Revenue from cable TV has helped Disney to beat earning expectations.

Overall income from its networks, ESPN, the Disney Channel and ABC registered a 27% increase in operating income.

The entertainment conglomerate reported net income of $1.6bn US dollars in its fourth-quarter.

In August the company warned that its lucrative sports arm - ESPN - is experiencing sustained modest audience loses, which lead to the company's worst one-day performance as investors sold-off Disney stock.

"We feel bullish about ESPN's business," Disney CEO Bob Iger said during the earnings call, adding that live sports are still thriving as the media landscape becomes increasingly fractured.

He added that there's "no need to panic."

Disney has maintained that the speed of the demise of traditional TV will be slower than many analysts expect.

Box office successes including Inside Out and Ant-Man helped to boost earnings, and it looks set to be a big quarter for Disney’s movie studios as it releases the first Star Wars film in 10 years.

The consumer products division recorded a 10% bounce as Frozen, Avengers and Star Wars products remained popular.

Disney's theme parks unit posted a 7% rise in operating profit - growing to to $687m.