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Iger`s Effects at Disney Seen as Positive

The Walt Disney Co. says its third quarter profit was up 39 percent on record sales from DVDs as well as increased visitors to its theme parks. According to its filing, net income was up to $1.13 billion from $811 million a year ago. Sales were up 12 percent to $8.62 billion. Disney Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger says movies like "The Chronicles of Narnia" and sports channel ESPN`s airing of the FIFA 2006 World Cup kept audiences watching its networks.

Janna Sampson, director of portfolio management at Oakbrook Investments in Lisle, Illinois, told reporters, "This is a very good report, better than we were expecting. We were looking for better than the average analyses so we are very pleased." According to independent analyses, Iger, 55, who replaced Michael Eisner in October, has restructured the film unit to focus on Disney-branded movies in an ever-more competitive era.

Iger orchestrated the $8.06 billion purchase of Steve Jobs`s Pixar Animation in an effort to increase revenue from animated films and toys, and to draw visitors to Disney`s theme parks. Speaking of Disney`s theme parks, it was announced earlier this week that prices to enter the Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida were going up by four dollars.