The top Disney Competitors are Time Warner Inc.,Fox, Paramount Global, Comcast, Sony, AMC Network, Lionsgate and others. Disney is an American entertainment company that was founded in the year 1923 and has its headquarters in California. After inception, the company grew to be the best in the animation industry but later diversified to theme parks, live-action films, online media, music, theater, radio, publishing et cetera.
Disney made its name through Walt Disney Studios which is currently the best and largest studio in US Cinema. Its other divisions include Disney Media Networks, Interactive media, Disney resorts/parks and Consumer products. Additionally, it operates the ABC TV network, Cable TV channels e.g. ESPN, Disney channel et cetera; it also does publishing and manages around 14 theme parks globally.
With a market capitalization of $146.19 Billion as of September 2023, the sales value of $ 22,330 million (as of July 2023) and more than 220,000 employees around the world, Disney is a global entertainment conglomerate that competes for market share with the following companies.
Table of Contents
Top Disney Competitors in Entertainment
1) Time Warner Inc.
Curious about how Disney is expanding its global reach in 2023?
Updated Industry Insight: In September 2023, Disney unveiled plans to invest $60 billion over the next ten years to enhance and expand its Parks, Experiences and Products division. This significant investment is set to nearly double the capital expenditure compared to the past decade, aiming to introduce new attractions and experiences that will attract more visitors worldwide. Source: The Walt Disney Company Investor Announcement, September 2023.
Quick Statistic: As of Q3 2023, Disney’s combined streaming platforms—Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+—have amassed over 219 million subscribers globally, closely approaching Netflix’s 238 million subscribers. This growth highlights Disney’s aggressive push in the streaming market to compete with industry leaders. Source: The Walt Disney Company Q3 2023 Earnings Report.
- Product Type: Media and entertainment.
- Industry: Media and entertainment.
- Founded: 1989.
- Founders: Steve Ross, Gerald Levin, and Time Inc. and Warner Communications.
- Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Jason Kilar.
- Revenue: $10.358B (June 30, 2023)
- Market cap: $29.91B (August 25, 2023)
- Number of employees: 37,500 (2022)
This is an entertainment company that engages in publishing services, provision of filmed entertainment and cable network. Time Warner Inc. operates through Home Box office, Warner Bros, and Turner segments. The Warner Bros section manufactures and ensures timely distribution of feature films, TV shows, and video games. Consequently, Turner segment is comprised of digital media and cable networks while the Home Box office controls businesses under the Home Box Office Inc.
In 2018, Time Warner Inc. became a subsidiary of AT&T and was renamed WarnerMedia. The company spun off several former divisions in magazines, hardcover books, comic books, recorded music, and online services, including AOL, Time Warner Cable, and Warner Books, as independent companies or sold to investors in the early 21st century.
Time Warner Inc. was founded in the USA in the year 1985 with its headquarters in New York. As of August 25, 2023, it has a market Capitalization of $29.91 billion and more than 37,000 employees globally. In the same year, total sales exceeded $10.35 billion. Warner Bros Discovery net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $-1.240B. Warner Bros Discovery gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $3.722B.
In the USA, Time Warner is among the top 100 companies in terms of sales, generated profits, overall assets and Market value
2) Fox
- Product Type: Media and entertainment.
- Industry: Media and entertainment.
- Founded: 1941.
- Founder: Rupert Murdoch.
- Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Lachlan Murdoch.
- Revenue: $3.032B (June 30, 2023)
- Market cap: $14.75B (August 25, 2023)
- Number of employees: 10,400 (2023)
With a Market capitalization of $14.75 billion, Fox makes the cut for the top 100 most valuable brands in the world and is definitely one of the top Disney Competitors. Having been founded in the year 1986 in the United States, the company made $3.03 billion in sales in the year 2023. Its headquarters is in California USA.
Fox net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $0.375B. Fox gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $1.254B.
Fox is part of the Twenty-First Century Fox group and its cable is connected to more than 90 million homes in the USA alone. For the last 15 years, it has been the most dominant news channel and tops other channels like ESPN and NBC. In 2007 its brand was extended to business news and in 2013 to Fox Sport.
3) Paramount Global
- Product Type: Media and entertainment.
- Industry: Media and entertainment.
- Founded: December 4, 2019
- Headquarters: New York City, United States.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Bob Bakish
- Revenue: $7.616B (June 30, 2023)
- Market cap: $9.4B (August 25, 2023)
- Number of employees: 24,500 (2022)
Paramount Global is a mass media and entertainment conglomerate that creates and distributes content across various platforms worldwide. It was formed in 2019 through the merger of Viacom and CBS and is a subsidiary of National Amusements, Inc. The company’s primary holdings are in film and television, including streaming services. Paramount Global is headquartered in New York City.
