BURBANK, Calif., May 10, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) today reported earnings for its second fiscal quarter and six months ended April 2, 2011. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter increased 2% to $0.49, compared to $0.48 in the prior-year quarter. Diluted EPS for the six-months ended April 2, 2011 was $1.16 compared to $0.93 in the prior-year period.

"We are pleased with the underlying quality of our second quarter earnings," said Robert A. Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. "There is great creative momentum throughout the company which gives us continued confidence in our ability to grow our businesses."

SEGMENT RESULTS

Cable Networks

Operating income at Cable Networks increased $174 million to $1.4 billion for the quarter due to growth at ESPN, ABC Family and the Disney Channels, partially offset by lower equity income. The increase at ESPN reflected higher advertising and affiliate revenue, partially offset by higher programming costs. Advertising revenue growth was primarily due to higher rates and sold inventory while higher affiliate revenue was due to contractual rate increases. Higher programming and production costs were driven by the addition of college football Bowl Championship Series games. Higher operating income at ABC Family was driven by lower programming and marketing costs due to the timing of airing of original programming, while increased operating income at the Disney Channels was due to increased affiliate revenue, partially offset by higher programming costs. Affiliate revenue growth at the Disney Channels reflected contractual rate increases domestically and subscriber growth internationally. Decreased equity income reflected the impact of programming costs for the Cricket World Cup at our ESPN Star Sports joint venture.

Broadcasting

Operating income at Broadcasting increased $44 million to $167 million driven by higher advertising revenue at the ABC Television Network and at the owned television stations, higher affiliate fees, increased sales of ABC Studios productions and lower programming and production costs at the ABC Television Network. Higher advertising revenues at the ABC Television Network were driven by increases in primetime and news, partially offset by a decrease in sports due to the shift of the BCS National Championship game to ESPN. Increased primetime and news advertising revenues reflected higher rates, partially offset by lower ratings. Higher sales of ABC Studios productions were driven by Criminal Minds, Army Wives and Castle, partially offset by the absence of Lost. Decreased programming and production costs reflected the benefit of cost saving initiatives at news and the shift of the BCS National Championship game to ESPN, partially offset by a higher cost mix of programming in primetime.

These increases were partially offset by the absence of recoveries of previously reserved receivables which occurred in the prior-year quarter and timing of marketing costs.

Parks and Resorts

Parks and Resorts revenues for the quarter increased 7% to $2.6 billion and segment operating income decreased 3% to $145 million. Results for the quarter were driven by decreases at Disney Cruise Line and Tokyo Disney Resort, partially offset by increases at our domestic and consolidated international parks and resorts. The decrease at Tokyo Disney Resort was driven by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan which resulted in a temporary suspension of operations at the resort. Results at both our domestic and international parks and resorts reflected an unfavorable impact due a shift in the timing of the Easter holiday relative to our fiscal periods. As a result, the current quarter did not include any of the two week Easter holiday while the prior-year quarter included one week of the Easter holiday.

Lower operating income at Disney Cruise Line was primarily due to increased operating and promotional costs driven by the launch of our new cruise ship, the Disney Dream, in January 2011and higher fuel and other operating costs for the existing fleet, partially offset by higher passenger cruise days from the Disney Dream.

Increased operating income at our domestic parks and resorts was driven by higher guest spending and hotel occupancy, partially offset by increased costs. Higher guest spending reflected increased average ticket prices and daily hotel room rates. Increased costs reflected labor cost inflation, higher pension and healthcare costs and expansion costs for Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort.

Improved results at the consolidated international parks and resorts reflected higher attendance and hotel occupancy at Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and higher guest spending at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, partially offset by labor cost inflation at Disneyland Paris.

Studio Entertainment

Studio Entertainment revenues for the quarter decreased 13% to $1.3 billion and segment operating income decreased 65% to $77 million. Lower operating income was primarily due to decreases in worldwide home entertainment and worldwide theatrical distribution and higher film cost write-downs.

The decrease in worldwide home entertainment was primarily due to lower unit sales reflecting the strong prior-year performance of Toy Story 1 and 2 and the animated version of Alice in Wonderland in the domestic market and Up in international markets. These decreases were partially offset by higher net effective pricing due to increased Blu-ray format sales. Lower results in worldwide theatrical distribution reflected the performance of Mars Needs Moms in the current quarter which also drove higher film cost write-downs. Current quarter theatrical distribution results also included Tangled and Tron: Legacy, primarily internationally,while the prior-year quarter included the worldwide release of Alice in Wonderland.

Consumer Products

Consumer Products revenues for the quarter increased 5% to $626 million and segment operating income increased 7% to $142 million as improvements at the Disney Store North America and Merchandise Licensing were offset by a decrease at Publishing.

The increase at the Disney Store North America was primarily due to comparable store sales growth and improved margins reflecting the strength of Tangled and Toy Story merchandise. Improved Merchandise Licensing results reflected the strong performance of Cars and Tangled merchandise. The decrease at Publishing was driven by minimum guarantee shortfall recognition in the prior-year quarter.

Interactive Media

Interactive Media revenues for the quarter increased 3% to $159 million and segment operating income decreased by $60 million to a loss of $115 million. Decreased operating results were driven by the acquisition of Playdom, including the impact of acquisition accounting, and higher mobile and virtual world product development costs.

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Corporate and Unallocated Shared Expenses

Corporate and unallocated shared expenses increased from $91 million to $122 million driven by the timing of expenses and higher compensation related costs.

