion due to increases of $439 million at our domestic operations and $439 million at our international operations.
The following table presents attendance, per capita theme park guest spending, and hotel statistics for our domestic properties:
East Coast | West Coast | Total Domestic | ||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Year 2008 |
Fiscal Year 2007 |
Fiscal Year 2008 |
Fiscal Year 2007 |
Fiscal Year 2008 |
Fiscal Year 2007 | |||||||||||||
Parks |
||||||||||||||||||
Increase/(decrease) |
||||||||||||||||||
Attendance |
2 % | 6 % | % | (1) % | 2 % | 3 % | ||||||||||||
Per Capita Guest Spending |
3 % | 3 % | 2 % | 2 % | 3 % | 3 % | ||||||||||||
Hotels (1) |
||||||||||||||||||
Occupancy |
90 % | 89 % | 88 % | 92 % | 89 % | 89 % | ||||||||||||
Available Room Nights (in thousands) |
8,566 | 8,614 | 801 | 810 | 9,367 | 9,424 | ||||||||||||
Per Room Guest Spending |
$ | 223 | $ | 217 | $ | 339 | $ | 309 | $ | 233 | $ | 225 |
(1) | Per room guest spending consists of the average daily hotel room rate as well as guest spending on food, beverages and merchandise at the hotels. Hotel statistics include rentals of Disney Vacation Club units. |
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At our domestic operations, growth in revenues was primarily due to increases at the Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Vacation Club. Revenue growth at Walt Disney World Resort was primarily due to increased guest spending and theme park attendance. Increased guest spending was due to higher average ticket prices, increased food and beverage sales and higher average daily hotel room rates. At Disney Vacation Club, revenue growth reflected higher vacation club ownership sales, including extensions of the term of ownership on existing vacation club properties.
At our international operations, revenue growth resulted from an increase at Disneyland Paris due to the favorable impact of foreign currency translation as a result of the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro and increased guest spending and theme park attendance. Increased guest spending was due to higher average daily hotel room rates and average ticket prices.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses increased 8%, or $691 million, primarily due to increases at Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Vacation Club. The increase at Disneyland Paris was due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation as a result of the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro, labor cost inflation and higher volume-related costs. The increase at the Walt Disney World Resort was due to labor and other cost inflation, new guest offerings and volume-related costs. The increase at Disney Vacation Club was driven by higher per unit cost of sales.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income increased 11%, or $187 million, to $1.9 billion, primarily due to increases at Disneyland Paris and the Walt Disney World Resort.
Studio Entertainment
Revenues
Revenues decreased 2%, or $143 million, to $7.3 billion primarily due to decreases of $117 million in worldwide television distribution, $112 million in domestic theatrical distribution, and $66 million in domestic home entertainment, partially offset by an increase of $147 million in international home entertainment.
The decrease in worldwide television distribution revenues was driven by the absence of the multi-season sale of Home Improvement which occurred in fiscal 2007. Lower revenues in domestic theatrical distribution reflected the strong performance of fiscal 2007 titles, including Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, Ratatouille, and Wild Hogs, compared to the titles in fiscal 2008, which included National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets and WALL-E. Lower revenues in domestic home entertainment were primarily due to a decline in unit sales reflecting the performance of Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End and Ratatouille in fiscal 2008 compared to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest and Cars in fiscal 2007.
Revenue growth in international home entertainment was primarily due to a higher unit sales mix of television series DVD sets, which have higher average unit sales prices.
Cost and Expenses
Costs and expenses for fiscal 2008 were comparable to fiscal 2007 as decreases in worldwide television distribution and domestic theatrical distribution were largely offset by an increase in international home entertainment.
Lower costs and expenses in worldwide television distribution were primarily due to a decrease in amortization and participation costs driven by the absence of the Home Improvement sale. The decrease in domestic theatrical distribution was primarily due to lower amortization expense reflecting decreased revenues for fiscal 2008 releases and lower film cost write-downs. The increase in international home entertainment was primarily due to higher distribution costs driven by extensive marketing campaigns in fiscal 2008.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income decreased 9%, or $109 million, to $1.1 billion primarily due to lower revenues in domestic home entertainment.
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Consumer Products
Revenues
Revenues increased 21%, or $425 million, to $2.4 billion, due to increases of $196 million at our retail business and $181 million at Merchandise Licensing.
The increase at our retail business was due to the acquisition of the Disney Stores North America during the third quarter of fiscal 2008. The revenue growth at Merchandise Licensing was primarily due to higher earned royalties across multiple product categories, led by Hannah Montana and High School Musical merchandise, partially offset by lower recognition of minimum guarantee revenues.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses increased 26%, or $336 million, to $1.6 billion primarily due to the acquisition of the Disney Stores North America during the third quarter of fiscal 2008, and higher salary and benefits expenses and increased participation costs at Merchandise Licensing.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income increased 13%, or $89 million, to $778 million due to growth at Merchandise Licensing, partially offset by a decrease at our retail business.
Interactive Media
Revenues
Interactive Media revenues increased 47%, or $229 million, to $719 million primarily due to increases of $160 million at Disney Interactive Studios and $71 million at Disney Online.
The increase at Disney Interactive Studios was primarily due to the performance of new High School Musical, Hannah Montana and Turok self-published video games in fiscal 2008 compared to Pirates of the Caribbean, Spectrobes and Meet the Robinsons games in fiscal 2007. The increase at Disney Online reflected higher virtual world subscription revenue due to a full year of Club Penguin, which was acquired in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses increased 25%, or $193 million, to $974 million driven by increases at Disney Interactive Studios and Disney Online, partially offset by lower costs related to the domestic mobile phone service, which was shut down in the first quarter of fiscal 2008. The increase at Disney Interactive Studios reflected higher product, distribution and marketing costs associated with volume growth and increased investment in video game development. At Disney Online the increase was driven by higher development and marketing costs related to the Disney.com website and virtual worlds, including the impact of a full year of Club Penguin, and the Family.com website.
Segment Operating Loss
Segment operating loss decreased 11%, or $33 million, to $258 million driven by reduced costs due to the shutdown of the domestic mobile phone service in the first quarter of fiscal 2008, partially offset by higher marketing costs at Disney Online.
NON-SEGMENT ITEMS 2008 vs. 2007
Corporate and Unallocated Shared Expenses
Corporate and unallocated shared expense decreased 7%, from $497 million to $460 million, primarily due to an increase in allocation of costs to the business segments, partially offset by higher investments in strategic initiatives.
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Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense is detailed below:
(in millions) |
2008 | 2007 | % Change Better/(Worse) |
||||||
Interest expense |
$ | (712) | $ | (746) | 5 | % | |||
Interest and investment income |
188 | 153 | 23 | % | |||||
Net interest expense |
$ | (524) | $ | (593) | 12 | % | |||
Net interest expense decreased 12% for the year driven by lower effective interest rates and a gain on the sale of an investment, partially offset by higher average debt balances.
Effective Income Tax Rate
The effective income tax rate decreased 1.1 percentage points from 37.2% in 2007 to 36.1% in 2008. The lower effective tax rate for the year was primarily due to increased benefits from Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 199 related to qualified domestic production activities.
Minority Interests
Minority interest expense increased from $177 million to $302 million reflecting the impact of improved results at Disneyland Paris, ESPN and Hong Kong Disneyland. The minority interest is determined on income after royalties, financing costs and income taxes.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The change in cash and cash equivalents is as follows:
(in millions) |
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||
Cash provided by continuing operations |
$ | 5,064 | $ | 5,446 | $ | 5,398 | |||
Cash used by continuing investing activities |
(2,096) | (2,162) | (618) | ||||||
Cash used by continuing financing activities |
(2,552) | (3,953) | (3,619) | ||||||
Cash flows from discontinued operations |
| | 98 | ||||||
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 416 | $ | (669) | $ | 1,259 | |||
Operating Activities
Cash provided by continuing operating activities for fiscal 2009 decreased 7% or $382 million to $5.1 billion as compared to fiscal 2008. The decrease was driven by lower segment operating results and higher contributions to our pension plans, partially offset by lower income tax payments and a decreased net investment in working capital.
Cash provided by continuing operating activities for fiscal 2008 increased 1% or $48 million to $5.4 billion as compared to fiscal 2007. The increase was driven by higher segment operating results and lower pension contributions, partially offset by increased film and television spending and higher net investment in working capital including higher spending on Disney Vacation Club properties.
