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News The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors Extends Robert A. Iger’s Contract as CEO Through 2026

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WoundedDreamer

Well-Known Member
Chip Chipperson said:
ESPN has never had any way to be leveraged in the parks? What do you think the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at WDW is??? Ever been in the parks during one of the many cheer or dance competitions or a Pop Warner tournament? The parks and resorts (usually All-Star but there is spillover to others) are packed with the groups participating in those events. It was also what allowed them to host the NBA during the COVID bubble season - which also allowed them to fill rooms at Grand Floridian to house the players. And that, in turn, created content for ESPN so that there was actually something to watch on TV when the rest of the entertainment industry was shut down.
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_caleb said:
Sports programming is an unrelated business?

Huh? All Star Sports Resort, NBA Experience (failed, but still), merch sales, every sports film every released...

During the pandemic, I watched the MLS is Back soccer tournament (hosted by WDW's Wide World of Sports Complex and produced by ESPN), and the end of the 2020 NBA season also hosted at WDW and produced by ESPN. There is so much room for more integration like this! Can you imagine if tournaments like these were open to spectators? If they were streamed live on ESPN/D+?

You want Disney to be just animated films and theme parks? For a long time now (since Walt's time), Disney has expanded its business to create an interconnected ecosystem. That system has grown in size and complexity, but it's still functional. The impatience of some fans and investors during a significant investment period is no reason to deconstruct the entire thing.

The problem is that content alone doesn't bring in $10/mo. subscriptions.

That's what they're doing...?

How are they trying to be what are they not?
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I knew someone was going to bring ESPN Wide World of Sports. The complex would be fine without ESPN. It existed before and would exist after. It's not even in the parks! There was also the ESPN Grill back in the day. But all and all ESPN cannot be leveraged in the parks beyond a few tick tacks. WDW could have hosted the bubble regardless. Or ESPN could have found another place to host the bubble. Justifying owning the business based off a fluke during COVID and lightly branded overlay of a sporting venue does not cut it.

ESPN could go. The parks would continue on with no loss in revenue. And guess what, Disney could still release sports films. Sports films do not need ESPN to be made. Though, Disney isn't making many of those nowadays.

Have you all seen how much money can be made in the banking industry? Disney should go into it because you can make money! Bigger is better and it will be awesome! And Disney should think about launching a smartphone. Apple makes lots of money on smartphones, so it makes sense Disney should do it in order to make money.

Or they can focus on their core competency. Family entertainment.
 
Nubs70

Nubs70

Well-Known Member
Chip Chipperson said:
And what experience does Peltz have producing movies? What makes his judgment in that regard any better than the people there now? It's not like they made "Wish" thinking, "This will definitely lose money." Peltz seems to want to focus on cutting costs everywhere he can. We already have Budget Cut Bob in place and look how things go. Things get announced for the parks and then are usually either downgraded by budget cuts or scrapped completely. Imagine what would happen with someone even less willing to spend. He's already demanding to see how the funds earmarked for additions and upkeep at the parks will demonstrate ROI. In other words, expect no additions and worse upkeep at the parks.
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Peltz doesn't need to know how to make movies, he hires the people that do.

What does Bob know about making movies? He doesn't need to and doesn't seem to hire those that do either.
 
L

Lilofan

Well-Known Member
Chip Chipperson said:
And what experience does Peltz have producing movies? What makes his judgment in that regard any better than the people there now? It's not like they made "Wish" thinking, "This will definitely lose money." Peltz seems to want to focus on cutting costs everywhere he can. We already have Budget Cut Bob in place and look how things go. Things get announced for the parks and then are usually either downgraded by budget cuts or scrapped completely. Imagine what would happen with someone even less willing to spend. He's already demanding to see how the funds earmarked for additions and upkeep at the parks will demonstrate ROI. In other words, expect no additions and worse upkeep at the parks.
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One of the most hated companies in the world owns Universal parks and resorts. This company hires NBC to hire and run that division. That company is called Comcast.
 
Brian

Brian

Well-Known Member
Nubs70 said:
Peltz doesn't need to know how to make movies, he hires the people that do.

What does Bob know about making movies? He doesn't need to and doesn't seem to hire those that do either.
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Exactly. Tim Cook doesn't know how to make a 3nm chip, but he hires talented people who can. With any other company, this is inherently understood.

Somehow with Disney, it is expected that the CEO and board members be able to animate, develop streaming tech, and maintain the rides at EPCOT.
 
L

Lilofan

Well-Known Member
Brian said:
Exactly. Tim Cook doesn't know how to make a 3nm chip, but he hires talented people who can. With any other company, this is inherently understood.

Somehow with Disney, it is expected that the CEO and board members be able to animate, develop streaming tech, and maintain the rides at EPCOT.
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You reap what you sow. Iger and his lieutenants are front and center when there are park ongoing of importance. When was the last time the guy running Comcast did that at Universal Orlando?
 
M

MR.Dis

Well-Known Member
Nubs70 said:
Peltz doesn't need to know how to make movies, he hires the people that do.

