NEW YORK, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Walt Disney President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Iger projects ABC-TV will be back in the black in 2005, Daily Variety reported Thursday.
The paper said Iger made the forecast at two media conferences in New York, telling audiences that the network's rebound into profitability was "a watermark" and not a "flash in the pan." Iger attributed the network's recovery from years of losses to a successful new schedule of prime time shows led by the breakout hit "Desperate Housewives."
Iger is considered the only internal candidate under consideration by the Disney board to replace Michael Eisner, who plans to retire as the company's chief executive officer in September 2006. Asked if the newly resurgent ABC could improve his chances for the job, Iger said, "I'm focused on performance."