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Depreciation expense from continuing operations is as follows:
(in millions) |
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||
Media Networks |
|||||||||
Cable Networks |
$ | 108 | $ | 89 | $ | 89 | |||
Broadcasting |
89 | 90 | 79 | ||||||
Total Media Networks |
197 | 179 | 168 | ||||||
Parks and Resorts |
|||||||||
Domestic |
822 | 803 | 790 | ||||||
International |
326 | 342 | 304 | ||||||
Total Parks and Resorts |
1,148 | 1,145 | 1,094 | ||||||
Studio Entertainment |
50 | 41 | 31 | ||||||
Consumer Products |
29 | 18 | 16 | ||||||
Interactive Media |
28 | 21 | 18 | ||||||
Corporate |
128 | 123 | 132 | ||||||
Total depreciation expense from continuing operations |
$ | 1,580 | $ | 1,527 | $ | 1,459 | |||
The Companys Studio Entertainment and Media Networks segments incur costs to acquire and produce television and feature film programming. Film and television production costs include all internally produced content such as live action and animated feature films, animated direct-to-video programming, television series, television specials, theatrical stage plays or other similar product. Programming costs include film or television product licensed for a specific period from third parties for airing on the Companys broadcast, cable networks, and television stations. Programming assets are generally recorded when the programming becomes available to us with a corresponding increase in programming liabilities. Accordingly, we analyze our programming assets net of the related liability.
The Companys film and television production and programming activity for fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:
(in millions) |
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | |||
Beginning balances: |
||||||
Production and programming assets |
$ 5,935 | $ 5,682 | $ 5,650 | |||
Programming liabilities |
(1,108) | (1,210) | (1,118) | |||
4,827 | 4,472 | 4,532 | ||||
Spending: |
||||||
Film and television production |
3,421 | 3,237 | 2,906 | |||
Broadcast programming |
3,896 | 3,812 | 3,898 | |||
7,317 | 7,049 | 6,804 | ||||
Amortization: |
||||||
Film and television production |
(3,486) | (3,076) | (3,223) | |||
Broadcast programming |
(3,788) | (3,672) | (3,696) | |||
(7,274) | (6,748) | (6,919) | ||||
Change in film and television production and programming costs |
43 | 301 | (115) | |||
Other non-cash activity |
(154) | 54 | 55 | |||
Ending balances: |
||||||
Production and programming assets |
5,756 | 5,935 | 5,682 | |||
Programming liabilities |
(1,040) | (1,108) | (1,210) | |||
$ 4,716 | $ 4,827 | $ 4,472 | ||||
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Investing Activities
Investing activities from continuing operations consist principally of investments in parks, resorts, and other property and acquisition and divestiture activity. The Companys investments in parks, resorts and other property from continuing operations for the last three years are as follows:
(in millions) |
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||
Media Networks: |
|||||||||
Cable Networks |
$ | 151 | $ | 206 | $ | 127 | |||
Broadcasting |
143 | 132 | 106 | ||||||
Parks and Resorts: |
|||||||||
Domestic |
1,039 | 793 | 816 | ||||||
International |
143 | 140 | 256 | ||||||
Studio Entertainment |
135 | 126 | 85 | ||||||
Consumer Products |
46 | 51 | 30 | ||||||
Interactive Media |
21 | 40 | 38 | ||||||
Corporate |
75 | 90 | 108 | ||||||
$ | 1,753 | $ | 1,578 | $ | 1,566 | ||||
Capital expenditures for the Parks and Resorts segment are principally for theme park and resort expansion, new rides and attractions, cruise ships, recurring capital and capital improvements. The increase in capital expenditures at domestic parks and resorts in fiscal 2009 reflected spending on Disneys California Adventure expansion and construction progress payments on two new cruise ships. The decrease in capital expenditures at international parks and resorts in fiscal 2008 reflected lower expenditures at Disneyland Paris as a result of completion of projects related to a multi-year investment program established with the 2005 Financial Restructuring (See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
Capital expenditures at Media Networks primarily reflect investments in facilities and equipment for expanding and upgrading broadcast centers, production facilities, and television station facilities. The increase in fiscal 2008 was driven by the construction of new production and television station facilities.
Other Investing Activities
During fiscal 2009, acquisitions totaled $517 million and included the purchase of additional interests in Jetix Europe N.V. and UTV (See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), partially offset by proceeds totaling $185 million from the sale of our investment in two pay television services in Latin America.
During fiscal 2008, acquisitions totaled $660 million which included an additional interest in UTV.
During fiscal 2007, the Company received $1.5 billion in proceeds from the sales of our interests in E! Entertainment Television and Us Weekly. Acquisitions totaled $608 million driven by Club Penguin Entertainment, Inc. and NASN Limited (see Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
Financing Activities
Cash used in continuing financing activities decreased by $1.4 billion to $2.6 billion in fiscal 2009 and consisted of repayments of borrowings, the payment of dividends and repurchases of common stock. The decrease from fiscal 2008 was due to lower share repurchases, partially offset by higher repayments of borrowings and decreased proceeds from stock option exercises. Cash used in continuing financing activities during fiscal 2008 and 2007 of $4.0 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively, consisted of share repurchases and dividends, partially offset by borrowings and the proceeds from stock option exercises. Borrowings during fiscal 2007 included $1.35 billion of pre-spin-off borrowings of ABC Radio Holdings, Inc. that were removed from the Companys balance sheet in connection with the spin-off.
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During the year ended October 3, 2009, the Companys borrowing activity was as follows:
(in millions) |
September 27, 2008 |
Additions | Payments | Other Activity |
October 3, 2009 | |||||||
Commercial paper borrowings |
$ | 1,985 | $ | | $ (1,985) | $ | $ | |||||
U.S. medium-term notes |
7,005 | 1,500 | (880) | (7) | 7,618 | |||||||
European medium-term notes |
318 | | | 29 | 347 | |||||||
Other foreign currency denominated debt (1) |
825 | | | 79 | 904 | |||||||
Capital Cities / ABC debt |
178 | | (60) | (2) | 116 | |||||||
Film financing |
248 | 250 | (174) | 26 | 350 | |||||||
Other (2) |
374 | | (7) | 131 | 498 | |||||||
Euro Disney borrowings |
2,457 | | (121) | 8 | 2,344 | |||||||
Hong Kong Disneyland borrowings (3) |
1,249 | | (375) | (350) | 524 | |||||||
Total |
$ | 14,639 | $ | 1,750 | $ (3,602) | $ (86) | $ 12,701 | |||||
(1) | The other activity is primarily the impact of foreign currency translation as a result of the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Japanese yen. |
(2) | The other activity is primarily market value adjustments for debt with qualifying hedges. |
(3) | The other activity is due to the conversion of the HKSARs loan to equity pursuant to the capital realignment and expansion plan (See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). |
The Companys bank facilities are as follows:
(in millions) |
Committed Capacity |
Capacity Used |
Unused Capacity | ||||||
Bank facilities expiring February 2010 |
$ | 2,225 | $ | | $ | 2,225 | |||
Bank facilities expiring February 2011 |
2,225 | 237 | 1,988 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 4,450 | $ | 237 | $ | 4,213 | |||
These bank facilities allow for borrowings at LIBOR-based rates plus a spread, which depends on the Companys public debt rating and can range from 0.175% to 0.75%. As of October 3, 2009, the Company had not borrowed under these bank facilities. The Company also has the ability to issue up to $800 million of letters of credit under the facility expiring in 2011, which if utilized, reduces available borrowing under this facility. As of October 3, 2009, $326 million of letters of credit had been issued of which $237 million was issued under this facility.
The Company may use commercial paper borrowings up to the amount of its unused bank facilities (see above), in conjunction with term debt issuance and operating cash flow, to retire or refinance other borrowings before or as they come due.
As of the filing date of this report, the Board of Directors had not yet declared a dividend related to fiscal 2009. The Company paid a $648 million dividend ($0.35 per share) during the second quarter of fiscal 2009 related to fiscal 2008. The Company paid a $664 million dividend ($0.35 per share) during the second quarter of fiscal 2008 related to fiscal 2007; and paid a $637 million dividend ($0.31 per share) during the second quarter of fiscal 2007 related to fiscal 2006.
During fiscal 2009, the Company repurchased 5 million shares of Disney common stock for $138 million. During fiscal 2008, the Company repurchased 139 million shares of Disney common stock for $4.5 billion. During fiscal 2007, the Company repurchased 202 million shares of Disney common stock for $6.9 billion. As of October 3, 2009, the Company had remaining authorization in place to repurchase 179 million additional shares. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.
