Rich Ross Named Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios

BURBANK, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Rich Ross, President of Disney Channels Worldwide, has been named Chairman of
The Walt Disney Studios (NYSE: DIS), it was announced today by Disney President
and CEO Robert A. Iger.

Ross will oversee worldwide production, distribution and marketing for the
company`s range of live-action and feature animated film labels, including Walt
Disney, Touchstone, Miramax and Disney/Pixar. In his new role, which he assumes
immediately, he will also head Disney`s theatrical and music groups.

In his thirteen years at Disney, Ross has consistently created hit original
programming, effectively expanded a worldwide creative and distribution
organization, skillfully built the Disney brand with global franchises that work
across borders and technology platforms and put in place a strong management
team.

"Rich has an outstanding record of creating high-quality family entertainment
that delights audiences around the world," said Iger. "With his success in
building the Disney brand across many of our businesses, his astute marketing
sensibility, his proven ability in working effectively with talent and his skill
at navigating complex global markets, I`m confident he`s the perfect leader for
our studio group."

"I am very excited to play a key role in continuing the storytelling legacy of
The Walt Disney Studios. There has never been a better time to entertain our
global audiences with high-quality and compelling content and introduce new
characters that will become family favorites. I look forward to working with
Bob, the team at the studios and all of our Disney family towards that goal,"
said Ross.

Under Ross`s leadership, the performance of Disney Channels Worldwide has been
consistently strong in both creative and competitive terms, in the U.S. and
globally. The group now includes a total of 94 channels and channel feeds
available in 163 countries in 32 languages and features such brands as the
flagship Disney Channel, the boy-focused Disney XD and Playhouse Disney for
younger kids.

Ross has also overseen the growth of Radio Disney and of the group`s
multiplatform offerings, which includes subscription video-on-demand and
content-rich broadband websites DisneyXD.com and DisneyChannel.com, the number
one kid`s entertainment website among Kids 6-14.

In the U.S., Disney Channel has been the #1 TV network among Kids 6-11 and
Tweens 9-14 for the last seven and nine years respectively, buoyed by such
breakout series as Lizzie McGuire, That`s So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack and
Cody, Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place and Sonny With A Chance. Stars of
Disney Channel programs, including Raven-Symone, Selena Gomez, Jonas Brothers,
Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus, have become household names.

Disney Channel`s record with original movies is equally impressive. With recent
blockbusters like High School Musical 2, Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie and
Camp Rock, Disney Channel can claim cable`s top two movies of all time and three
of the top five.

Disney Channel programming has also helped build other Disney businesses,
including the quadruple-Platinum-selling Hannah Montana soundtrack and the
number one US album in 2006, High School Musical soundtrack. Books, stage shows,
feature films, video games and merchandise featuring original Disney Channel
characters have become a critical part of The Walt Disney Company`s success in
recent years.

Ross joined Disney in 1996 as Disney Channel`s Senior Vice President,
Programming and Production and was promoted to positions of increasing
responsibility before being named Disney Channel president in April 2004. Prior
to his tenure at Disney, he was a member of the executive team that launched FX
Networks. Ross also held several senior positions at Nickelodeon from 1986 to
1993 where he oversaw talent booking, casting and program development and was
involved in the launch of the channel`s first successful syndicated show and its
first international network.

Ross is a member of the Board of Directors for Hollywood Radio Television
Society and Cable in the Classroom - an organization that represents the cable
telecommunication industry`s commitment to education. A native of New York and a
1983 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree
in International and English, Ross received his J.D. degree from New York`s
Fordham University in 1986.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6065880&lang=en

The Walt Disney Company
Zenia Mucha, 818-560-5300

Copyright Business Wire 2009