Disney Publishing Worldwide

Disney Publishing Worldwide
Subsidiary of Disney Consumer Products
Industry Publishing
Founder Michael Lynton
Headquarters Glendale, Califorina[1]
Number of locations
 2 creative centers (2009)
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
  • Andrew Sugerman (EVP)
  • Jeff Sellinger (SVP, Learning)
  • Jeanne Mosure
  • Raj Murari
  • (SVPs, Group Publishers)
  • Lyle Underkoffler (VP, Digital)
Parent Disney Consumer Products
(The Walt Disney Company)
Divisions
  • Core Publishing
  • Digital Publishing
Subsidiaries
  • Disney Book Group, LLC
  • Disney Learning
  • Disney Magazine Publishing, Inc.
Website books.disney.com
disneypublishing.com

Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW), formerly The Disney Publishing Group and Buena Vista Publishing Group, is a subsidiary of Disney Consumer Products, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.[1] Its imprints include Disney Editions, Hyperion Books for Children, and Disney Press. It has creative centers in Glendale, California, and Milan, Italy.[2]

History

In 1990, Disney Consumer Products discontinued its license for Topolino, an Italian Mickey Mouse magazine. This led Michael Lynton, Disney Consumer Products business development director, to plan to start up its own Magazine Group with the similarly outlaid Disney Adventures.[3] Through Walt Disney Publications, Inc., Disney Publishing launched Disney Comics in the United States.[4] That same year, Disney began publishing Disney Adventures. In 1991, Disney Publishing purchased Discover magazine from Family Media, placing it within its Magazine Group and purchased the Family Fun Magazine after its second issue from Jake Winebaum.[3][5]

Incorporated

The Disney Publishing Group (DPG) was incorporated in January 1992[6] and included the already formed Hyperion Books, Hyperion Books for Children, Disney Press and its units.[7]

In 1994, DPG launched the Mouse Works and Fun Works divisions in February and November, respectively, in order to publish interactive children books.[8] By April, the Magazine Group agreed with Ziff-Davis Publishing Company to a joint venture publication, Family PC, to be launched in September.[3] In June, Lynton left his position as senior vice president of DPG to become president of Disney's Hollywood Pictures.[9]

In March 1995, with the market too crowded with Disney books, DPG merged the Hyperion Books for Children and Disney Press units.[7] In August, Disney Magazine Publishing was reorganized into three divisions, each headed by a vice president/group publisher: Disney Family Magazines, Disney Kids Magazines, and Disney Special Interest Magazines. Family Magazines and Special Interest Magazines were expected to acquire additional publications beyond their single titles, Family Fun and Discover respectively. Special Interest Magazines' publisher was assigned responsibility to the Discovery Channel TV show, Discover Magazine. Kids Magazines included the newly developed Big Time weekly newspaper supplement to have a Fall 1996 launch. Magazine President Jake Winebaum was transferred to head up Disney Online.[10] On May 11, 1998 Disney Publishing was renamed Buena Vista Publishing Group.[6]

Disney Publishing Worldwide

In April 1999, Buena Vista Publishing Group changed its name to Disney Publishing Worldwide, Inc. with Hyperion Books transferred to Disney's ABC Television Group.[11]

Disney Publishing launched its first original comic book, W.I.T.C.H., in 2001. It was successful and adapted into an animated series, selling one million copies per month by August 2004.[12] In Mid-2001, DPW and Baby Einstein agreed to publish a baby book line to introduce fine art, foreign languages, poetry, and classical music.[13] Gemstone Publishing licensed the rights to publish Disney comics from DPW beginning in June 2003.[14] Following its collapse in June 2004, the CrossGen trademark and properties were purchased by DPW's educational publishing division that November for its reading aids, with additional publications based on CrossGen books.[15]

Wondertime magazine, November 2008

The Disney Consumer Products Disney Fairies franchise debuted in September 2005, when Disney Publishing unveiled the novel Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg paired with a virtual world.[16] In 2005, Discover Magazine was sold to Bob Guccione Jr. and the Disney magazine was shut down. In February 2006, Wondertime magazine was launched, which focused on mothers of children up to age six.[17] DPW licensed out CrossGen to Checker Publishing Group to reprint comic book series as trade paperback editions starting in February 2007.[18]

