Disney bridges digital divide, combines digital media and gaming divisions

Disney is merging its digital media unit Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) with its video gaming unit Disney Interactive Studios (DIS) into a new unit called Disney Interactive Media Group.

The new merger will seek to develop and distribute all Disney-branded interactive digital media and entertainment for digital interactive platforms. The new unit will be led by Steve Wadsworth - who previously was Walt Disney Interactive Group's president - and existing management teams will continue to run the combined group. He will be assisted in his new responsibilities by DIS executive vice president and general manager Graham Hopper.

These details were disclosed in an internal memo sent out by Disney CEO Bob Iger. "As console and handheld games become more connected to the Internet, and as Internet and mobile become increasingly robust destinations for games and a range of interactive entertainment, we are taking this opportunity to integrate these activities," it said.

Iger explained that combining the groups allowed for making connections between Disney's efforts online and on mobile with console and handheld games.

"The uniqueness of the Disney brand provides us an opportunity and an imperative to create a unified Disney-branded experience and community across all connected devices," Iger wrote.

Disney spokesman John Spelich confirmed the new digital unit. "Bob's memo speaks for itself," he said.