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We believe that the Companys financial condition is strong and that its cash balances, other liquid assets, operating cash flows, access to debt and equity capital markets and borrowing capacity, taken together, provide adequate resources to fund ongoing operating requirements and future capital expenditures related to the expansion of existing businesses and development of new projects. However, the Companys operating cash flow and access to the capital markets can be impacted by macroeconomic factors outside of its control. See Item 1A Risk Factors. In addition to macroeconomic factors, the Companys borrowing costs can be impacted by short and long-term debt ratings assigned by independent rating agencies, which are based, in significant part, on the Companys performance as measured by certain credit metrics such as interest coverage and leverage ratios. As of December 2, 2009, Moodys Investors Services long and short-term debt ratings for the Company were A2 and P-1, respectively, with stable outlook; Standard & Poors long and short-term debt ratings for the Company were A and A-1, respectively, with CreditWatch negative; and Fitchs long and short-term debt ratings for the Company were A and F-1, respectively, with stable outlook. The Companys bank facilities contain only one financial covenant, relating to interest coverage, which the Company met on October 3, 2009, by a significant margin. The Companys bank facilities also specifically exclude certain entities, such as Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland, from any representations, covenants or events of default.
Euro Disney has covenants under its debt agreements that limit its investment and financing activities and require it to meet certain annual financial performance covenants. Subject to final third-party review as provided in its debt agreements, Euro Disney believes that it has complied with its financial performance covenants for fiscal year 2009.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, COMMITMENTS AND OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has various contractual obligations which are recorded as liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. Other items, such as certain purchase commitments and other executory contracts are not recognized as liabilities in our consolidated financial statements but are required to be disclosed in the footnotes to the financial statements. For example, the Company is contractually committed to acquire broadcast programming and make certain minimum lease payments for the use of property under operating lease agreements.
The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations and commitments on an undiscounted basis at October 3, 2009 and the future periods in which such obligations are expected to be settled in cash. In addition, the table reflects the timing of principal and interest payments on outstanding borrowings. Additional details regarding these obligations are provided in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, as referenced in the table:
Payments Due by Period | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
Total | Less than 1 Year |
1-3 Years |
4-5 Years |
More than 5 Years | ||||||||||
Borrowings (Note 9) (1) |
$ | 17,240 | $ | 1,690 | $ | 3,642 | $ | 3,993 | $ | 7,915 | |||||
Operating lease |
2,036 | 421 | 684 | 414 | 517 | ||||||||||
Capital lease obligations (Note 15) |
790 | 33 | 68 | 64 | 625 | ||||||||||
Sports programming |
17,979 | 2,973 | 5,975 | 5,551 | 3,480 | ||||||||||
Broadcast programming commitments (Note 15) |
3,228 | 2,050 | 717 | 358 | 103 | ||||||||||
Total sports and other broadcast programming commitments |
21,207 | 5,023 | 6,692 | 5,909 | 3,583 | ||||||||||
Other (2) |
4,832 | 1,250 | 2,504 | 337 | 741 | ||||||||||
Total contractual obligations (3) |
$ | 46,105 | $ | 8,417 | $ | 13,590 | $ | 10,717 | $ | 13,381 | |||||
(1) | Amounts exclude market value adjustments totaling $291 million, which are recorded in the balance sheet. Amounts include interest payments based on contractual terms for fixed rate debt, and on current interest rates for variable rate debt. |
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(2) | Other commitments primarily comprise contractual commitments for the construction of two new cruise ships, creative talent and employment agreements and unrecognized tax benefits. Creative talent and employment agreements include obligations to actors, producers, sports personnel, television and radio personalities and executives. |
(3) | Contractual commitments include the following: |
Liabilities recorded on the balance sheet |
$ | 14,448 | |
Commitments not recorded on the balance sheet |
31,657 | ||
$ | 46,105 | ||
The Company also has obligations with respect to its pension and postretirement medical benefit plans. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Contingent Commitments and Contractual Guarantees
The Company also has certain contractual arrangements that would require the Company to make payments or provide funding if certain circumstances occur. The Company does not currently expect that these arrangements will result in any significant amounts being paid by the Company. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the Companys contingent commitments and contractual guarantees.
Legal and Tax Matters
As disclosed in Notes 10 and 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has exposure for certain legal and tax matters.
ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
We believe that the application of the following accounting policies, which are important to our financial position and results of operations, require significant judgments and estimates on the part of management. For a summary of our significant accounting policies, including the accounting policies discussed below, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Film and Television Revenues and Costs
We expense film and television production, participation and residual costs over the applicable product life cycle based upon the ratio of the current periods revenues to the estimated remaining total revenues (Ultimate Revenues) for each production. If our estimate of Ultimate Revenues decreases, amortization of film and television costs may be accelerated. Conversely, if estimates of Ultimate Revenues increase, film and television cost amortization may be slowed. For film productions, Ultimate Revenues include revenues from all sources that will be earned within ten years from the date of the initial theatrical release. For television series, we include revenues that will be earned within ten years from delivery of the first episode, or if still in production, five years from delivery of the most recent episode, if later.
With respect to films intended for theatrical release, the most sensitive factor affecting our estimate of Ultimate Revenues (and therefore affecting future film cost amortization and/or impairment) is domestic theatrical performance. Revenues derived from other markets subsequent to the domestic theatrical release (e.g. the home video or international theatrical markets) have historically been highly correlated with domestic theatrical performance. Domestic theatrical performance varies primarily based upon the public interest and demand for a particular film, the popularity of competing films at the time of release and the level of marketing effort. Upon a films release and determination of domestic theatrical performance, the Companys estimates of revenues from succeeding windows and markets are revised based on historical relationships and an analysis of current market trends. The most sensitive factor affecting our estimate of Ultimate Revenues for released films is the extent of home entertainment sales achieved. Home entertainment sales vary based on the number and quality of competing home video products, as well as the manner in which retailers market and price our products.
With respect to television series or other television productions intended for broadcast, the most sensitive factors affecting estimates of Ultimate Revenues is the programs rating and the strength of the advertising market. Program ratings, which are an indication of market acceptance, directly affect the Companys ability to generate advertising
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revenues during the airing of the program. In addition, television series with greater market acceptance are more likely to generate incremental revenues through the eventual sale of the program rights in the syndication, international and home entertainment markets. Alternatively, poor ratings may result in a television series cancellation, which would require the immediate write-off of any unamortized production costs. A significant decline in the advertising market would also negatively impact our estimates.
We expense the cost of television broadcast rights for acquired movies, series and other programs based on the number of times the program is expected to be aired or on a straight-line basis over the useful life, as appropriate. Amortization of those television programming assets being amortized on a number of airings basis may be accelerated if we reduce the estimated future airings and slowed if we increase the estimated future airings. The number of future airings of a particular program is impacted primarily by the programs ratings in previous airings, expected advertising rates and availability and quality of alternative programming. Accordingly, planned usage is reviewed periodically and revised if necessary. Rights costs for multi-year sports programming arrangements are amortized based upon the ratio of the current periods revenues to Ultimate Revenues (the Projected Revenue Method) or on a straight-line basis over the contract period, as appropriate. Revenues include both advertising revenues and an allocation of Affiliate Fees. If the annual contractual payments related to each season over the term of a multi-year sports programming arrangement approximate each seasons rights cost based on the Projected Revenue Method, we expense the related annual payments during the applicable season. If Ultimate Revenues change significantly from projections, amortization of the rights costs may be accelerated or slowed.
Costs of film and television productions are subject to regular recoverability assessments which compare the estimated fair values with the unamortized costs. The net realizable value of the television broadcast program licenses and rights are reviewed using a daypart methodology. A daypart is defined as an aggregation of programs broadcast during a particular time of day or programs of a similar type. The Companys dayparts are early morning, daytime, late night, primetime, news, children, and sports (includes network and cable). The net realizable values of other cable programming assets are reviewed on an aggregated basis for each cable channel. Individual programs are written-off when there are no plans to air or sublicense the program. Estimated values are based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual demand or market conditions are less favorable than our projections, film, television and programming cost write-downs may be required.
Revenue Recognition
The Company has revenue recognition policies for its various operating segments that are appropriate for the circumstances of each business. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of these revenue recognition policies.
We reduce home entertainment and software product revenues for estimated future returns of merchandise and for customer programs and sales incentives. These estimates are based upon historical return experience, current economic trends and projections of customer demand for and acceptance of our products. If we underestimate the level of returns and concessions in a particular period, we may record less revenue in later periods when returns exceed the estimated amount. Conversely, if we overestimate the level of returns and concessions for a period, we may have additional revenue in later periods when returns and concessions are less than estimated.
Revenues from advance theme park ticket sales are recognized when the tickets are used. For non-expiring, multi-day tickets, we recognize revenue over a three-year time period based on estimated usage, which is derived from historical usage patterns. If actual usage is different than our estimated usage, revenues may not be recognized in the periods the related services are rendered. In addition, a change in usage patterns would impact the timing of revenue recognition.