In February 2007, Disney merged its kids and family focused television, online, radio and publishing businesses' advertising sales and promotion teams into Disney Media Advertising Sales and Marketing Group, all of which were overseen by the presidents of Disney Channels Worldwide, Walt Disney Internet Group, and DPW.[19] By 2009, Disney Publishing Worldwide was organized into three divisions: Global Book Group, Disney English, and Global Magazines with four revenue areas: Global Magazines, Global Books, U.S. Magazines and Disney English.[2]

Disney Publishing Worldwide (India), a division of Walt Disney Company (India), announced a licensing agreement in April 2009 with local publisher Junior Diamond to publish Disney comic books, in both English and Hindi.[20] Disney Publishing launched Disney Digital Books on September 29 with 500 books online.[21] On December 8, 2010, DPW's India unit signed a multi-year contract with India Today Group to print and distribute Disney Comics in India.[22]

With few books issued under the imprint, Marvel Worldwide and Disney Books Group relaunched the Marvel Press imprint in 2011 with the Marvel Origin Storybooks line.[23] DPW announced in November a new publication, FamilyFun Kids, a bi-monthly magazine with kids' craft, games, puzzles, and recipes.[24]

In January 2012, DPW agreed to sell the Family Fun Magazine to the Meredith Corporation.[25] By September 2012, White Plains, New York office was closed with staff being moved to Glendale with 50 sale and marketing staff to New York City to join editors there.[26]

In January 2013, DPW launched the Never Girls book series, an extension of the Disney Fairies franchise, with publishing partner Random House.[16] With the June 2013 announcement of the Hyperion Books sale, Hyperion's adult trade book division was moved to Hachette Book Group. Books related to existing Disney–ABC Television Group properties, young adult titles, and Disney-Hyperion imprint and titles were transferred to DPW.[27]

Disney Publishing Worldwide transferred the Disney Fairies franchise main publishing license to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in January 2014 except for the Never Girls series.[16] DPW announced in April 2014 that Del Rey Books would publish a new line of canon Star Wars books under the Lucasfilm Story Group from September onwards on a bi-monthly schedule[28] while previous, non-canon, Expanded Universe material would be reprinted under the "Star Wars Legends" banner.[29][30]

Disney Publishing has been a focus for Disney Consumer Products to launch new franchises. In May 2014, DPW released the first book in the Waterfire Saga mermaid book series, along with a song and music videos. Disney's first deal with Stan Lee's POW! Entertainment resulted in The Zodiac Legacy book series, with the first novel released in January 2015 through DPW.[31] The Never Girls chapter series reached the New York Times Best Sellers List - Children's Series on the week of August 10.[32] On December 4, Disney Learning announced its Disney Imagicademy program was launching on December 11.[33] At that time, DPW was organized into three main units: Core Publishing, Digital Publishing, and Disney Learning.[34]

Franchises

Disney Publishing launched unplanned franchises starting with W.I.T.C.H. in 2001.[12] DPW's educational division purchased the CrossGen comic book assets in November 2004.[15] DPW was then drafted as an outlet for Disney Consumer Products' planned franchises: Disney Fairies[16] and Disney Bunnies[35] (and their extensions), the Never Girls book series,[16] and Disney Princess Palace Pets apps.[36] DPW started to originate planned franchises with the Waterfire Saga in 2014 and The Zodiac Legacy in 2015.[31]

Waterfire Saga

Waterfire Saga
Creator Disney Publishing staff
Jennifer Donnelly
Original work novel
Print publications
Novels
  • Deep Blue
  • Rogue Wave
Audio
Original music “Open Your Eyes”
Hollywood Records[38]

Waterfire Saga is a Disney Publishing franchise based on mermaids launched in May 2014 as a multimedia release around a core book series.[31][39]

Franchise history

The Waterfire Saga was developed by Disney Publishing's various departments after some years of considering doing a mermaid mythology project. A 200 page franchise bible was compiled that included cultures, story arcs, images of the undersea world and its inhabitants, and main character profiles. In the summer of 2011, Global Books publisher Suzanne Murphy approached Jennifer Donnelly to write the book series. Donnelly agreed.[40]

