Part 6/11:
The Reality of Content and Streaming Spending
The notion that Chapek significantly "blew up" Disney’s streaming strategy is simplistic. The heavy investments in Disney+ happened during Iger’s leadership, with many shows and movies greenlit years before Chapek’s tenure. These investments weren’t a reaction to Chapek but part of Iger’s strategy to compete with Netflix—a move largely driven by Wall Street’s enthusiasm for subscription growth. Unfortunately, the streaming expansion was built on a foundation that proved unsustainable, as subscriber growth slowed and profitability remained elusive.