Disney Says 1.5 Million ABC Television Episodes Played on Apple's IPad

Walt Disney Co. said owners of Apple Inc.’s iPad played more than 1.5 million episodes of ABC television shows since the computer went on sale.

More than 400,000 copies of the free ABC player have been downloaded since April 3, Burbank, California-based Disney said today in an e-mailed statement announcing additional features. Free shows are sponsored by advertisers. Others are for sale from the Apple’s iTunes store, Disney said.

The world’s biggest media company is seeking new ways to deliver TV shows as viewers shift to the Internet and video games for entertainment. Disney was the first to sell commercial-free TV shows on the iTunes media store and was the first to provide ad-supported shows at the ABC website. Disney is also an investor in the Hulu.com video site with News Corp.’s Fox and General Electric Co.’s NBC.

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, said yesterday 1 million iPad tablet computers were sold in April after the device’s release, outpacing the original iPhone. Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs is Disney’s largest individual shareholder.

The new version of ABC’s player software released today supports new iPads with 3G wireless Internet and improves the rewind and fast-forward functions, Disney said.

Disney fell 85 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $36.72 at 1:51 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Before today the shares had climbed 16 percent this year.

Apple slid $6.88, or 2.6 percent, to $259.47 on the Nasdaq Stock Market trading and had gained 26 percent this year.

To contact the reporter on this story: Andy Fixmer in Los Angeles at afixmer@bloomberg.net

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