Paramount Global’s brands include CBS, BET, Comedy Central, Paramount+, Pluto TV, MTV, Paramount Pictures, Showtime Network, Smithsonian Channel, and Nickelodeon. Viacom18 is an Indian media company that was founded in 2007 as a joint venture between Network18 Group, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, and Paramount Global. The company owns various channels and content production studios in India. Viacom18 is a significant player in the Indian media and entertainment industry, with a diverse portfolio of brands and content.
Paramount Global net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $-0.299B. Paramount Global gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $2.389B. Paramount Global operating income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $-0.250B.
4) Comcast
- Product Type: Media and entertainment.
- Industry: Media and entertainment.
- Founded: 1963.
- Founders: Ralph J. Roberts, Julian Brodsky, and Daniel Aaron.
- Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Brian Roberts.
- Revenue: $30.513B (June 30, 2023)
- Market cap: $187.57B (August 25, 2023)
- Number of employees: 186,000 (2022)
As of August 2023, Comcast has a market capitalization of $187.5 billion, more than 186, 000 employees and over $30.5 billion in sales.
Founded in the year 1963 in the broadcasting and cable industry, Comcast has its headquarters in Pennsylvania, USA. The corporation is the largest American multinational telecommunications and media conglomerate and the second-largest broadcasting and cable television company in the world by revenue. Comcast is also the largest pay-TV company, the largest cable TV company, and largest home Internet service provider in the United States. The company is split into two businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal, and has five segments in total. Comcast’s digital cable television subscription offers customers hundreds of channels, on-demand options, high-definition, and more.
Comcast net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $4.248B. Comcast gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $12.347B.
As a communication company, Comcast also provides phone services and internet to both businesses and residential properties. Its operational efficiency is ensured through segment divisions. I.e. Cable Communications for high-speed internet; video and voice services to businesses and residents, Cable Networks for Cable TV Networks and related digital media content, Broadcast Television for Telemundo and NBC, Filmed entertainment for production, marketing, and distribution of content with the Theme Parks segment ensuring Comcast themes
5) Sony
- Product Type: Consumer electronics
- Industry: Media and entertainment.
- Founded: 1946.
- Founders: Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka.
- Headquarters: Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Kenichiro Yoshida.
- Revenue: $4.957B (June 30, 2023)
- Market cap: $100.08B (August 25, 2023)
- Number of employees: 113,000 (2023)
Sony Corporation manufactures and sells entertainment equipment and instruments, electronics, devices, software for different markets, game consoles and computers among other products. With its headquarters in Tokyo Japan, Sony was founded in the year 1946. As of August 25, 2023, its market Capitalization was $100.08B and around $4.957B revenue. Its employees are approximately 113,000.
Sony net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $1.588B. Sony gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $-6.901B. Sony operating income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $-14.652B. Sony total assets for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 were $239.878B.
To stay afloat in the competitive world of entertainment, Sony Corporation Inc. operates in segments i.e. Mobile Communications, Sound and Home Entertainment, Financial Services, Imaging and Music among others. Because of its intrinsic brand value and brand following, Sony is considered as one of the top Disney Competitors.
6) AMC Network
- Product Type: Media and entertainment.
- Industry: Media and entertainment.
- Founded: 1980.
- Founders: John J. Sie, Richard H. Cohen, and Daniel C. O’Shea.
- Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Josh Sapan.
- Revenue: $679 million (June 30, 2023)
- Market cap: $0.48B (August 25, 2023)
- Number of employees: 1,948 (2022)
Being one of the best mid-size employers in the USA, Rainbow Media Group as was formally referred is divided into National Networks i.e. Sundance Channel, AMC et cetera and International Networks i.e. Global Sundance which is mainly in Canada and AMC distributed in most parts of Asia and Europe. In the USA, the National Networks are distributed via video programming, satellites and cable networking.
AMC Network was founded in the year 1980 and has its headquarters in New York. Its employees are estimated to be around 1,948 and its revenue is $679 million as of June 30, 2023. Its operating income was around $106 million by the end of June 30, 2023. AMC Networks Quarterly Net Income as of June 30, 2023 is $70 million.
7) Lionsgate
- Product Type: Media and entertainment.
- Industry: Media and entertainment.
- Founded: 1997.
- Founders: Frank Giustra, Jon Feltheimer, and Michael Burns.
- Headquarters: Santa Monica, California, United States.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: David Zaslav.
- Revenue: $909 millions (June 30, 2023)
- Market cap: $1.69B (August 25, 2023)
- Number of employees: 1,500 (2023)
Lionsgate operates in the Entertainment and Television Broadcasting industry and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Founded in the year 1997 in Canada and has its headquarters in California USA, Lionsgate operates globally providing services in Film production, video entertainment, digital distribution and broadcast programming.