Pension and Postretirement Medical Plan Actuarial Assumptions
The Companys pension and postretirement medical benefit obligations and related costs are calculated using a number of actuarial assumptions. Two critical assumptions, the discount rate and the expected return on plan assets, are important elements of expense and/or liability measurement which we evaluate annually. Other assumptions include the healthcare cost trend rate and employee demographic factors such as retirement patterns, mortality, turnover and rate of compensation increase.
The discount rate enables us to state expected future cash payments for benefits as a present value on the measurement date. A lower discount rate increases the present value of benefit obligations and increases pension
47
expense. The guideline for setting this rate is a high-quality long-term corporate bond rate. We decreased our discount rate to 5.75% at the end of fiscal 2009 from 7.80% at the beginning of fiscal 2009 to reflect market interest rate conditions at our October 3, 2009 measurement date. This decrease in the discount rate will affect net periodic pension and postretirement medical expense in fiscal 2010. The assumed discount rate reflects market rates for high-quality corporate bonds currently available. The Companys discount rate was determined by considering the average of pension yield curves constructed of a large population of high quality corporate bonds. The resulting discount rate reflects the matching of plan liability cash flows to the yield curves. A one percentage point decrease in the assumed discount rate would have increased total net periodic pension and postretirement medical expense for fiscal 2010 by $169 million and would increase the projected benefit obligation at October 3, 2009 by $1.3 billion, respectively. A one percentage point increase in the assumed discount rate would have decreased these amounts by $149 million and $1.1 billion, respectively.
To determine the expected long-term rate of return on the plan assets, we consider the current and expected asset allocation, as well as historical and expected returns on each plan asset class. A lower expected rate of return on pension plan assets will increase pension expense. Our long-term expected return on plan assets was 7.75% and 7.50% for the 2009 and 2008 actuarial valuations, respectively. The increase in the rate used for the year end 2009 actuarial valuation was due to changes in the ranges of expected returns on certain plan asset classes. A one percentage point change in the long-term return on pension plan asset assumption would impact fiscal 2010 annual pension and postretirement medical expense by approximately $57 million.
See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on our pension and postretirement medical plans.
Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Investments
The Company is required to test goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests if current events or circumstances require an interim impairment assessment. Goodwill is allocated to various reporting units, which are generally an operating segment or one reporting level below the operating segment. The Company compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying amount to determine if there is potential goodwill impairment. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent that the fair value of the goodwill within the reporting unit is less than the carrying value of its goodwill.
To determine the fair value of our reporting units, we generally use a present value technique (discounted cash flow) corroborated by market multiples when available and as appropriate. We apply what we believe to be the most appropriate valuation methodology for each of our reporting units. The discounted cash flow analyses are sensitive to our estimates of future revenue growth and margins for these businesses. We include in the projected cash flows an estimate of the revenue we believe the reporting unit would receive if the intellectual property developed by the reporting unit that is being used by other reporting units was licensed to an unrelated third party at its fair market value. These amounts are not necessarily the same as those included in segment operating results. We believe our estimates of fair value are consistent with how a marketplace participant would value our reporting units.
In light of recent adverse economic conditions in the global economy, the Companys long-term cash flow projections are subject to a greater degree of uncertainty than usual. If we had established different reporting units or utilized different valuation methodologies or assumptions, the impairment test results could differ, and we could be required to record impairment charges. Because of the way the accounting rules work, a relatively modest reduction in our estimate of the fair value of our Broadcasting reporting unit could result in a significant goodwill impairment charge.
The Company is required to compare the fair values of other indefinite-lived intangible assets to their carrying amounts. If the carrying amount of an indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. Fair values of other indefinite-lived intangible assets are determined based on discounted cash flows or appraised values, as appropriate.
The Company has cost and equity investments. The fair value of these investments is dependent on the performance of the investee companies, as well as volatility inherent in the external markets for these investments. In assessing the potential impairment for these investments, we consider these factors, as well as the forecasted financial performance of our investees and market values, where available. If these forecasts are not met or market values indicate an other-than-temporary decline in value, impairment charges may be required.
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During the current year, the Company tested its goodwill and other intangible assets, investments and long-lived assets for impairment and recorded non-cash impairment charges of $279 million. The impairment charges include $142 million for FCC radio licenses and $65 million for our investment in UTV. During fiscal years 2008 and 2007, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges of $39 million and $26 million, respectively, related to FCC radio licenses. The FCC radio license impairment charges reflected overall market declines in certain radio markets in which we operate. These impairment charges, which were estimated using a discounted cash flow model, were recorded in Restructuring and impairment charges in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Allowance for doubtful accounts
We evaluate our allowance for doubtful accounts and estimate collectibility of accounts receivable based on our analysis of historical bad debt experience in conjunction with our assessment of the financial condition of individual companies with which we do business. In light of the recent turmoil in the domestic and global economy that has affected many companies, our estimates and judgments with respect to the collectibility of our receivables from these companies have become subject to greater uncertainty than in more stable periods. If our estimate of uncollectible accounts is too low, costs and expenses may increase in future periods, and if it is too high, cost and expenses may decrease in future periods.
Contingencies and Litigation
We are currently involved in certain legal proceedings and, as required, have accrued estimates of the probable and estimable losses for the resolution of these claims. These estimates have been developed in consultation with outside counsel and are based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies. It is possible, however, that future results of operations for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected by changes in our assumptions or the effectiveness of our strategies related to these proceedings. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more detailed information on litigation exposure.
Income Tax Audits
As a matter of course, the Company is regularly audited by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. From time to time, these audits result in proposed assessments. Our determinations regarding the recognition of income tax benefits are made in consultation with outside tax and legal counsel where appropriate and are based upon the technical merits of our tax positions in consideration of applicable tax statutes and related interpretations and precedents and upon the expected outcome of proceedings (or negotiations) with taxing and legal authorities. The tax benefits ultimately realized by the Company may differ from those recognized in our financial statements based on a number of factors, including the Companys decision to settle rather than litigate a matter, relevant legal precedent related to similar matters and the Companys success in supporting its filing positions with taxing authorities.
Stock Option Compensation Expense
Each year during the second quarter, the Company awards stock options and restricted stock units to a broad-based group of management and creative personnel (the Annual Grant). The Company uses a binomial valuation model which takes into account variables such as volatility, dividend yield, and the risk-free interest rate. The binomial valuation model also considers the expected exercise multiple (the multiple of exercise price to grant price at which exercises are expected to occur on average) and the termination rate (the probability of a vested option being cancelled due to the termination of the option holder) in computing the value of the option. Accordingly, the Company believes that the binomial valuation model should produce a fair value that is representative of the value of an employee option.
In fiscal years 2009, 2008, and 2007, the weighted average assumptions used in the options-pricing models were as follows:
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||
Risk-free interest rate |
2.0 % | 3.6 % | 4.5 % | |||
Expected volatility |
47 % | 29 % | 26 % | |||
Dividend yield |
1.19 % | 1.02 % | 0.79 % | |||
Termination rate |
7.5 % | 7.5 % | 7.4 % | |||
Exercise multiple |
1.39 | 1.39 | 1.38 |
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Although the initial fair value of stock options is not adjusted after the grant date, changes in the Companys assumptions may change the value of, and therefore the expense related to, future stock option grants. The assumptions that cause the greatest variation in fair value in the binomial valuation model are the expected volatility and expected exercise multiple. Increases or decreases in either the expected volatility or expected exercise multiple will cause the binomial option value to increase or decrease, respectively.
The volatility assumption considers both historical and implied volatility and may be impacted by the Companys performance as well as changes in economic and market conditions. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more detailed information. If the expected volatility of 47% used by the Company during 2009 was increased or decreased by five percentage points (i.e. to 52% or to 42%), the weighted average grant date fair value of our 2009 stock option grants would have increased by 9% or decreased by 7%, respectively.
The expected exercise multiple may be influenced by the Companys future stock performance, stock price volatility, and employee turnover rates. If the exercise multiple assumption of 1.39 used by the Company during 2009 were increased to 1.6 or decreased to 1.2, the weighted average binomial value of our 2009 stock option grants would have increased by 7% or decreased by 8%, respectively.
ACCOUNTING CHANGES
Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables
In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance on revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables effective for the Companys 2011 fiscal year, although early adoption is permitted. The guidance revises the criteria for separating, measuring, and allocating arrangement consideration to each deliverable in a multiple element arrangement. The guidance requires companies to allocate revenue using the relative selling price of each deliverable, which must be estimated if there is no history of selling the deliverable on a stand-alone basis nor third-party evidence of selling price. The Company is assessing the potential effect of this guidance on its financial statements.
Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets
In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance on transfers and servicing of financial assets to eliminate the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity, change the requirements for off balance sheet accounting for financial assets including limiting the circumstances where off balance sheet treatment for a portion of a financial asset is allowable, and require additional disclosures. The guidance is effective for the Companys 2011 fiscal year. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its financial statements.
Variable Interest Entities
In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance to revise the approach to determine when a variable interest entity (VIE) should be consolidated. The new consolidation model for VIEs considers whether the Company has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs economic performance and shares in the significant risks and rewards of the entity. The guidance on VIEs requires companies to continually reassess VIEs to determine if consolidation is appropriate and provide additional disclosures. The guidance is effective for the Companys 2011 fiscal year. The Company is assessing the potential effect of this guidance on its financial statements.
Collaborative Arrangements
In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance that defines collaborative arrangements and establishes accounting and reporting requirements for such arrangements. A collaborative arrangement is a contractual arrangement that involves a joint operating activity, for example an agreement to co-produce and distribute a motion picture with another studio. The guidance is effective for the Companys 2010 fiscal year. The Company does not expect that the adoption of the guidance on collaborative arrangements will have a material impact on its financial statements.
Business Combinations
In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance that establishes principles and requirements for determining how a company recognizes and measures the fair value of certain assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination, including noncontrolling interests, contingent consideration, and certain acquired contingencies. The guidance on business combinations also requires acquisition-related transaction expenses and restructuring costs be expensed as incurred rather than capitalized. This guidance will be applicable prospectively to business combinations beginning in the Companys 2010 fiscal year.
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Noncontrolling Interest (Minority Interests)
In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance on the accounting and reporting for a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary. Upon adoption of this guidance, the Company will be required to report its noncontrolling interests as a separate component of shareholders equity. The Company will also be required to present net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests and net income attributable to the shareholders of the Company separately in its consolidated statements of income. Currently, noncontrolling interests are reported between liabilities and shareholders equity in the Companys statement of financial position and the related income attributable to non-controlling interests is reflected as an expense in arriving at net income. The guidance is effective for the Companys 2010 fiscal year and requires retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing non-controlling interests. All other requirements are to be applied prospectively.
Employee Compensation Retirement Benefits
In September 2006, the FASB issued guidance that requires recognition of the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans as an asset or liability in the statement of financial position and changes in that funded status to be recognized in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur. The guidance on retirement benefits also requires measurement of the funded status of a plan as of the end of the fiscal year. The Company adopted the recognition provision in fiscal year 2007 which resulted in a $261 million charge to accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company adopted the measurement date provision by remeasuring plan assets and benefit obligations at the beginning of fiscal 2009. Adoption of the measurement date provisions resulted in a reduction of $35 million to retained earnings and a $100 million benefit to accumulated other comprehensive income.
Key assumptions used for the measurement of pension and postretirement medical plans at the beginning of fiscal 2009 were 7.80% for the discount rate, 7.50% for the rate of return on plan assets, and 5.00% for salary increases. Based on this measurement of plan assets and benefit obligations, pension and postretirement medical costs decreased to approximately $214 million for fiscal 2009 compared to $255 million for fiscal 2008. The decrease in pension and postretirement medical expense was primarily due to an increase in the discount rate used to measure the present value of plan obligations.
The Company remeasured plan assets and benefit obligations at October 3, 2009 in accordance with new guidance on accounting for retirement plans. Key assumptions for the measurement at October 3, 2009 were 5.75% for the discount rate, 7.75% for the rate of return on plan assets, and 4.50% for salary increases. Based on the measurement at October 3, 2009, the Company recorded an increase in unrecognized pension and postretirement medical expense, which totals $2.8 billion ($1.8 billion after-tax) as of October 3, 2009.
Income Tax
In July 2006, the FASB issued guidance which clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company adopted the guidance on income taxes at the beginning of fiscal year 2008. Applying the guidance on income taxes to all tax positions upon adoption resulted in reductions of $148 million and $15 million to opening retained earnings and minority interests, respectively.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. We may from time to time make written or oral statements that are forward-looking, including statements contained in this report and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in reports to our shareholders. Such statements may, for example, express expectations or projections about future actions that we may take, including restructuring or strategic initiatives, or about developments beyond our control including changes in domestic or global economic conditions. These statements are made on the basis of managements views and assumptions as of the time the statements are made and we undertake no obligation to update these statements. There can be no assurance, however, that our expectations will necessarily come to pass. Significant factors affecting these expectations are set forth under Item 1A Risk Factors of this Report on Form 10-K.
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ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company is exposed to the impact of interest rate changes, foreign currency fluctuations, commodity fluctuations and changes in the market values of its investments.
Policies and Procedures
In the normal course of business, we employ established policies and procedures to manage the Companys exposure to changes in interest rates, foreign currencies, commodities, and the fair market value of certain investments in debt and equity securities using a variety of financial instruments.
Our objectives in managing exposure to interest rate changes are to limit the impact of interest rate volatility on earnings and cash flows and to lower overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, we primarily use interest rate swaps to manage net exposure to interest rate changes related to the Companys portfolio of borrowings. By policy, the Company targets fixed-rate debt as a percentage of its net debt between minimum and maximum percentages.
Our objective in managing exposure to foreign currency fluctuations is to reduce volatility of earnings and cash flow in order to allow management to focus on core business issues and challenges. Accordingly, the Company enters into various contracts that change in value as foreign exchange rates change to protect the U.S. dollar equivalent value of its existing foreign currency assets, liabilities, commitments, and forecasted foreign currency revenues and expenses. The Company utilizes option strategies and forward contracts that provide for the purchase or sale of foreign currencies to hedge probable, but not firmly committed, transactions. The Company also uses forward and option contracts to hedge foreign currency assets and liabilities. The principal foreign currencies hedged are the Euro, British pound, Japanese yen, and Canadian dollar. Cross-currency swaps are used to effectively convert foreign currency denominated borrowings to U.S. dollar denominated borrowings. By policy, the Company maintains hedge coverage between minimum and maximum percentages of its forecasted foreign exchange exposures generally for periods not to exceed four years. The gains and losses on these contracts offset changes in the U.S. dollar equivalent value of the related exposures.
Our objectives in managing exposure to commodity fluctuations are to use commodity derivatives to reduce volatility of earnings and cash flows arising from commodity price changes. The amounts hedged using commodity swap contracts are based on forecasted levels of consumption of certain commodities, such as fuel oil and gasoline.
It is the Companys policy to enter into foreign currency and interest rate derivative transactions and other financial instruments only to the extent considered necessary to meet its objectives as stated above. The Company does not enter into these transactions or any other hedging transactions for speculative purposes.
Value at Risk (VAR)
The Company utilizes a VAR model to estimate the maximum potential one-day loss in the fair value of its interest rate, foreign exchange, and market sensitive equity financial instruments. The VAR model estimates were made assuming normal market conditions and a 95% confidence level. Various modeling techniques can be used in a VAR computation. The Companys computations are based on the interrelationships between movements in various interest rates, currencies, and equity prices (a variance/co-variance technique). These interrelationships were determined by observing interest rate, foreign currency, and equity market changes over the preceding quarter for the calculation of VAR amounts at fiscal year end. The model includes all of the Companys debt as well as all interest rate and foreign exchange derivative contracts and market sensitive equity investments. Forecasted transactions, firm commitments, and receivables and accounts payable denominated in foreign currencies, which certain of these instruments are intended to hedge, were excluded from the model.
The VAR model is a risk analysis tool and does not purport to represent actual losses in fair value that will be incurred by the Company, nor does it consider the potential effect of favorable changes in market factors.
VAR on a combined basis decreased to $34 million at October 3, 2009 from $68 million at September 27, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to increased diversification benefits across financial instruments and lower volatility of interest rates and foreign exchange rates.
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The estimated maximum potential one-day loss in fair value, calculated using the VAR model, is as follows (unaudited, in millions):
Fiscal Year 2009 |
Interest Rate Sensitive Financial Instruments |
Currency Sensitive Financial Instruments |
Equity Sensitive Financial Instruments |
Combined Portfolio | ||||||||
Year end VAR |
$ | 24 | $ | 19 | $ | 0 | $ | 34 | ||||
Average VAR |
$ | 52 | $ | 23 | $ | 1 | $ | 66 | ||||
Highest VAR |
$ | 86 | $ | 33 | $ | 1 | $ | 100 | ||||
Lowest VAR |
$ | 24 | $ | 19 | $ | 0 | $ | 34 | ||||
Beginning of year VAR (year end fiscal 2008) |
$ | 53 | $ | 24 | $ | 1 | $ | 68 |
The VAR for Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland is immaterial as of October 3, 2009 and accordingly, has been excluded from the above table.
