Disney's new CEO, Josh D'Amaro, confirmed the company is exploring a free, ad-supported streaming product, effectively a FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) offering, as part of a wider strategy discussed on an analyst call following quarterly earnings. The move is aimed at reaching more price-sensitive customers, boosting advertising revenue by adding inventory, and driving new sign-ups to Disney+, though executives stressed no formal plans have been announced yet.

The call also covered Disney's finances more broadly: CFO Hugh Johnston said content spending is on track to reach around $24 billion this year, a modest rise on the previous fiscal year, with international content flagged as a key growth opportunity. At the same time, Disney is pursuing "meaningful reductions" in costs, including labour and overheads, after cutting several hundred jobs last month. The company is also boosting shareholder returns, with an anticipated $9 billion share buyback for fiscal 2026, funded partly by cash freed up after scrapping a planned $1 billion investment in OpenAI and $1.2 billion expected from its recent A&E transaction.