In early 2014, Disney Publishing Worldwide announced the launch of the Waterfire Saga.[38] By March 2014, Donnelly had already finished work on the first two books and had started on the third.[41] The first novel, Deep Blue, was released under the Disney-Hyperion imprint on May 6, 2014 with a print run of 250,000 copies and a national book tour. The novel's marketing plan included advertising in print, TV, and in-theater; ABC Family and Hollywood Records would run additional promotions as well as a retail floor display with riser. A song and music videos were included in the simultaneous e-book edition release.[31][40] The book was concurrently released in the U.K., Italy, and Spain. Other foreign editions were to be released in late 2014 and early 2015. The second book in the series, Rogue Wave, was released in January 2015. The third and fourth installments will be released in Fall 2015 and Summer 2016, respectively. In 2015, DPW's Milan comic unit will begin issuing comics and graphic novels to expand the franchise.[40]

Plot

Merpeople came into existence after their ancestors' island of Atlantis was destroyed.[41]

The four-book series centers around six mermaids who try to save their world. Deep Blue initially focuses on Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, who has a premonitory dream about an ancient evil returning on the eve of her wedding. Her mother is hit by assassin’s poisoned arrow, which confirms the dream. She has additional visions that lead her to find five other mermaids across the world's oceans. The six bond and find a world threatening conspiracy.[41]

Additional media

Audio book

An audio book version of Deep Blue was recorded by Bea Miller with release through Listening Library.[40]

Comics

In 2015, DPW's Milan comic unit will begin issuing comics and graphic novels to expand the franchise.[40]

Song

The song “Open Your Eyes” was issued through Hollywood Records and is sung by Bea Miller.[38][42]

Units

  • Core Publishing[43]
    • Disney Magazine Publishing, Inc.
    • Disney Book Group (Disney Book Publishing, Inc.)
  • Digital Publishing - Disney Book Apps
  • Disney Learning, incorporated on March 7, 1996 as Disney Educational Publishing, Inc. and changed name by August 26, 2013 to Disney Learning[44][45]
    • Disney Educational Productions
    • Disney English
    • Disney Imagicademy is a program of Disney Learning consisting of a suite of mobile learning apps for kids with over 30 apps planned. The first two apps were the parent companion app and Mickey’s Magical Math World on iPad. The parent companion app allows parent to track their kids' advancement on the apps.[33][46]