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
See Index to Financial Statements and Supplemental Data on page 60.
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and made known to the officers who certify the Companys financial reports and to other members of senior management and the Board of Directors as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Based on their evaluation as of October 3, 2009, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company have concluded that the Companys disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are effective.
Managements Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Managements report set forth on page 61 is incorporated herein by reference.
Changes in Internal Controls
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended October 3, 2009, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
None.
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PART III
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Information regarding Section 16(a) compliance, the Audit Committee, the Companys code of ethics and background of the directors appearing under the captions Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance, Committees, Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Ethics and Election of Directors in the Companys Proxy Statement for the 2010 annual meeting of Shareholders is hereby incorporated by reference.
Information regarding executive officers is included in Part I of this Form 10-K as permitted by General Instruction G(3).
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation
Information appearing under the captions Board Compensation and Executive Compensation in the 2010 Proxy Statement (other than the Compensation Committee Report, which is deemed furnished herein by reference) is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Information setting forth the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management appearing under the caption Stock Ownership and information in the Equity Compensation Plans table appearing under the caption Equity Compensation Plans in the 2010 Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information regarding certain related transactions appearing under the captions Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions and information regarding director independence appearing under the caption Director Independence in the 2010 Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Information appearing under the captions Auditor Fees and Services and Policy for Approval of Audit and Permitted Non-Audit Services in the 2010 Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated by reference.
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PART IV
ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(1) | Financial Statements and Schedules |
See Index to Financial Statements and Supplemental Data at page 60.
(2) | Exhibits |
The documents set forth below are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference to the location indicated.
Exhibit | Location | |||
2.1 | Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among the Company, Maverick Acquisition Sub, Inc., Maverick Merger Sub, LLC and Marvel Entertainment, Inc., dated as of August 31, 2009. | Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated August 31, 2009 | ||
3.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company | Annex C to the Joint Proxy Statement/ Prospectus included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-88105) of the Company, filed Sept. 30, 1999 | ||
3.2 | Bylaws of the Company | Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated June 29, 2007 | ||
4.1 | Amended and Restated Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of February 22, 2006 | Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed March 31, 2006 | ||
4.2 | Amended and Restated Four Year Credit Agreement dated as of February 22, 2006 | Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed March 31, 2006 | ||
4.3 | Indenture, dated as of Nov. 30, 1990, between DEI and Bankers Trust Company, as Trustee | Exhibit 2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of DEI, dated Jan. 14, 1991 | ||
4.4 | Indenture, dated as of Mar. 7, 1996, between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee | Exhibit 4.1(a) to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, dated March 7, 1996 | ||
4.5 | Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of September 24, 2001, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee | Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, dated September 24, 2001 | ||
4.6 | Other long-term borrowing instruments are omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K. The Company undertakes to furnish copies of such instruments to the Commission upon request | |||
10.1 | Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2008, between the Company and Robert A. Iger | Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 | ||
10.2 | Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2008 between the Company and Thomas O. Staggs | Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 | ||
10.3 | Employment Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2008 between the Company and Alan N. Braverman | Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated October 3, 2008 | ||
10.4 | Employment Agreement dated as of October 1, 2008 between the Company and Kevin A. Mayer | Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated October 3, 2008 | ||
10.5 | Employment Agreement dated as of September 1, 2009 between the Company and Jayne Parker | Filed herewith | ||
10.6 | Description of Directors Compensation | Filed herewith |
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Exhibit | Location | |||
10.7 | Amended and Restated Directors Retirement Policy | Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed December 1, 2006 | ||
10.8 | Form of Indemnification Agreement for certain officers and directors | Annex C to the Proxy Statement for the 1987 annual meeting of DEI | ||
10.9 | 1995 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors | Exhibit 20 to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No. 33-57811) of DEI, dated Feb. 23, 1995 | ||
10.10 | Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Incentive Plan and Rules | Exhibit 10.17 to the Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended September 27, 2008 | ||
10.11 | Amendment to Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Incentive Plan | Item 1.01(a) of Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed September 23, 2004 | ||
10.12 | Amended and Restated 2002 Executive Performance Plan | Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed March 12, 2009 | ||
10.13 | Management Incentive Bonus Program | The section of the Proxy Statement for the 2008 annual meeting of the Company titled Annual Bonus Incentives for Named Executive Officers | ||
10.14 | Amended and Restated 1997 Non-Employee Directors Stock and Deferred Compensation Plan | Annex II to the Proxy Statement for the 2003 annual meeting of the Company | ||
10.15 | Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan | Annex A to the Proxy Statement for the 2009 annual meeting of the Company | ||
10.16 | The Walt Disney Company/Pixar 1995 Stock Plan | Exhibit 10.1 to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (N0. 333-133840) of the Company dated May 5, 2006 | ||
10.17 | Amended and Restated The Walt Disney Company/Pixar 2004 Equity Incentive Plan | Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed December 1, 2006 | ||
10.18 | Amended and Restated Key Employees Deferred Compensation and Retirement Plan | Exhibit 10.28 to the Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended September 27, 2008 | ||
10.19 | Amended and Restated Benefit Equalization Plan of ABC, Inc. | Exhibit 10.29 to the Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended September 27, 2008 | ||
10.20 | Group Personal Excess Liability Insurance Plan | Exhibit 10(x) to the Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended September 30, 1997 | ||
10.21 | Family Income Assurance Plan (summary description) | Exhibit 10(y) to the Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended September 30, 1997 | ||
10.22 | Amended and Restated Severance Pay Plan | Exhibit 10.4 to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 | ||
10.23 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Time-Based Vesting) | Exhibit 10(aa) to the Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended September 30, 2004 | ||
10.24 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Bonus Related) | Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed December 15, 2006 | ||
10.25 | Form of Performance-Based Stock Unit Award | Exhibit 10.5 to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 | ||
10.26 | Form of Performance-Based Stock Unit Award Agreement (Dual Performance Goals) | Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed December 15, 2006 | ||
10.27 | Form of Performance-Based Stock Unit Award Agreement (Total Shareholder Return/Average Annual Adjusted EPS Growth Goals) | Exhibit 10.5 to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended December 29, 2007 |
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Exhibit | Location | |||
10.28 | Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Agreement (Seven-year Form) | Exhibit 10.3 to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended March 28, 2009 | ||
10.29 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement in Lieu of Equitable Adjustment | Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended June 30, 2007 | ||
10.30 | Voting Agreement, by and between The Walt Disney Company and Mr. Isaac Perlmutter, dated as of August 31, 2009 | Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated August 31, 2009 | ||
21 | Subsidiaries of the Company | Filed herewith | ||
23 | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | Filed herewith | ||
31(a) | Rule 13a 14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer of the Company in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | Filed herewith | ||
31(b) | Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer of the Company in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | Filed herewith | ||
32(a) | Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer of the Company in accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002* | Furnished herewith | ||
32(b) | Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer of the Company in accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002* | Furnished herewith | ||
101 | The following materials from the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 3, 2009 formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders Equity and (v) related notes, tagged as blocks of text | Furnished herewith |
* | A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. |
57
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY | ||||
| ||||
(Registrant) | ||||
Date: December 2, 2009 |
By: | /s/ ROBERT A. IGER | ||
(Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer) |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
Principal Executive Officer | President and Chief Executive Officer | December 2, 2009 | ||
/s/ ROBERT A. IGER |
||||
(Robert A. Iger) |
||||
Principal Financial and Accounting Officers | Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | December 2, 2009 | ||
/s/ THOMAS O. STAGGS |
||||
(Thomas O. Staggs) |
||||
/s/ BRENT A. WOODFORD |
Senior Vice President-Planning and Control | December 2, 2009 | ||
(Brent A. Woodford) |
||||
Directors /s/ SUSAN E. ARNOLD |
Director | December 2, 2009 | ||
(Susan E. Arnold) | ||||
/s/ JOHN E. BRYSON |
Director | December 2, 2009 | ||
(John E. Bryson) | ||||
/s/ JOHN S. CHEN |
Director | December 2, 2009 | ||
(John S. Chen) |
||||
/s/ JUDITH L. ESTRIN |
Director | December 2, 2009 | ||
(Judith L. Estrin) |
||||
/s/ ROBERT A. IGER |
Director | December 2, 2009 | ||
(Robert A. Iger) |
||||
/s/ STEVEN P. JOBS |
Director | December 2, 2009 | ||
(Steven P. Jobs) |
||||
/s/ FRED H. LANGHAMMER |
Director | December 2, 2009 | ||
(Fred H. Langhammer) |
||||
/s/ AYLWIN B. LEWIS |
Director | December 2, 2009 | ||
(Aylwin B. Lewis) |
58
Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
/s/ MONICA C. LOZANO |
Director | December 2, 2009 | ||
(Monica C. Lozano) |
||||
/s/ ROBERT W. MATSCHULLAT |
Director | December 2, 2009 | ||
(Robert W. Matschullat) |
||||
/s/ JOHN E. PEPPER, JR. |
Chairman of the Board and Director | December 2, 2009 | ||
(John E. Pepper, Jr.) |
||||
/s/ ORIN C. SMITH |
Director | December 2, 2009 | ||
(Orin C. Smith) |
59
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Page | ||
Managements Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting |
61 | |
62 | ||
Consolidated Financial Statements of The Walt Disney Company and Subsidiaries |
||
63 | ||
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 3, 2009 and September 27, 2008 |
64 | |
65 | ||
66 | ||
67 | ||
107 |
All schedules are omitted for the reason that they are not applicable or the required information is included in the financial statements or notes.
