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By Daniel Trotta Feb 3 (Reuters) – Penny, a 4-year-old Doberman pinscher, won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show on Tuesday, capturing the most prestigious dog show prize in the United States. Penny cut a majestic stance in the final round of judging, when the finalists of seven groups competed at New York City's Madison Square Garden. The champion of the working group beat more than 3,000 dogs from all 50 states and 17 countries that competed in the 150th annual event. The winners of each of the 202 competing breeds advanced to compete for one of seven group titles, with each group winner moving on to the finals. Penny's handler Andy Linton, who has spoken publicly about his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, also handled the winning Doberman named Indy the last time the breed won Best in Show, in 1989. "We saw a dog that knew that it had to perform for Andy, and I think that's the bond we get," Jason Hoke, the television commentator for Fox Sports, said on the broadcast of the event.  "We saw that with this perfect show the dog put on. The dog was giving it back to Andy because Andy has had his own struggles and that's what dogs do, that unconditional love," Hoke said. Penny was bred by Theresa Connors-Chan and Gregory Chan, two of the co-owners along with Francis Sparagna and Diana Sparagna. Second place, known as Reserve Best in Show, went to Cota, a 5-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever from the sporting group. The other finalists were Zaida, an Afghan hound from the hound group; Cookie, a Maltese from the toy group; JJ, a Lhasa Apso from the non-sporting group; Graham, an old English sheepdog from the herding group; and Wager, a smooth fox terrier from the terrier group. "They always say, 'What a great lineup,' but this is one that will go down in history," Best in Show judge David Fitzpatrick, himself a breeder, owner and handler who has won Best in Show twice, told the crowd before announcing the winner. Judges, looking for each breed's ideal standard, examine the dogs' mouths and place their hands over the animals' bodies, checking for muscle tone before watching the dogs run through their paces.  Dobermans, which have a reputation as police dogs, have now won the top prize five times. The breed was developed for protection in the late 19th century by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, a German tax collector. It was later used in police and military service, notably by the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific theater of World War Two.  (Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Michael Perry)

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By Daniel Trotta Feb 3 (Reuters) – Penny, a 4-year-old Doberman pinscher, won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show on Tuesday, capturing the most prestigious dog show prize in the United States. Penny cut a majestic stance in the final round of judging, when the finalists of seven groups competed at New York City's Madison Square Garden. The champion of the working group beat more than 3,000 dogs from all 50 states and 17 countries that competed in the 150th annual event. The winners of each of the 202 competing breeds advanced to compete for one of seven group titles, with each group winner moving on to the finals. Penny's handler Andy Linton, who has spoken publicly about his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, also handled the winning Doberman named Indy the last time the breed won Best in Show, in 1989. "We saw a dog that knew that it had to perform for Andy, and I think that's the bond we get," Jason Hoke, the television commentator for Fox Sports, said on the broadcast of the event.  "We saw that with this perfect show the dog put on. The dog was giving it back to Andy because Andy has had his own struggles and that's what dogs do, that unconditional love," Hoke said. Penny was bred by Theresa Connors-Chan and Gregory Chan, two of the co-owners along with Francis Sparagna and Diana Sparagna. Second place, known as Reserve Best in Show, went to Cota, a 5-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever from the sporting group. The other finalists were Zaida, an Afghan hound from the hound group; Cookie, a Maltese from the toy group; JJ, a Lhasa Apso from the non-sporting group; Graham, an old English sheepdog from the herding group; and Wager, a smooth fox terrier from the terrier group. "They always say, 'What a great lineup,' but this is one that will go down in history," Best in Show judge David Fitzpatrick, himself a breeder, owner and handler who has won Best in Show twice, told the crowd before announcing the winner. Judges, looking for each breed's ideal standard, examine the dogs' mouths and place their hands over the animals' bodies, checking for muscle tone before watching the dogs run through their paces.  Dobermans, which have a reputation as police dogs, have now won the top prize five times. The breed was developed for protection in the late 19th century by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, a German tax collector. It was later used in police and military service, notably by the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific theater of World War Two.  (Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Michael Perry)

