Disney Aims for Unified Consumer Relationship in 2027

Walt Disney's Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston shared the company's priorities for 2027 during a Goldman Sachs conference appearance. The main goals are to continue investing in intellectual property, embracing technology to support product creation and monetization, and building a unified relationship with consumers through a 'one Disney' model.

Disney+ will be a key part of this strategy, serving as both a streaming service and an integrated ecosystem for fans. In the spring of 2027, the company plans to provide more details on how it will incorporate consumer products, parks and cruises, talent and IP interactions, and potentially gaming into the platform.

The goal is to increase user frequency, which supports retention and lowers subscriber churn. Disney has already made progress integrating Hulu and Disney+ profiles into a 'one fan, one account' ecosystem, and it's planning additional product developments such as live television within the app, deeper integration of Hulu add-ons and bundles, enhanced recommendation technology, and a cleaner user interface.

Disney is also exploring a partnership with TikTok to attract younger, more interactive consumers to its platform. This collaboration could offer a top-of-funnel opportunity, support a creator ambassador program, and help Disney expand its presence in vertical mobile video.