Disney to invest $1.5 billion in ‘Fortnite’ maker Epic Games to create games, entertainment

Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger hit back at activist investors on Wednesday with a slew of announcements, including a splashy investment in “Fortnite” maker Epic Games and plans to launch an ESPN streaming service in 2025.

Iger revealed the plans after Disney’s board of directors authorized a $3 billion share repurchase program for the current fiscal year, and declared a dividend of 45 cents a share, a 50% increase from the dividend paid in January.