At Walt Disney Internet Group, Walt Disney Co's online division based in North Hollywood, higher earnings have emboldened the unit to boost spending on both technology and people.

"We crossed into profitiablity our last fiscal year," which ended Sept. 30, spokeswoman Kim Kerscher said.  "That's allowing us to invest."

Disney Internet Group is buying servers and data storage systems from HP.  It is also bulking up its 1,000-person workforce to put sports highlights, movie trailers and interviews on Disney-owned websites.  Kerscher wouldn't predict how many jobs would be created, but said: "I would characterize the hiring as meaningful."

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