The Walt Disney Company is one of the largest entertainment companies to exist. Since Walt Disney founded the company nearly 100 years ago in October 1923, it has grown into one of the largest entertainment and media companies in the world. Disney not only runs and owns theme parks, but it’s also an entertainment institution that produces and distributes movies, television shows, and other various content, such as music and radio.
The acquisition granted Disney ownership of the ABC network, along with percentages in ESPN, The History Channel, A&E Network, Lifetime Television, a publishing group, and ABC Radio. Disney later sold much of the publishing group. The ABC Radio stations were also sold off in 2006. For ESPN, Disney’s merger with ABC gave Disney an 80% controlling interest in the sports giant and media conglomerate.
Marvel Entertainment Disney wholly bought Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion in 2009. This granted Disney ownership over the Marvel Comics publishing imprint, Marvel Studios, and of course, all of the various IPs and characters that fall under what is termed the Marvel Universe, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney acquired Marvel just as the Marvel Cinematic Universe was gearing up, and the first Iron Man movie had just been released.
Since Disney already had a minority stake of 30% in Hulu at the time of the purchase, Disney’s acquisition of Fox’s entertainment assets granted Disney a controlling 60% ownership of the Hulu streaming service. Comcast still has a minority ownership of Hulu. In 2024, Comcast will have the "put option" to require Disney to take over its current stake in Hulu, while Disney has the option to tell Comcast to sell the stake.
National Geographic Partners LLC Disney now has majority ownership of National Graphic, or as it is known under its official business name, National Geographic Partners, LLC. In case you are wondering why National Geographic documentaries are available now on Disney+, this was the result of Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019.