CORONAVIRUS

Disney’s Profit Plunged 91% Last Quarter As Its Parks Closed Their Doors

May 5, 2020, 8:55 PM
An employee cleans the grounds behind the closed gates of Disneyland Park on the first day of the c...
An employee cleans the grounds behind the closed gates of Disneyland Park on the first day of the closure of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks as fear of the spread of coronavirus continue, in Anaheim, California, on March 14, 2020. (Photo by DAVID MCNEW / AFP) (Photo by DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images)

(CNN) — Disney’s profit dropped a whopping 91% during the first three months of 2020, revealing the widespread damage that the coronavirus pandemic has brought on its media empire.

Although sales for its second quarter were up 21% to $18 billion, Disney’s profit took an enormous hit from the closure of its twelve theme parks as well as mammoth costs associated with getting the Disney+ streaming service off the ground.

The company’s parks, experiences and products unit was hit particularly hard by the outbreak.

That segment’s operating income dropped a staggering 58% compared to last year — a result of Disney shuttering its theme parks and resorts around the world.

Shares of Disney’s stock fell roughly 2% in after-hours trading.

A $1.4 Billion Hit

The company said its operating income on its Parks, Experiences and Products segment fell about $1 billion due to lost revenue. It estimates that the impacts of coronavirus across all its businesses was as much as $1.4 billion. All twelve of Disney’s parks in North America, Asia and Europe have been closed since March 15.

However, the company announced that Shanghai Disneyland, which has been closed since January, will re-open in phases on May 11. The park will welcome guests with new health and prevention procedures as well as limited attendance.

Reeling from the effects of the pandemic across nearly all parts of its business, Disney also said that it will not pay investors a dividend for the first-half of fiscal 2020.

The company estimates the move will preserve about $1.6 billion in cash, based on a per-share dividend of 88 cents.

Despite the disruption from the outbreak, Bob Chapek, Disney’s newly-minted CEO, expressed confidence in the strength of the company’s assets.

“Disney has repeatedly shown that it is exceptionally resilient, bolstered by the quality of our storytelling and the strong affinity consumers have for our brands,” Chapek said in a statement.

Bob Iger, Disney’s executive chairman and former CEO, echoed Chapek’s statement on a post-earnings call.

“As someone who’s been around for a while, and led this company through really tough days over the last fifteen years… I have absolute confidence in our ability to get through this challenging period, and recover successfully,” Iger said.

Disney+ Is A Costly Success

While Disney’s results illustrate how badly the coronavirus has hobbled its business, there was one bright spot for the company: Disney+.

In just five months, the company’s streaming service, which debuted in November, racked up roughly 54 million paid subscribers globally, the company said on Tuesday. That puts it within striking range of Disney’s long-term subscriber projections.

The company said that revenues for its direct-to-consumer business, which includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, increased from $1.1 billion last year to $4.1 billion.

However, its growth comes at a big cost for Disney.

The company said that the operating income for its streaming unit fell $812 million in the second quarter.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

KSL 5 TV Live

Top Stories

Coronavirus

Intermountain Medical Center (KSL TV)...
Emily Ashcraft

Pandemic led to increase in rate and severity of depression, Intermountain study says

The COVID-19 pandemic had a large impact on mental health, specifically depression, an Intermountain Health study using research from thousands Utah patients found.
18 days ago
FILE PHOTO (KSL-TV)...
Emily Ashcraft

Masks no longer required at Intermountain Health facilities, 3 years after pandemic started

Intermountain Health announced wearing masks will become optional for visitors and patients beginning March 15, following an anticipated decline in respiratory illnesses.
21 days ago
woman blowing her nose on a couch...
Paul LeBlanc

New assessment on the origins of COVID-19 adds to the confusion

Three years after the start of the pandemic, researchers are beginning to look more into how COVID-19 began and its origins.
26 days ago
Flu COVID test...
Jen Christensen, CNN

FDA authorizes first at-home test for flu, Covid-19

If you've got a fever and a cough, you don't necessarily have to go to the doctor anymore to find out if it's the flu or COVID-19.
28 days ago
...
Ashley Moser

COVID long-haulers push lawmakers to approve funding for treatment research

The request for $4,000,000 would help U of U Health’s Comprehensive COVID-19 Clinic, which has seen 1,800 long COVID-19 patients since July of 2021.
1 month ago
(KSL-TV)...
Katija Stjepovic

Utah arts and cultural jobs are surging after COVID pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic pulled the curtains on most of Utah's arts and cultural jobs, but after nearly three years, they are reemerging. 
1 month ago

Sponsored Articles

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...
BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.
Close up of an offset printing machine during production...
Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.
vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...
Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.
Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...
Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.
notebook with password notes highlighted...
PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.
house with for rent sign posted...
Chase Harrington, president and COO of Entrata

Top 5 Reasons You May Want to Consider Apartment Life Over Owning a Home

There are many benefits of renting that can be overshadowed by the allure of buying a home. Here are five reasons why renting might be right for you.
Disney’s Profit Plunged 91% Last Quarter As Its Parks Closed Their Doors