Walden: Jimmy Kimmel's Future at ABC to be Determined by May 2027
Disney president Dana Walden is working on securing Jimmy Kimmel's return to ABC in 2027, after his contract expires. The late-night show has seen increased ratings but a smaller audience compared to its competitors.
'It's a very challenging daypart,' Walden said during an interview at Bloomberg's Screentime. 'That's not to say that Jimmy is not doing a phenomenal job.' Kimmel's ratings are up, but they're relative to a smaller audience watching late-night on broadcast television.
Walden also discussed the poor box office performance of the live-action 'Moana' film, which she attributed to its proximity to the animated 'Moana 2'. The original 2016 'Moana' earned $643 million worldwide, but the live-action version only managed $323 million despite a production budget of $250 million.
Walden emphasized that Disney's focus is on delivering high-quality content that endures and creates value through channels beyond box office revenues, such as theme park attractions and streaming. She also addressed recent layoffs at the company, stating that they were part of a voluntary retirement program aimed at evolving with the changing industry.