What does Bob know about making movies? He doesn't need to and doesn't seem to hire those that do either.
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Listen, I am not a fan of Mr Iger, but we need to be accurate. In 2019, 7 of the top 10 movies were Disney. So Iger does not make the movies, but when the professionals are allowed to run the studio the results have been pretty good. One of the big moves made by Iger upon his return was to give back more control to Studio executives. Before I dump on him for the current state of movie released, I want to see what is offered going forward.
 
C

Chip Chipperson

Well-Known Member
Nubs70 said:
Peltz doesn't need to know how to make movies, he hires the people that do.

What does Bob know about making movies? He doesn't need to and doesn't seem to hire those that do either.
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Iger at least has some sort of media background and Disney has a long track record of highly profitable films while he's been CEO. 1 or 2 bad years of returns doesn't mean you bring in some miserly crank with a focus solely on the short-term (even moreso than we already have). Is Iger the guy? No. That doesn't mean you downgrade even further and expect an improvement. It's like McDonald's deciding that Ronald McDonald is no longer a good mascot and replacing him with Pennywise.
 
C

Chip Chipperson

Well-Known Member
WoundedDreamer said:
I knew someone was going to bring ESPN Wide World of Sports. The complex would be fine without ESPN. It existed before and would exist after. It's not even in the parks! There was also the ESPN Grill back in the day. But all and all ESPN cannot be leveraged in the parks beyond a few tick tacks. WDW could have hosted the bubble regardless. Or ESPN could have found another place to host the bubble. Justifying owning the business based off a fluke during COVID and lightly branded overlay of a sporting venue does not cut it.

ESPN could go. The parks would continue on with no loss in revenue. And guess what, Disney could still release sports films. Sports films do not need ESPN to be made. Though, Disney isn't making many of those nowadays.

Have you all seen how much money can be made in the banking industry? Disney should go into it because you can make money! Bigger is better and it will be awesome! And Disney should think about launching a smartphone. Apple makes lots of money on smartphones, so it makes sense Disney should do it in order to make money.

Or they can focus on their core competency. Family entertainment.
Click to expand...
Many people consider sports to be family entertainment. They don't need a "Race Through Stamford, CT with Stephen A. Smith" attraction at DHS for there to be synergy. ESPN also helps create content for ABC (see Monday Night Football and college football), which was helpful during the recent writers and actors' strikes.
 
Andrew C

Andrew C

You know what's funny?
Brian said:
Exactly. Tim Cook doesn't know how to make a 3nm chip, but he hires talented people who can. With any other company, this is inherently understood.

Somehow with Disney, it is expected that the CEO and board members be able to animate, develop streaming tech, and maintain the rides at EPCOT.
Click to expand...
Peltz's goal at the moment is to be on the board, and not CEO, right?
 
_caleb

_caleb

Well-Known Member
WoundedDreamer said:
I knew someone was going to bring ESPN Wide World of Sports. The complex would be fine without ESPN. It existed before and would exist after. It's not even in the parks! There was also the ESPN Grill back in the day. But all and all ESPN cannot be leveraged in the parks beyond a few tick tacks. WDW could have hosted the bubble regardless. Or ESPN could have found another place to host the bubble. Justifying owning the business based off a fluke during COVID and lightly branded overlay of a sporting venue does not cut it.

ESPN could go. The parks would continue on with no loss in revenue. And guess what, Disney could still release sports films. Sports films do not need ESPN to be made. Though, Disney isn't making many of those nowadays.
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I think you're missing my point. Disney owns some pretty major brands in the entertainment industry. Those brands are worth a lot. ESPN is a HUGE name in sports; probably the biggest. I'm not saying that ESPN has been incorporated well, but it certainly has huge potential (whether you can imagine it or not). Of course Disney could do sports entertainment products and attractions without ESPN. But selling ESPN would set others up for success against Disney in sports AND in other key areas of family entertainment, such as live events. There's a reason Netflix just announced a huge deal with WWE-live events is going to be a huge driver of growth in the streaming space. To gain the market share they've built (and bought) with ESPN, Disney would be starting from scratch if they wanted to compete with Netflix in this area (which they do).
WoundedDreamer said:
Have you all seen how much money can be made in the banking industry? Disney should go into it because you can make money! Bigger is better and it will be awesome! And Disney should think about launching a smartphone. Apple makes lots of money on smartphones, so it makes sense Disney should do it in order to make money.
Click to expand...
I know you're trying to make a point, but banking isn't entertainment (at least not for most of us), so it seems to be a clear case of "a different business."

Have you ever seen this corporate strategy chart from 1957?

disney-synergy-chart.jpg

No sports back then, but surely you can see how that might fit perfectly into the ecosystem? And why not leverage ESPN for long-term business rather than selling it off for short-term gain?
WoundedDreamer said:
Or they can focus on their core competency. Family entertainment.
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Still not sure why you insist "family entertainment" shouldn't include sports.
 
_caleb

_caleb

Well-Known Member
Nubs70 said:
Peltz doesn't need to know how to make movies, he hires the people that do.

What does Bob know about making movies? He doesn't need to and doesn't seem to hire those that do either.
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They've had a losing streak at the box office while pivoting to streaming, but you're trying to say the guy who hired Kevin Feige, Pete Docter, Ryan Coogler, Jon Favreau, Shonda Rhimes, Gareth Edwards, etc. "doesn't hire people who know about making movies?"
 

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