FROM THE PARKS TO THE PENTHOUSE

Yesterday morning, in FTVLive’s FREE Newsletter we wrote about Disney naming a new CEO for the company.

We pointed out that one group of people will love the pic, but what about those on the TV side of things?

Here is our take and concerns that we gave. If you are not signed up for the FTVLive Newsletter, scroll to the bottom on this page.

The Walt Disney Company Board has made it official: Josh D’Amaro is the new CEO of Disney.

D’Amaro has been the Chairman of Disney Experiences and has spent his entire career inside the Disney theme parks.

While the news of D’Amaro’s ascent to the throne will likely be welcomed by the die-hard fans of the Disney theme parks (who treat him like a rock star), the feeling might be very different for those on the television side of the House of Mouse.

If you are working at ESPN, ABC News, or one of the ABC O&Os, you have to be wondering how a guy that helped launch the TRON ride at Walt Disney World will do being in charge of a massive television division.

The big question for journalists is simple: Does he have the backbone for the news business?

What happens when Donald Trump goes after ABC News, or decides to target Jimmy Kimmel again? Can the guy that plans on putting an animated Olaf in Disney's EPCOT take a firm stand against Trump and defend the First Amendment?

For those of us on the outside, it will be interesting to watch. But, for those sitting under the ABC News umbrella, the view might be a bit scary.

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