What Plan Does This Disney Co-Chairman Have for New Kids’ Programming?

Published: March 7, 2025

What Plan Does This Disney Co-Chairman Have for New Kids’ Programming?

Movieguide® Contributor

Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment at Walt Disney Co., plans to reach more kids on the platforms where they consume the most content, like YouTube.

“They’re clearly on YouTube,” Walden said recently. “And we have a meaningful and great partnership with YouTube. We produce thousands of videos based on our series specifically for YouTube.”

“Disney Junior, I think, has 22 million subscribers. We do that because we know that’s where kids like to consume content,” she continued. “Along with Disney+, we want to keep them engaged. We want to keep incubating IP on a platform that’s important to creators and kids.”

Disney Jr. has nearly 23 million subscribers, Disney Kids has 13.2 million, and Disney Channel (on YouTube) has 10.2 million.

Behind the scenes, Disney is tweaking technology so that kids can interact with videos in a more engaging way.

“The work we’re doing now, although I have nothing specific to announce on the technology side, are features that will specifically address how kids are interacting with content right now in a very contemporary way… looking holistically at that kids audience, we know we have the stories that they love,” Walden said.

The company is also launching a handful of new kids’ content on Disney+, including ALEXANDER AND THE NO GOOD, VERY BAD ROAD TRIP, ROBOGOBO, STUGO, and THE DOOMIES.

In general, Disney is working on expanding its international library, targeting various demographics.

Disney+ “is still a very young platform,” Walden said. “We’re working on our local originals so that we have content around the world that is relevant to local subscribers, along with our big global hits. Our company is producing and releasing in streaming a huge number of hits that travel around the world.”

“Creating a pipeline of content takes some time, but the great news is, in each of the regions, we found bonafide hits,” she said. “… We’re doing local for local, and then local for regional, and then global for the whole world.”