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By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Apple TV will debut “Matchbox The Movie” in October, betting that Mattel’s classic car toys — tiny enough to slip into matchboxes — can spark a fresh franchise in a thriller about a framed soldier racing to clear his name. Apple TV said at a press day event on Tuesday that it will begin streaming the film globally on October 9, based on the famous miniature car brand launched in the early 1950s. John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris and Arturo Castro star in the film and discussed the legacy of the palm-sized cars and why it remains timely for the 2026 action-adventure flick. Parris said they relished tapping into childhood memories of the palm‑sized die-cast collectors' items while Richardson, an avid Matchbox collector, joked he wished he could have kept the life-size cars used on set.  The film follows Sean, played by Cena, a former soldier who is kidnapped and framed after completing a mission and reuniting with his friends. The group must clear their names and navigate the bonds of their friendship. The movie, directed by stuntman Sam Hargrave, is a collaboration between Mattel and Skydance Media.  PUSH FOR MATTEL-BRAND ENTERTAINMENT Mattel is pushing deeper into brand‑driven entertainment. Its other upcoming toy-inspired films include the animated "Bob the Builder" movie and a live-action "Masters of the Universe: Chronicles" film, based on the He-Man action figure and arriving in theaters on June 5, 2026.  Apple TV’s 2026 release aims to build on its post-“Barbie” momentum as Hollywood hunts for familiar IP with global pull. Barbie dolls and accessories are Mattel's biggest brand. The toy company's portfolio also includes Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Masters of the Universe, Polly Pocket and UNO.  In 2025, Mattel combined its film and television units to form Mattel Studios in a move to produce entertainment driven by its brands and potentially repeat the commercial success of the 2023 "Barbie" movie.  Apple TV's press day also included first-look previews of various shows, including the Emmy-nominated TV series "Shrinking," and the upcoming shows "Lucky," "Imperfect Women" and "The Dink." (Reporting by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Howard Goller)

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By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Apple TV will debut “Matchbox The Movie” in October, betting that Mattel’s working‑class car toys — tiny enough to slip into matchboxes — can spark a fresh franchise in a thriller about a framed soldier racing to clear his name. Apple TV said at a press day event on Tuesday that it will begin streaming the film globally on October 9, based on the famous miniature car brand launched in the early 1950s. John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris and Arturo Castro star in the film. The film follows Sean, played by Cena, a former soldier who is kidnapped and framed after completing a mission and reuniting with his friends. The group must clear their names and navigate the bonds of their friendship. The movie, directed by stuntman Sam Hargrave, is a collaboration between Mattel and Skydance Media.  PUSH FOR MATTEL-BRAND ENTERTAINMENT Mattel is pushing deeper into brand‑driven entertainment. Its other upcoming toy-inspired films include the animated "Bob the Builder" movie and a live-action "Masters of the Universe: Chronicles" film, based on the He-Man action figure and arriving in theaters on June 5, 2026.  Apple TV’s 2026 release aims to build on its post-“Barbie” momentum as Hollywood hunts for familiar IP with global pull. Barbie dolls and accessories are Mattel's biggest brand. The toy company's portfolio also includes Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Masters of the Universe, Polly Pocket and UNO.  In 2025, Mattel combined its film and television units to form Mattel Studios in a move to produce entertainment driven by its brands and potentially repeat the commercial success of the 2023 "Barbie" movie.  Apple TV's press day also included first-look previews of various shows, including "Lucky," "Imperfect Women" and "The Dink." (Reporting by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Howard Goller)

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By Jody Godoy Feb 3 (Reuters) – U.S. senators grilled Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos on Tuesday at a hearing over how his company's proposed $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery will affect competition across the entertainment industry. U.S. Senator Mike Lee led the hearing in which Sarandos and Bruce Campbell, Warner Bros' chief strategy officer, testified. While the Senate cannot itself prohibit the deal, the lawmakers demanded details on how the transaction would affect consumers, workers and competitors. Lee, a Republican from Utah who leads the antitrust subcommittee, said the deal could decrease competition among streaming platforms and provide writers, actors and other entertainment workers fewer jobs. It could also put Netflix in a position to divert movies away from theaters and lessen rivals' access to Warner Bros' blockbuster content, he said.  "Netflix seeks to become the one platform to rule them all," Lee said.   WARNER BROS COVETED FOR STUDIOS, FRANCHISES The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing the transaction, along with a competing, hostile bid from Paramount Skydance.  