Lionsgate has won numerous awards for its productions, including Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Emmy Awards. The company has also been recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry. Lionsgate continues to be a major player in the entertainment industry, producing and distributing content across a variety of platforms.
By June 30, 2023, Lionsgate’s revenue was estimated to be around $909 million with an operating income of $-17 million. Its net income was $-71 million and assets were valued at $7,462 million. By midyear 2023, the number of employees was more than 1,500 with a market Capitalization of around $1.69 billion.
Theme Parks
For theme parks, there are the following Disney competitors
8) Universal Studios
- Product Type: Media and entertainment.
- Industry: Media and entertainment.
- Founded: 1912.
- Founders: Carl Laemmle, Harry Cohn, and Jack Warner.
- Headquarters: Universal City, California, United States.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Jeff Shell.
- Revenue: $7.5 billion (2022)
- Market cap: $1.18 billion (August 2023)
A film studio in California, Universal Studios is operated by Universal Parks and resort. It was formed in the year 1912 as a studio house and converted to a studio lot after 3 years (1915). It was in the year 1964 that it became a theme park. It has a total of ten (10) rides and two rollercoasters
Owned by NBC Universal (Comcast), its theme ‘show business and universal entertainment’ and slogan ‘the entertainment capital of LA’ have managed to keep it relevant in today’s competitive entertainment world. The park can host more than 10 million guests making it one of the largest in the world.
9) Cedar Fair
- Product Type: Media and entertainment.
- Industry: Media and entertainment.
- Founded: 1969.
- Founders: George Roose.
- Headquarters: Sandusky, Ohio, United States.
- Area Served: North America.
- Current CEO: Richard A. Zimmerman.
- Revenue: $501 million (June 30, 2023)
- Market cap:$2.01B (August 25, 2023)
- Number of employees: 53,200 (2022)
Cedar Fair, trading under Cedar Fair Entertainment Company was founded in the year 1983 and has its headquarters in the Ohio. Operating a total of 12 amusement parks, indoors and outdoors water parks, Gilroy Gardens and up to 5 hotels in Canada and US, the company operates in a total of 13 locations and in 2023, it has a revenue of over $501 million, an operating income of over $94 million, approximately $54 million net income and asset value of around $2,316 million.
Cedar Fair Entertainment employs over 53,000 staff.
10) Six Flags Entertainment
- Product Type: Media and entertainment.
- Industry: Media and entertainment.
- Founded: 1961.
- Founder: Angus G. Wynne.
- Headquarters: Arlington, Texas, United States.
- Area Served: North America.
- Current CEO: Selim Bassoul.
- Revenue: $444 million (June 30, 2023)
- Market cap: $1.84B (August 25, 2023)
- Number of employees: 1,450
Though based in the USA, Six flags Entertainment also has properties in Mexico and Canada. With a capacity of over 30 million guests, six flags is one of the largest amusement parks in terms of attendance. In the North America region, the company owns over 27 properties, several entertainment centers for families, water, and theme parks et cetera.
Six Flags is the largest regional theme park company in the world, with parks occupying approximately 5,850 acres of land and located in geographically diverse markets across North America. The company’s parks offer a variety of entertainment options, including industry-leading thrill rides, water attractions, themed areas, children’s areas, parades, concerts and shows, restaurants, games, and merchandise outlets. Six Flags has a licensing agreement with DC Comics and Warner Bros. Consumer Products, which allows them the exclusive theme park rights to many of the world’s greatest cartoon characters and superheroes.
With the presence in over 27 locations, Six Flags was founded in the year 1961 and has its headquarters in Texas USA. By Q1 2023, its operating income is $113 million, revenue around $142 million, net income of $21 million and The company employs approximately 41,000 people, including 1,450 full-time employees.
In Comic Books
11) DC – Marvel is owned by Disney and DC is its major competitors in comics and movies
- Product Type: Comic books, Media and entertainment.
- Industry: Publishing.
- Founded: 1934.
- Founder: Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson.
- Headquarters: Burbank, California, United States.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Jim Lee.
DC was founded in the year 1984 and has its headquarters in California. Its list of publications ranges from fiction genres in crime, science fiction, comedy to imprints among others. Being a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. DC produc es content from heroic characters e.g. Wonder Woman, The flash, Super-girl, Superman, Green Arrow and Batman et cetera.
‘DC’ was obtained from a common series called Detective Comics that stirred Batman in his debut.
Despite competition from all the above companies, Disney has always managed to remain afloat.
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As much competition that Disney has, you’d think one of them could top Disney when it comes to animated movies. Sadly, none of them can and that’s why Disney still reigns supreme when it comes to animated movies.