Disney to distribute about 23 films domestically in fiscal 2007

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) plans to distribute domestically about 23 films in the year ending next Sept. 30, the entertainment and media company said Wednesday in its annual report.

At the end of its latest fiscal year, Walt Disney said in the filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, it had released domestically 1,566 full-length live-action features, animated features, cartoon shorts and live-action shorts.

That number of films distributed for fiscal 2006 compared with 1,536 films released by Disney in the U.S. as of Oct. 1, 2005, according to its annual report for the prior fiscal year.

As reported, the Burbank, Calf., company's fiscal 2006 revenue rose 7.3% to $34 billion, partly due to strong box-office performance of films such as "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" and "Cars," the filing said.

Disney said the fiscal 2007 films planned for U.S. release comprise 14 feature films under the Walt Disney Pictures and Touchstone Pictures banners, and nine more films under the Miramax label.

Disney shares closed at $32.99 on Wednesday, down 24 cents. The company's shares have risen more than 30% in value in the past year.