Trump vs Kimmel: inside Disney chief Josh D’Amaro’s baptism of fire

{"text":[[{"start":10.6,"text":"Walt Disney’s chief executive Josh D’Amaro is facing an early test of his leadership, as a clash with Donald Trump threatens to drag the company deeper into political turmoil."}],[{"start":21.299999999999997,"text":"Senior executives are trying to contain the fallout from an unprecedented regulatory order to review Disney’s broadcast licences. Inside Disney, the step is seen as unlikely to succeed legally, but it is deeply uncomfortable for one of the world’s most carefully managed brands."}],[{"start":38.3,"text":"The feud erupted this week when first lady Melania Trump urged Disney to fire Jimmy Kimmel, a host on its ABC television channel, after he joked she was an “expectant widow” days before an assassination attempt on the US president."}],[{"start":52.8,"text":"The dispute escalated on Tuesday when the Federal Communications Commission ordered Disney’s TV stations to apply for early licence renewal — a sweeping and highly unusual step that could threaten their right to operate, according to experts."}],[{"start":67.35,"text":"Publicly, Disney has signalled it will contest the FCC’s move, saying it was “confident” in its compliance record and prepared to defend its licences “through the appropriate legal channels”."}],[{"start":78.8,"text":"The fracas shines a spotlight on D’Amaro, six weeks into his job as Disney’s boss, one of corporate America’s most high-profile positions. "}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":88.35,"text":"It comes amid a broader confrontation between Trump and the media that has intensified in his second term, as attacks on “fake news” have given way to lawsuits against news organisations and an increasingly aggressive use of regulatory power, including through the FCC. "}],[{"start":104.39999999999999,"text":"Democratic FCC commissioner Anna Gomez, who has previously criticised the commission’s chair Brendan Carr, called this week’s move against Disney “the most egregious action this FCC has taken in violation of the First Amendment to date”."}],[{"start":119.6,"text":"People familiar with Disney’s leadership said D’Amaro was unlikely to take a knee-jerk approach, and would instead rely on senior executives including Dana Walden, the group’s president and chief creative officer, who has a longstanding relationship with Kimmel. One person described the chief executive as a “calm head”, more inclined to manage the situation through internal discussions than public confrontation. "}],[{"start":142.75,"text":"Another Disney insider said D’Amaro has a “high EQ” and a strong grasp of the company’s culture. “There’s no question this is causing them angst and misery,” the person said. “No matter what you do, half the country will think you’re horrible. No one is deft enough to get past that — [not] even Bob Iger.”"}],[{"start":162.65,"text":"A Disney veteran of almost three decades, D’Amaro has managed crises ranging from a fatal alligator attack at one of its resorts to the pandemic-era shutdown of its global theme parks. But he has not previously faced direct attacks from a US president whose criticism of media companies has often turned personal."}],[{"start":182.95000000000002,"text":"While Disney’s networks such as ABC are still profitable, its strategic focus has shifted away from traditional television. But the broader challenge for the company is that moments like this are no-win: any action risks alienating parts of the company’s audience, employees or creative talent."}],[{"start":200.95000000000002,"text":"Trump has long been a target of late-night comedians. Kimmel has been among his most persistent critics, including in high-profile appearances such as hosting the Oscars."}],[{"start":209.75000000000003,"text":"When Kimmel sparred with Trump last year, Disney briefly took the host off air, prompting protests from Hollywood figures, unions, staff and even some Republican politicians."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":221.00000000000003,"text":"The legal threat to Disney’s broadcast licences is seen as remote. But the dispute places the company’s global presence — from cruise ships and theme parks to blockbuster films, collectible toys and network news — in an increasingly fraught political position."}],[{"start":236.55000000000004,"text":"James Gorman, Disney’s board chair, on Tuesday told a conference that D’Amaro is “world class” and would “rise to the occasion and do what the right thing is” in response to Trump’s calls to fire Kimmel, adding that the chief executive would work with the board."}],[{"start":253.65000000000003,"text":"Legal experts said the likelihood of the FCC ultimately stripping Disney of its broadcast licences was minimal, given the high bar required under US law and strong First Amendment protections. The agency has not revoked a major broadcast licence since the civil rights era."}],[{"start":271.40000000000003,"text":"Congress in the 1990s shifted the rules to “create an expectation that licences would be renewed in the absence of serious misconduct”, said James Speta, a law professor at Northwestern University, adding it would be “very difficult” for the FCC to prevail in court."}],[{"start":288.50000000000006,"text":"Even a move to deny renewal would trigger a protracted legal process — including hearings and appeals — that could take years to resolve."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":297.6000000000001,"text":"For some investors, the clash highlights a more fundamental question: why Disney remains in a legacy television business that is both politically exposed and structurally in decline. Some analysts view ABC as peripheral to the company’s core growth engines. Iger in 2023 said these television channels “may not be core” to the business, but no sale was consummated. "}],[{"start":320.1000000000001,"text":"Shares in Disney have dropped 7 per cent this year, while the broader S&P 500 index has gained 5 per cent. The shares were little moved by the dispute with Trump."}],[{"start":332.1000000000001,"text":"“It’s a very stark signal . . . why is Disney even in the TV business?” said Rich Greenfield of Lightshed. “Even leaving this aside, how does owning ABC help Disney? . . . It all looks like a distraction for Josh D’Amaro.”"}],[{"start":348.05000000000007,"text":"D’Amaro is due to lead his first earnings call as chief executive next week, a moment investors will be watching closely."}],[{"start":355.6000000000001,"text":"Trump has showed no signs of relenting. “When is ABC Fake News Network firing seriously unfunny Jimmy Kimmel,” the US president posted on Thursday. “People are angry. It better be soon!!!”. "}],[{"start":377.20000000000005,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1777615967_1407.mp3"}