Hyperion for Children

Hyperion Books for Children (HBC) and Disney Press were both launched in 1990.[7] The Disney Publishing Group was incorporated in January 1992[6] and included the already formed Hyperion Books, Hyperion Books for Children, Disney Press and other units.[7] In March 1995 with the market too crowded with Disney books, Hyperion Books for Children merged with Disney Press.[7] Hyperion Books for Children started a new imprint, Jump at the Sun, in September 1998 for the African-American children's market.[47] DPW slated Abadazad four book series from its CrossGen property for publication after purchasing the CrossGen assets under this imprint.[15]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Our Businesses". thewaltdisneycompany.com. The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Corporate Information". Disney Publishing Worldwide. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Apodaca, Patrice (April 28, 1994). "Adventures in Magazineland : As a Publisher, Disney Excels at Marketing". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  4. ↑ Wein, Len (June 1990). MIckey Mouse Adventures 1. Burbank, CA: Walt Disney Publications, Inc. p. 1. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  5. ↑ Mulligan, Thomas S. (September 6, 1991). "Disney Will Keep 'Discover' on the Racks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "DISNEY PUBLISHING WORLDWIDE, INC.". Entity Information. State of New York. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Harris, Kathryn (April 30, 1995). "The Tie-In King : Hyperion Books Rides the Crest of Disney's Successes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "Company Town Annex: Disney Expands Publishing Offerings". Los Angeles Times. November 22, 1994. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  9. ↑ "Company Town : Hollywood Pictures Gets New President". Los Angeles Times. June 14, 1994. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  10. ↑ "Disney Publishing Announces Magazine Division Restructuring". PR Newswire. Disney. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  11. ↑ McGee, Celia (April 9, 1999). "Grownups Take Hike At Disney". NY Daily News. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Holson, Laura M. (August 30, 2004). "A Nike Veteran Adds Some Swoosh to Disney's Tired Mouse". New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  13. ↑ Houston, Lindsey (July 1, 2001). "Einstein makes deal with Disney". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  14. ↑ "Disney comic books make U.S. comeback". L.A. Biz. June 23, 2003. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 "Disney Publishing Acquires CrossGen Assets". ICv2. November 15, 2004. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Raugust, Karen (Jan 23, 2014). "Disney Fairies Fly to Little, Brown". Publishers Weekly (PWxyz, LLC). Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  17. ↑ Freierman, Shelly (January 24, 2006). "Upscale moms target of Disney magazine". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  18. ↑ "Checker to Publish CrossGen Collections". ICv2. 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  19. ↑ "Disney Restructures Kids Ad Sales, Promos: Merges Units". MediaDailyNews. Feb 6, 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  20. ↑ "Disney launches comic books in India". Business-standard.com. 2009-04-15. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  21. ↑ "Disney launches digital books initiative". Sacramento Business Journal. September 29, 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  22. ↑ "Disney inks publishing, distribution pact with India Today Grp". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. December 8, 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  23. ↑ Alverson, Brigid (July 15, 2011). "SDCC ’11 | Disney to unveil Marvel Press imprint at San Diego". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on Sep 25, 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  24. ↑ "Disney Publishing Worldwide Unveils 'FamilyFun Kids'". Wireless News. November 13, 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  25. ↑ Preston, Jennifer (January 4, 2012). "Meredith Buys FamilyFun Magazine From Disney". NY Times. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  26. ↑ "Disney Publishing Leaving White Plains for California, NYC". Publishing Weekly. April 24, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Disney Sells Hyperion Adult Trade List to Hachette". Digital Book World. 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  28. ↑ McMillan, Graeme (April 25, 2014). "Disney, Del Rey to Launch New 'Star Wars' Book Line". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  29. ↑ McMillan, Graeme (April 25, 2014). "Lucasfilm Unveils New Plans for 'Star Wars' Expanded Universe". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  30. ↑ "The Legendary Star Wars Expanded Universe Turns a New Page". StarWars.com. 2014-04-25. Retrieved 2015-03-03.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 Richwine, Lisa; Grover, Ronald (August 6, 2014). "Disney toy division's focus on franchises makes it a star". reuters.com (Thomson Reuters). Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Best Sellers: Children's Series". The New York Times Book Review (The New York Times). August 10, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Ha, Anthony (December 4, 2014). "Disney Will Launch Its First Imagicademy Learning Apps On Dec. 11". TechCrunch (AOL Inc.). Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  34. ↑ "About Us:Disney Publishing Worldwide". disneyconsumerproducts.com. Disney Consumer Products. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  35. ↑ Hill, Jim (Aug 9, 2006). ""Disney Dragonkind" roars into stores & "Disney Bunnies" hops onto bookstore shelves in early 2007". Jim Hill Media. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  36. ↑ Disney Consumer Products Public Relations (September 26, 2013). "Disney Debuts New Franchise Extension with Launch of Disney Princess Palace Pets App and Toy Line". Marketwatch.com. Business Wire. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Marvel Revives Crossgen". ICv2. December 16, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 "Disney Publishing Worldwide to Release Waterfire Saga". Entertainment Close-up (Highbeam). February 2, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Jennifer Donnelly, novelist from Lewis County, hits big time with Disney series". Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 40.4 Lodge, Sally (January 22, 2014). "Disney to Launch Multi-Platform Mermaid Saga by Jennifer Donnelly". Publisher Weekly. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 Beagle, Ben (March 2, 2014). "Jennifer Donnelly, novelist from Lewis County, hits big time with Disney series". Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  42. ↑ Beagle, Ben (May 5, 2014). "VIDEOS: A behind-the-scenes look at Tale author's latest". The Daily News (Batavia Newspapers). Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  43. ↑ "About Us:Disney Publishing Worldwide". disneyconsumerproducts.com. Disney Consumer Products. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  44. ↑ "Disney Learning Business Entity Detail: C1779737". Business Search. California State Department of State. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  45. ↑ "Entity Information: Disney Learning". Corporation & Business Entity Database. State of New York Department of State's Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  46. ↑ Dawn Wilensky (2015-03-03). "Inside Disney’s Imagicademy". Kidscreen. Retrieved 2015-03-13.
  47. ↑ Angel, Karen (1998-09-07). "BOOKS AND MAGAZINES - CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - Media Talk - High-Profile Authors Turn To Much Younger Readers". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2015-03-01.

External links