Netflix and Paramount Skydance covet Warner Bros for its leading film and television studios, extensive content library and franchises such as "Game of Thrones," "Harry Potter" and DC Comics' superheroes Batman and Superman. Paramount has argued it will have an easier regulatory path to approval. But Warner Bros has repeatedly rejected offers from Paramount, which would wind up deep in debt to finance the transaction. Paramount's CEO is David Ellison, whose father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has cultivated a close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. Lawmakers from both major U.S. political parties have voiced concerns that the deal will reduce competition in the streaming market. Cory Booker, the ranking Democrat on the panel, pressed Sarandos about the role Trump would play in reviewing the deal. Trump said shortly after the deal was announced that he would be involved. "I don't know if he's involved or not," Sarandos said. Netflix has pointed to statistics by media analysis firm Nielsen that say Google's YouTube accounts for more viewing time on U.S. televisions than other streaming services, but experts say the DOJ is likely to analyze how the deal affects competition in a more specific market, such as streaming platforms that charge a monthly subscription.  Lee questioned Sarandos over the difference between the professionally produced movies and shows on Netflix and the ad-supported content featured on YouTube.  Sarandos said at the hearing that there is no publicly available breakdown of what people watch on YouTube, but that capturing U.S. television viewing is a "zero-sum game." "If you're watching YouTube, HBO Max, you're not watching Netflix, you're not watching CBS," he said.   (Reporting by Jody Godoy in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis, Rod Nickel)

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By Lori Ewing MILAN, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate said he will be allowed to use music from the "Minions" film franchise when he competes in the men's short programme after Universal Studios reversed its earlier objection. Guarino Sabate had revealed on Monday that a copyright clearance issue would prevent him from using the music at the Olympics despite performing with it throughout the season. "Huge thank you to everyone who reposted, shared, and supported," he wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. "Because of you, Universal Studios reconsidered and officially granted the rights for this one special occasion. "There are still a couple of things to be tied up with the other two music of the program, but we are so close to accomplishing it! And it's all thanks to you." The programme's music is a montage of four different songs, including "Vicious Funk" by Heitor Pereira and "Freedom" by Pharrell Williams. The Spaniard had said he followed all required procedures and submitted the music through the ISU ClicknClear system in August, and only learned about the copyright clearance issue on Friday. Guarino Sabate dresses in a yellow t-shirt and blue overalls for his performance to resemble the popular animated characters. The "Minions" franchise is owned by Illumination, which is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures.     The 26-year-old said he chose the music to bring joy and a playful style to the ice and show that "skating as a male Olympic figure skater can be fun".   "I'm so happy to see that the Minions hitting Olympic ice is becoming real again!!" he posted on Tuesday. "I'll keep you posted!" The International Skating Union said copyright clearances can represent a challenge for all artistic sports. "While the ISU does not have a contractual relationship with ClicknClear, we continue to work collaboratively with rights clearance stakeholders to ensure that thrilling performances can be accompanied by stirring music," the ISU said in a statement on Monday. (Reporting by Lori Ewing; Additional reporting by Rory Carroll, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

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By Miranda Murray BERLIN, Feb 3 (Reuters) – German voice actors have launched a grassroots boycott against Netflix over a contract clause that allows the streaming platform to use their recordings for AI training, a spokesperson for the VDS voice actors' association told Reuters. Netflix's global footprint has increased demand for dubbed content, with international hits such as South Korea's "Squid Game" and Spain's "Money Heist" attracting audiences far beyond their home markets. But voice actors, like many in the entertainment industry, are increasingly wary of artificial intelligence upending their livelihood and raising fresh copyright concerns. SUBTITLES AN ALTERNATIVE Netflix has sent a letter to German voice actors saying their concerns stem from a misunderstanding of how the U.S. company intends to use the recordings and invited the VDS to an informal discussion, the association's chairperson, Anna-Sophia Lumpe, said on Tuesday. "They also end the letter with the promise that if people continue to boycott working for them, that content will be shown with German subtitles in Germany," instead of dubbing, she said. She did not have exact figures on the size of the boycott but said "our efforts and the efforts of the voice actors are generating a response". A Netflix spokesperson confirmed that the letter exists and said the company is taking the concerns seriously. NEW CONTRACT CLAUSE According to the VDS, which represents around 600 members, Netflix's new contracts, introduced at the start of the year, state that recordings may be used to train AI systems, without specifying whether compensation would be provided. The clause sparked a sharp backlash, with a large majority of voice actors refusing to agree to the terms, Lumpe said. The association has commissioned a law firm to examine the contract in relation to data privacy, copyright law and the EU AI Act. The contracts are based on an agreement Netflix reached with the BFFS actors' union in June which requires explicit written consent for the use of any AI-generated digital voice replica. However, the BFFS said it intentionally left out rules on remuneration for AI-related uses for now. "This is because there are currently no reference points for appropriate basic remuneration," the union said on its website, adding it wanted "to avoid any unfavourable predetermination at all costs". (Reporting by Miranda Murray; Editing by Jan Harvey)