60
MANAGEMENTS REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). The Companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements prepared for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control Integrated Framework, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of October 3, 2009.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of October 3, 2009 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
61
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of The Walt Disney Company
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders equity and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries (the Company) at October 3, 2009 and September 27, 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 3, 2009 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of October 3, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Companys management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Companys internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
As discussed in Notes 2 and 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for uncertainty in income taxes in 2008 and its method of accounting for pension and other postretirement benefit plans in 2007 and 2009.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
Los Angeles, California
December 2, 2009
62
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in millions, except per share data)
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Revenues |
$ | 36,149 | $ | 37,843 | $ | 35,510 | |||
Costs and expenses |
(30,452) | (30,400) | (28,655) | ||||||
Restructuring and impairment charges |
(492) | (39) | (26) | ||||||
Other income (expense) |
342 | (59) | 1,004 | ||||||
Net interest expense |
(466) | (524) | (593) | ||||||
Equity in the income of investees |
577 | 581 | 485 | ||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interests |
5,658 | 7,402 | 7,725 | ||||||
Income taxes |
(2,049) | (2,673) | (2,874) | ||||||
Minority interests |
(302) | (302) | (177) | ||||||
Income from continuing operations |
3,307 | 4,427 | 4,674 | ||||||
Discontinued operations, net of tax |
| | 13 | ||||||
Net income |
$ | 3,307 | $ | 4,427 | $ | 4,687 | |||
Diluted Earnings per share: |
|||||||||
Earnings per share, continuing operations |
$ | 1.76 | $ | 2.28 | $ | 2.24 | |||
Earnings per share, discontinued operations |
| | 0.01 | ||||||
Earnings per share |
$ | 1.76 | $ | 2.28 | $ | 2.25 | |||
Basic Earnings per share: |
|||||||||
Earnings per share, continuing operations |
$ | 1.78 | $ | 2.34 | $ | 2.33 | |||
Earnings per share, discontinued operations |
| | 0.01 | ||||||
Earnings per share |
$ | 1.78 | $ | 2.34 | $ | 2.34 | |||
Weighted average number of common and |
|||||||||
Diluted |
1,875 | 1,948 | 2,092 | ||||||
Basic |
1,856 | 1,890 | 2,004 | ||||||
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
63
(in millions, except per share data)
October 3, 2009 |
September 27, 2008 | |||||
ASSETS |
||||||
Current assets |
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 3,417 | $ | 3,001 | ||
Receivables |
4,854 | 5,373 | ||||
Inventories |
1,271 | 1,124 | ||||
Television costs |
631 | 541 | ||||
Deferred income taxes |
1,140 | 1,024 | ||||
Other current assets |
576 | 603 | ||||
Total current assets |
11,889 | 11,666 | ||||
Film and television costs |
5,125 | 5,394 | ||||
Investments |
2,554 | 2,249 | ||||
Parks, resorts and other property, at cost Attractions, buildings and equipment |
32,475 | 31,493 | ||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(17,395) | (16,310) | ||||
15,080 | 15,183 | |||||
Projects in progress |
1,350 | 1,169 | ||||
Land |
1,167 | 1,180 | ||||
17,597 | 17,532 | |||||
Intangible assets, net |
2,247 | 2,428 | ||||
Goodwill |
21,683 | 21,465 | ||||
Other assets |
2,022 | 1,763 | ||||
$ | 63,117 | $ | 62,497 | |||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities |
$ | 5,616 | $ | 5,980 | ||
Current portion of borrowings |
1,206 | 3,529 | ||||
Unearned royalties and other advances |
2,112 | 2,082 | ||||
Total current liabilities |
8,934 | 11,591 | ||||
Borrowings |
11,495 | 11,110 | ||||
Deferred income taxes |
1,819 | 2,350 | ||||
Other long-term liabilities |
5,444 | 3,779 | ||||
Minority interests |
1,691 | 1,344 | ||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15) |
||||||
Shareholders equity |
||||||
Preferred stock, $.01 par value Authorized 100 million shares, Issued none |
| | ||||
Common stock, $.01 par value Authorized 3.6 billion shares, Issued 2.6 billion shares |
27,038 | 26,546 | ||||
Retained earnings |
31,033 | 28,413 | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(1,644) | (81) | ||||
56,427 | 54,878 | |||||
Treasury stock, at cost, 781.7 million shares at October 3, 2009 and 777.1 million shares at September 27, 2008 |
(22,693) | (22,555) | ||||
33,734 | 32,323 | |||||
$ | 63,117 | $ | 62,497 | |||
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
64
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS |
|||||||||
Net income |
$ | 3,307 | $ | 4,427 | $ | 4,687 | |||
Income from discontinued operations |
| | (13) | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
1,631 | 1,582 | 1,491 | ||||||
Gains on sales of equity investments and businesses |
(342) | (14) | (1,052) | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
323 | (128) | (137) | ||||||
Equity in the income of investees |
(577) | (581) | (485) | ||||||
Cash distributions received from equity investees |
505 | 476 | 420 | ||||||
Minority interests |
302 | 302 | 177 | ||||||
Net change in film and television costs |
(43) | (301) | 115 | ||||||
Equity-based compensation |
457 | 402 | 419 | ||||||
Impairment charges |
279 | 39 | 26 | ||||||
Other |
(247) | (209) | (91) | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities |
|||||||||
Receivables |
468 | (594) | (355) | ||||||
Inventories |
(117) | (329) | 52 | ||||||
Other assets |
(565) | (64) | 9 | ||||||
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities |
(325) | 488 | 77 | ||||||
Income taxes |
8 | (50) | 58 | ||||||
Cash provided by continuing operations |
5,064 | 5,446 | 5,398 | ||||||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS |
|||||||||
Investments in parks, resorts and other property |
(1,753) | (1,578) | (1,566) | ||||||
Sales of investments |
46 | 70 | 5 | ||||||
Proceeds from sales of equity investments and businesses |
185 | 14 | 1,530 | ||||||
Acquisitions |
(517) | (660) | (608) | ||||||
Other |
(57) | (8) | 21 | ||||||
Cash used in continuing investing activities |
(2,096) | (2,162) | (618) | ||||||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS |
|||||||||
Commercial paper borrowings, net |
(1,985) | (701) | 1,847 | ||||||
Borrowings |
1,750 | 1,706 | 3,143 | ||||||
Reduction of borrowings |
(1,617) | (477) | (2,294) | ||||||
Dividends |
(648) | (664) | (637) | ||||||
Repurchases of common stock |
(138) | (4,453) | (6,923) | ||||||
Exercise of stock options and other |
86 | 636 | 1,245 | ||||||
Cash used in continuing financing activities |
(2,552) | (3,953) | (3,619) | ||||||
CASH FLOWS OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS |
|||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations |
| | 23 | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations |
| | (3) | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities of discontinued operations |
| | 78 | ||||||
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
416 | (669) | 1,259 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year |
3,001 | 3,670 | 2,411 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year |
$ | 3,417 | $ | 3,001 | $ | 3,670 | |||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
|||||||||
Interest paid |
$ | 485 | $ | 555 | $ | 551 | |||
Income taxes paid |
$ | 1,609 | $ | 2,768 | $ | 2,796 | |||
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
65
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
(in millions, except per share data)
Shares | Common Stock |
Retained Earnings |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
Treasury Stock |
Total Shareholders Equity | ||||||||||||
BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 |
2,062 | $ | 22,377 | $ | 20,630 | $ | (8) | $ | (11,179) | $ | 31,820 | ||||||
Net income |
| | 4,687 | | | 4,687 | |||||||||||
Market value adjustments for investments and hedges |
| | | (71) | | (71) | |||||||||||
Foreign currency translation and other |
| | | 77 | | 77 | |||||||||||
Increase in minimum pension liability adjustment |
| | | 106 | | 106 | |||||||||||
Comprehensive income |
4,799 | ||||||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted stock and stock options |
57 | 1,823 | | | | 1,823 | |||||||||||
Common stock repurchases |
(202) | | | | (6,923) | (6,923) | |||||||||||
Dividends ($0.31 per share) |
| 7 | (644) | | | (637) | |||||||||||
Adoption of new benefit plan accounting guidance (net of tax of $154 million) |
| | | (261) | | (261) | |||||||||||
Distribution of ABC Radio business |
| | 132 | | | 132 | |||||||||||
BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 29, 2007 |
1,917 | $ | 24,207 | $ | 24,805 | $ | (157) | $ | (18,102) | $ | 30,753 | ||||||
Net income |
| | 4,427 | | | 4,427 | |||||||||||
Market value adjustments for investments and hedges |
| | | 120 | | 120 | |||||||||||
Foreign currency translation and other |
| | | (27) | | (27) | |||||||||||
Pension and postretirement medical plan adjustments: |
|||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of prior losses to net income |
25 | 25 | |||||||||||||||