Net Interest Expense

The decrease in interest expense for the quarter was primarily due to lower effective interest rates and lower average debt balances.

The increase in interest and investment income for the quarter was primarily due to gains on sales of investments.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for the current quarter was 35.6% compared to 35.0% in the prior-year quarter. The prior-year quarter included a benefit from the favorable resolution of certain prior-year tax matters which was largely offset by a charge to reflect the loss of a tax benefit related to Medicare Part D subsidies as a result of the healthcare reform legislation.

Noncontrolling Interests

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased from $45 million to $68 million driven by improved operating results at ESPN and Hong Kong Disneyland. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests is determined based on income after royalties, financing costs and income taxes.

Cash Flow

Cash provided by operations increased 23% to $3.1 billion for the current six month period compared to the prior-year six month period. The increase was primarily due to higher operating cash receipts driven by higher revenues at our Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Consumer Products and Interactive Media businesses and the timing of receivable collections at our Media Networks, Consumer Products and Studio Entertainment businesses. These increases were partially offset by higher cash payments at Corporate and our Parks and Resorts, Interactive Media and Consumer Products businesses. The increase in cash payments at Corporate was driven by higher income tax payments and the timing of contributions to our pension plans. The increase in cash payments at Parks and Resorts was driven by labor cost inflation, higher operating and promotional costs from the January launch of our new cruise ship, the Disney Dream, and expansion costs for Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort, while the increase in cash payments at Interactive Media reflects the inclusion of Playdom, which was acquired subsequent to the prior-year six month period. The increase in cash payments at Consumer Products was primarily due to the inclusion of The Disney Store Japan and Marvel.

The increase in capital expenditures was primarily due to the final payment for the Disney Dream, and spending on theme park and resort expansions and new guest offerings.

The total borrowings shown above include $2,514 million and $2,586 million attributable to Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland as of April 2, 2011 and October 2, 2010, respectively. Cash and cash equivalents attributable to Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland totaled $576 million and $657 million as of April 2, 2011 and October 2, 2010, respectively.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This earnings release presents earnings per share excluding the impact of certain items, net borrowings, free cash flow, and aggregate segment operating income, all of which are important financial measures for the Company but are not financial measures defined by GAAP.

These measures should be reviewed in conjunction with the relevant GAAP financial measures and are not presented as alternative measures of earnings per share, borrowings, cash flow or net income as determined in accordance with GAAP. Net borrowings, free cash flow, and aggregate segment operating income as we have calculated them may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Earnings per share excluding certain items - The Company uses earnings per share excluding certain items to evaluate the performance of the Company's operations exclusive of certain items that impact the comparability of results from period to period. The Company believes that information about earnings per share exclusive of these impacts is useful to investors, particularly where the impact of the excluded items is significant in relation to reported earnings, because the measure allows for comparability between periods of the operating performance of the Company's business and allows investors to evaluate the impact of these items separately from the impact of the operations of the business. The following table reconciles reported earnings per share to earnings per share excluding certain items:

Net borrowings - The Company believes that information about net borrowings provides investors with a useful perspective on our financial condition. Net borrowings reflect the subtraction of cash and cash equivalents from total borrowings. Since we earn interest income on our cash balances that offsets a portion of the interest expense we pay on our borrowings, net borrowings can be used as a measure to gauge net interest expense. In addition, a portion of our cash and cash equivalents is available to repay outstanding indebtedness when the indebtedness matures or when other circumstances arise. However, we may not immediately apply cash and cash equivalents to the reduction of debt, nor do we expect that we would use all of our available cash and cash equivalents to repay debt in the ordinary course of business.

Free cash flow - The Company uses free cash flow (cash provided by operations less investments in parks, resorts and other property), among other measures, to evaluate the ability of its operations to generate cash that is available for purposes other than capital expenditures. Management believes that information about free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available to service debt, make strategic acquisitions and investments and pay dividends or repurchase shares.

Aggregate segment operating income - 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 performance of operating businesses separate from non-operating factors. The Company believes that information about aggregate segment operating income assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of the Company's portfolio of businesses separate from non-operational factors that affect net income, thus providing separate insight into both operations and the other factors that affect reported results.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

In conjunction with this release, The Walt Disney Company will host a conference call today, May 10, 2011, at 5:00 PM EDT/2:00 PM PDT via a live Webcast. To access the Webcast go to www.disney.com/investors. The discussion will be available via replay through May 24, 2011 at 7:00 PM EDT/4:00 PM PDT.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Management believes certain statements in this earnings release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of management's views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made. Management does not undertake any obligation to update these statements.

Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by the Company, including restructuring or strategic initiatives (including capital investments or asset acquisitions or dispositions), as well as from developments beyond the Company's control, including:

• changes in domestic and global economic conditions, competitive conditions and consumer preferences
• adverse weather conditions or natural disasters;
• health concerns;
• international, political, or military developments; and
• technological developments.

Such developments may affect travel and leisure businesses generally and may, among other things, affect:

• the performance of the Company's theatrical and home entertainment releases;
• the advertising market for broadcast and cable television programming;
• expenses of providing medical and pension benefits;
• demand for our products; and
• performance of some or all company businesses either directly or through their impact on those who distribute our products.

Additional factors are set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 2, 2010 under Item 1A, "Risk Factors," and subsequent reports.

SOURCE: The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company
Zenia Mucha
Corporate Communications
818-560-5300
or
Lowell Singer
Investor Relations
818-560-6601