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By Aditya Soni Feb 3 (Reuters) – Walt Disney on Tuesday named theme parks head Josh D'Amaro as CEO, ending years of succession uncertainty and placing a longtime insider at the helm as artificial intelligence and a wave of consolidation upend the media industry. D'Amaro, 54, will take the reins from Bob Iger, 74, at the company's annual investor meeting on March 18. Iger, credited with shaping the modern Disney through deals for Pixar, Marvel and 21st Century Fox, will stay on as a senior adviser and board member until his retirement from the company on December 31. Disney also named entertainment co-chief Dana Walden, a creative executive in the mold of Iger with a string of commercial and critical hits and strong talent ties, as chief content officer and president. Walden was among the internal candidates for the CEO role along with entertainment co-chief Alan Bergman and ESPN head Jimmy Pitaro. Succession has long been the storied entertainment giant's weakness – it delayed Iger's retirement several times and brought him back in 2022 to replace his handpicked successor, Bob Chapek, after the pandemic hobbled its business. To avoid another misstep, Disney in 2024 named Morgan Stanley veteran James Gorman as its chairman to oversee the CEO search. Gorman, who led a smooth transition at the Wall Street bank, joined after the House of Mickey Mouse extended Iger's tenure for a fifth time through 2026. The search committee evaluated 100 external candidates in addition to internal contenders. Gorman said the committee considered the candidates' vision for the company, their understanding of the Disney brand, their creative chops, and their embrace of technological innovation – particularly artificial intelligence. "There's so much that he's done creatively, and storytelling, and such a deep understanding of the brand and where the industry is going," said Gorman. "I thought it was a fabulous choice." With D'Amaro, Disney is turning to a nearly three-decade company veteran who runs its biggest profit engine – the experiences unit that includes theme parks and cruises and whose sales have grown every year after the pandemic receded in 2021. Last fiscal year, the division turned a record operating profit of nearly $10 billion, making up nearly 60% of the company's earnings. D'Amaro is leading the company's push into the Middle East with a theme park in the United Arab Emirates' capital, Abu Dhabi, that would mark its first major new park in nearly a decade.  CHALLENGES FACING NEW CEO But a decline in international visitors to the U.S. is weighing on the parks business, with Disney shares falling more than 7% on Monday after the company flagged the "headwind" even as its overall sales and profit exceeded expectations. Disney shares were down 0.8% in early trading on Tuesday. While D'Amaro is a familiar face for visitors to Walt Disney World in Florida, analysts have said he is little known in Hollywood. That could pose a challenge as he confronts an entertainment industry that generative AI tools threaten to reshape by automating writing, editing and visual effects.  The timing is particularly high-stakes as the announcement comes just months before the industry's major guild contracts – including those for writers and actors – expire in May and June, setting the stage for a new round of labor negotiations. A breakdown in talks, partially over the use of AI, had led to dual strikes in 2023 by the unions that hobbled much of Hollywood production and cost around $6 billion in lost output. Disney is especially under scrutiny after it agreed late last year to let OpenAI use characters from its Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel franchises in the startup's Sora AI video generator. It has also agreed to invest $1 billion in the startup.    Chapek, another parks veteran turned CEO, had struggled with talent relations and bungled a dispute with Scarlett Johansson over the simultaneous streaming and theatrical release of "Black Widow," which resulted in a lawsuit and eventual settlement.   "These are big boots to fill. Disney can ill afford another messy handover," PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore said. "Ultimately, the key to Disney's success and future growth lies in content creation, which drives the flywheel across theatrical releases, experiences, licensing and streaming." Competition is also heating up as Netflix and Paramount try to bulk up by buying Warner Bros assets, with either combination expected to result in a major streaming and studio rival. D'Amaro will also have to navigate political pressure from the Trump administration. In September, the company pulled "Jimmy Kimmel Live" after the host's remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk drew a threat from the communications regulator. It quickly reinstated the late-night show following backlash over the decision. President Donald Trump said in November that licenses used by affiliates of Disney-owned ABC should be "taken away" after a reporter for the network questioned him about the Jeffrey Epstein political scandal.  Disney has set D'Amaro's annual base salary at $2.5 million, and he will receive a long-term incentive award with a target value of $26.3 million each fiscal year.      (Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Harshita Varghese and Dawn Chmielewski; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Anil D'Silva and Chris Reese)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Aditya Soni Feb 3 (Reuters) – Walt Disney on Tuesday named theme parks head Josh D'Amaro as CEO, ending years of succession uncertainty and placing a longtime insider at the helm as artificial intelligence and a wave of consolidation upend the media industry. D'Amaro, 54, will take the reins from Bob Iger, 74, at the company's annual investor meeting on March 18. Iger, credited with shaping the modern Disney through deals for Pixar, Marvel and 21st Century Fox, will stay on as a senior adviser and board member until his retirement from the company on December 31. Disney also named entertainment co-chief Dana Walden, a creative executive in the mold of Iger with a string of commercial and critical hits and strong talent ties, as chief content officer and president. Walden was among the internal candidates for the CEO role along with entertainment co-chief Alan Bergman and ESPN head Jimmy Pitaro. Succession has long been the storied entertainment giant's weakness – it delayed Iger's retirement several times and brought him back in 2022 to replace his handpicked successor, Bob Chapek, after the pandemic hobbled its business. To avoid another misstep, Disney in 2024 named Morgan Stanley veteran James Gorman as its chairman to oversee the CEO search. Gorman, who led a smooth transition at the Wall Street bank, joined after the House of Mickey Mouse extended Iger's tenure for a fifth time through 2026. The search committee evaluated 100 external candidates in addition to internal contenders. Gorman said the committee considered the candidates' vision for the company, their understanding of the Disney brand, their creative chops, and their embrace of technological innovation – particularly artificial intelligence. "There's so much that he's done creatively, and storytelling, and such a deep understanding of the brand and where the industry is going," said Gorman. "I thought it was a fabulous choice." With D'Amaro, Disney is turning to a nearly three-decade company veteran who runs its biggest profit engine – the experiences unit that includes theme parks and cruises and whose sales have grown every year after the pandemic receded in 2021. Last fiscal year, the division turned a record operating profit of nearly $10 billion, making up nearly 60% of the company's earnings. D'Amaro is leading the company's push into the Middle East with a theme park in the United Arab Emirates' capital, Abu Dhabi, that would mark its first major new park in nearly a decade.  CHALLENGES FACING NEW CEO But a decline in international visitors to the U.S. is weighing on the parks business, with Disney shares falling more than 7% on Monday after the company flagged the "headwind" even as its overall sales and profit exceeded expectations. Disney shares were down 0.8% in early trading on Tuesday. While D'Amaro is a familiar face for visitors to Walt Disney World in Florida, analysts have said he is little known in Hollywood. That could pose a challenge as he confronts an entertainment industry that generative AI tools threaten to reshape by automating writing, editing and visual effects.  The timing is particularly high-stakes as the announcement comes just months before the industry's major guild contracts – including those for writers and actors – expire in May and June, setting the stage for a new round of labor negotiations. A breakdown in talks, partially over the use of AI, had led to dual strikes in 2023 by the unions that hobbled much of Hollywood production and cost around $6 billion in lost output. Disney is especially under scrutiny after it agreed late last year to let OpenAI use characters from its Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel franchises in the startup's Sora AI video generator. It has also agreed to invest $1 billion in the startup.    Chapek, another parks veteran turned CEO, had struggled with talent relations and bungled a dispute with Scarlett Johansson over the simultaneous streaming and theatrical release of "Black Widow," which resulted in a lawsuit and eventual settlement.   "These are big boots to fill. Disney can ill afford another messy handover," PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore said. "Ultimately, the key to Disney's success and future growth lies in content creation, which drives the flywheel across theatrical releases, experiences, licensing and streaming." Competition is also heating up as Netflix and Paramount try to bulk up by buying Warner Bros assets, with either combination expected to result in a major streaming and studio rival. D'Amaro will also have to navigate political pressure from the Trump administration. In September, the company pulled "Jimmy Kimmel Live" after the host's remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk drew a threat from the communications regulator. It quickly reinstated the late-night show following backlash over the decision. President Donald Trump said in November that licenses used by affiliates of Disney-owned ABC should be "taken away" after a reporter for the network questioned him about the Jeffrey Epstein political scandal.  Disney has set D'Amaro's annual base salary at $2.5 million, and he will receive a long-term incentive award with a target value of $26.3 million each fiscal year.      (Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Harshita Varghese and Dawn Chmielewski; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Anil D'Silva and Chris Reese)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Aditya Soni Feb 3 (Reuters) – Walt Disney on Tuesday named theme parks head Josh D'Amaro as CEO, ending years of succession uncertainty and placing a longtime insider at the helm as artificial intelligence and a wave of consolidation upend the media industry. D'Amaro, 54, will take the reins from Bob Iger, 74, at the company's annual investor meeting on March 18. Iger, credited with shaping the modern Disney through deals for Pixar, Marvel and 21st Century Fox, will stay on as a senior adviser and board member until his retirement from the company on December 31. Disney also named entertainment co-chief Dana Walden, a creative executive in the mold of Iger with a string of commercial and critical hits and strong talent ties, as chief content officer and president. Walden was among the internal candidates for the CEO role along with entertainment co-chief Alan Bergman and ESPN head Jimmy Pitaro. Succession has long been the storied entertainment giant's weakness – it delayed Iger's retirement several times and brought him back in 2022 to replace his handpicked successor, Bob Chapek, after the pandemic hobbled its business. To avoid another misstep, Disney in 2024 named Morgan Stanley veteran James Gorman as its chairman to oversee the CEO search. Gorman, who led a smooth transition at the Wall Street bank, joined after the House of Mouse extended Iger's tenure for a fifth time through 2026. The search committee evaluated 100 external candidates in addition to internal contenders. Gorman said the committee considered the candidates' vision for the company, their understanding of the Disney brand, their creative chops, and their embrace of technological innovation – particularly artificial intelligence. "There's so much that he's done creatively, and storytelling, and such a deep understanding of the brand and where the industry is going," said Gorman. "I thought it was a fabulous choice." With D'Amaro, Disney is turning to a nearly three-decade company veteran who runs its biggest profit engine – the experiences unit that includes theme parks and cruises and whose sales have grown every year after the pandemic receded in 2021. Last fiscal year, the division turned a record operating profit of nearly $10 billion, making up nearly 60% of the company's earnings. Disney shares were down 0.7% on Tuesday.  D'Amaro is leading the company's push into the Middle East with a theme park in the United Arab Emirates' capital, Abu Dhabi, that would mark its first major new park in nearly a decade.  CHALLENGES FACING NEW CEO But a decline in international visitors to the U.S. is weighing on the parks business, with Disney shares falling more than 7% on Monday after the company flagged the "headwind" even as its overall sales and profit exceeded expectations. While D'Amaro is a familiar face for visitors to Walt Disney World in Florida, analysts have said he is little known in Hollywood. That could pose a challenge as he confronts an entertainment industry that generative AI tools threaten to reshape by automating writing, editing and visual effects.  The timing is particularly high-stakes as the announcement comes just months before the industry's major guild contracts – including those for writers and actors – expire in May and June, setting the stage for a new round of labor negotiations. A breakdown in talks, partially over the use of AI, had led to dual strikes in 2023 by the unions that hobbled much of Hollywood production and cost around $6 billion in lost output. Disney is especially under scrutiny after it agreed late last year to let OpenAI use characters from its Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel franchises in the startup's Sora AI video generator. It has also agreed to invest $1 billion in the startup.    Chapek, another parks veteran turned CEO, had struggled with talent relations and bungled a dispute with Scarlett Johansson over the simultaneous streaming and theatrical release of "Black Widow," which resulted in a lawsuit and eventual settlement.   "These are big boots to fill. Disney can ill afford another messy handover," PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore said. "Ultimately, the key to Disney's success and future growth lies in content creation, which drives the flywheel across theatrical releases, experiences, licensing and streaming." Competition is also heating up as Netflix and Paramount try to bulk up by buying Warner Bros assets, with either combination expected to result in a major streaming and studio rival. D'Amaro will also have to navigate political pressure from the Trump administration. In September, the company pulled "Jimmy Kimmel Live" after the host's remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk drew a threat from the communications regulator. It quickly reinstated the late-night show following backlash over the decision. President Donald Trump said in November that licenses used by affiliates of Disney-owned ABC should be "taken away" after a reporter for the network questioned him about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.  Disney has set D'Amaro's annual base salary at $2.5 million, and he will receive a long-term incentive award with a target value of $26.3 million each fiscal year.  Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner lauded the choice of Iger's successor, and the decision to elevate Walden, in a post on the social media platform X. "My advice to Josh is continue Bob Iger’s strategy that creativity will handle profits, always protect the brand," wrote Eisner. "And keep close the words of Walt Disney: 'We love to entertain kings and queens, but the vital thing to remember is this—every guest receives the VIP treatment.'" (Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Harshita Varghese and Dawn Chmielewski; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Anil D'Silva, Chris Reese and Nick Zieminski)

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