Net actuarial loss |
| | | (42) | | (42) | |||||||||||
Comprehensive income |
4,503 | ||||||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted stock and stock options |
31 | 1,012 | | | | 1,012 | |||||||||||
Redemption of convertible senior notes |
45 | 1,320 | | | | 1,320 | |||||||||||
Common stock repurchases |
(139) | | | | (4,453) | (4,453) | |||||||||||
Dividends ($0.35 per share) |
| 7 | (671) | | | (664) | |||||||||||
Adoption of new income tax guidance |
| | (148) | | | (148) | |||||||||||
BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 |
1,854 | $ | 26,546 | $ | 28,413 | $ | (81) | $ | (22,555) | $ | 32,323 | ||||||
Net income |
| | 3,307 | | | 3,307 | |||||||||||
Market value adjustments for investments and hedges |
| | | (57) | | (57) | |||||||||||
Foreign currency translation and other |
| | | (33) | | (33) | |||||||||||
Pension and postretirement medical plan adjustments: |
|||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of prior net gains to net income |
| | | (4) | | (4) | |||||||||||
Net actuarial loss |
| | | (1,569) | | (1,569) | |||||||||||
Comprehensive income |
1,644 | ||||||||||||||||
Adoption of new pension and postretirement medical plan measurement date and other (net of tax of $37 million) |
| | (32) | 100 | | 68 | |||||||||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted stock and stock options |
12 | 485 | | | | 485 | |||||||||||
Common stock repurchases |
(5) | | | | (138) | (138) | |||||||||||
Dividends ($0.35 per share) |
| 7 | (655) | | | (648) | |||||||||||
BALANCE AT OCTOBER 3, 2009 |
1,861 | $ | 27,038 | $ | 31,033 | $ | (1,644) | $ | (22,693) | $ | 33,734 | ||||||
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
66
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
1 | Description of the Business and Segment Information |
The Walt Disney Company, together with the subsidiaries through which businesses are conducted (the Company), is a diversified worldwide entertainment company with operations in the following business segments: Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, Consumer Products and Interactive Media.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS
Media Networks
The Company operates the ABC Television Network and ten owned television stations, as well as the ESPN Radio Network and Radio Disney Network (the Radio Networks) and 46 owned radio stations. Both the television and radio networks have affiliated stations providing coverage to households throughout the United States. The Company has cable networks that are principally involved in the production and distribution of cable television programming, the licensing of programming in domestic and international markets, and investing in foreign television broadcasting, production, and distribution entities. Primary cable programming services that operate through consolidated subsidiaries are the ESPN-branded networks, Disney Channel Worldwide, SOAPnet, Disney XD and ABC Family. Other programming services that operate through a joint venture and are accounted for under the equity method include A&E Television Networks and Lifetime Entertainment Services. The Company also produces original television programming for network, first-run syndication, pay, and international syndication markets, along with original animated television programming for network, pay, and international syndication markets. Additionally, the Company operates ABC-, ESPN-, ABC Family- and SOAPnet-branded internet businesses.
On June 12, 2007, the Company completed the spin-off of its wholly owned subsidiary, ABC Radio Holdings, Inc., and its merger into a subsidiary of Citadel Broadcasting Corporation (Citadel). Prior to the spin-off, the Company consolidated its ABC Radio Business, consisting of 22 large-market radio stations and the ABC Radio Network businesses, under ABC Radio Holdings, Inc. The transaction did not include the Companys ESPN Radio or Radio Disney network and station businesses. Additional information regarding this transaction is included in Note 5.
Parks and Resorts
The Company owns and operates the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and the Disneyland Resort in California. The Walt Disney World Resort includes four theme parks (the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disneys Hollywood Studios, and Disneys Animal Kingdom), 17 resort hotels, a retail, dining, and entertainment complex, a sports complex, conference centers, campgrounds, golf courses, water parks, and other recreational facilities. The Disneyland Resort includes two theme parks (Disneyland and Disneys California Adventure), three resort hotels, and a retail, dining and entertainment complex. The Company manages and has an effective 51% ownership interest in Disneyland Paris, which includes two theme parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park), seven themed hotels, two convention centers, a shopping, dining and entertainment complex, and a 27-hole golf facility. The Company also manages and has a 47% ownership interest in Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which includes one theme park and two resort hotels. The Company earns royalties on revenues generated by the Tokyo Disneyland Resort, which includes two theme parks and three Disney-branded hotels, and is owned and operated by an unrelated Japanese corporation. The Company also manages and markets vacation club ownership interests through the Disney Vacation Club, operates the Disney Cruise Line out of Port Canaveral, Florida, and Adventures by Disney. The Companys Walt Disney Imagineering unit designs and develops new theme park concepts and attractions, as well as resort properties.
Studio Entertainment
The Company produces and acquires live-action and animated motion pictures for worldwide distribution to the theatrical, home entertainment, and television markets. The Company distributes these products through its own distribution and marketing companies in the United States and foreign markets primarily under the Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax, Pixar, and Disneynature banners, as well as Dimension for titles released prior to September 30, 2005. The Company also produces stage plays, musical recordings and live entertainment events.
67
Consumer Products
The Company licenses the name Walt Disney, as well as the Companys characters and visual and literary properties, to various manufacturers, retailers, show promoters, and publishers throughout the world. The Company also engages in retail and online distribution of products through The Disney Store and DisneyStore.com. The Disney Store is owned and operated in Europe and North America and franchised in Japan. The Company publishes entertainment and educational books and magazines for children and families.
Disney Interactive Media Group
The Company creates and delivers Disney-branded entertainment and lifestyle content across interactive media platforms. The primary operating businesses are Disney Interactive Studios, which produces video games for global distribution, and Disney Online, which produces web sites and online virtual worlds in the United States and internationally. The Interactive Media Group also manages Disney-branded mobile phone initiatives.
SEGMENT INFORMATION
The operating segments reported below are the segments of the Company for which separate financial information is available and for which segment results are evaluated regularly by the Chief Executive Officer in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.
Segment operating results reflect earnings before corporate and unallocated shared expenses, restructuring and impairment charges, other income (expense), net interest expense, income taxes, and minority interests. Segment operating income includes equity in the income of investees. Equity investees consist primarily of AETN/Lifetime, which is a cable business included in the Media Networks segment. Corporate and unallocated shared expenses principally consist of corporate functions, executive management, and certain unallocated administrative support functions.
Equity in the income of investees by segment is as follows:
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Media Networks (1) |
$ | 567 | $ | 596 | $ | 484 | |||
Studio Entertainment |
(4) | | | ||||||
Consumer Products |
2 | | | ||||||
Interactive Media |
2 | (3) | | ||||||
Corporate |
10 | (12) | 1 | ||||||
$ | 577 | $ | 581 | $ | 485 | ||||
(1) | Substantially all of these amounts relate to investments at Cable Networks. |
68
The following segment results include allocations of certain costs, including information technology, pension, legal, and other shared services costs, which are allocated based on metrics designed to correlate with consumption. These allocations are agreed-upon amounts between the businesses and may differ from amounts that would be negotiated in arms length transactions. In addition, all significant intersegment transactions have been eliminated except that Studio Entertainment revenues and operating income include an allocation of Consumer Products and Interactive Media revenues, which is meant to reflect royalties on sales of merchandise based on certain Studio film properties.
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Revenues |
|||||||||
Media Networks |
$ | 16,209 | $ | 15,857 | $ | 14,913 | |||
Parks and Resorts |
10,667 | 11,504 | 10,626 | ||||||
Studio Entertainment |
|||||||||
Third parties |
6,016 | 7,167 |