KEY POINTS
  • Disney reported fiscal first-quarter earnings per share and revenue that topped analyst estimates.
  • On the company's post-earnings conference call, CEO Bob Iger said that ESPN+ doubled its subscribers to 2 million in the past five months. 
  • Disney launched the sports streaming service ESPN+ last year and plans to launch Disney+, a streaming service of its movies and original programming, later this year. If its deal for Fox closes, it will also have a larger stake in streaming service Hulu.
Chief executive officer and chairman of The Walt Disney Company Bob Iger walks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) before ringing the opening bell, November 27, 2017 in New York City.

Walt Disney reported earnings per share and revenue that topped analyst estimates Tuesday, helped by sales increases in its media networks and theme parks businesses, as the company said its sports streaming service ESPN+ now has 2 million paid subscribers.

The earnings report comes as the entertainment giant expands its direct-to-consumer offerings amid growing competition from Netflix and other streaming services. On the company's post-earnings conference call, CEO Bob Iger said that ESPN+ had doubled its subscribers in the past five months, noting that direct-to-consumer "remains our No. 1 priority."