Honestly, you really can't put a price on the talent Disney acquired. TWDC will get huge financial returns on that investment as it is. You can thank Eisner for that price anyways.
Buying Pixar was a NO-BRAINER ... period. Anyone could have seen that Pixar was the new Disney. Even a crazy fanboi.
It's almost insulting to refer to them as simply a "movie production team." You keep jumping on the idea that creativity is everything, and Iger was integral in acquiring some of the most creative people in the film and tech industry. Iger is saving WDFA/WDAS from Eisner's train wreck.
Saving it? The Studios, beyond Pixar, are a disaster. Cook is likely to retire by fall or get canned. He's a nice guy, but in way over his head ... his desire to push Disney into not making more adult films under the Touchstone banner has been a disaster. The fact he has kept his job can be largely attributed to two things: Pixar and Captain Jack.
And, the jury is out on Iger saving anything.
You're kidding right? It's baffling how much the Disney-Pixar acquisition is being underplayed. First of all, Disney only had a distribution deal with Pixar that Eisner was ready to let go. Iger sought out to purchase Pixar. He mended relations with Catmull and Lasseter, and most importantly Jobs. Without Iger's work, Disney would not have had a chance to buy Pixar even if they wanted to.
You know why ultimately the Pixar deal went through? It's very simple and it's known by anyone with any ties to the Industry. John Lasseter and -- especially -- Steve Jobs grew to detest Michael Eisner (rightly or wrongly). The biggest thing Iger had going was he was no Eisner. That's why Pixar became part of TWDC.
This might help shed some light on Iger's accomplishments for you. Like I said, domestic P&R are not getting much attention right now, but the moves Iger is making are helping to save TWDC. There was a huge mess to clean up, and obviously it is still a work in progress.
The company was a mess before and it's a mess now. Some things are better, some aren't. But the hyperbole about Iger saving the company is just that.
You want to credit someone or someones with saving Disney, you credit Michael and Frank (with some strong shout outs to Roy and Jeffrey).
Iger has proven to be nothing more than a manager. A custodian if you will.
Eisner had a long legacy at Disney that will largely be viewed in glowing terms when the dust settled.
Iger's hasn't been written ... and right now it speaks of nothing beyond ordinary.
As to the story you cited, you do know that people on Iger's level have teams of PR folks whose job it is would be to place stories like that ... especially when the economy is tanking ... as well as the company's bottom line.
The Disney world does not revolve around P&R, as much as I wish it did, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Iger is saving TWDC from crumbling, and I'm thinking P&R will get the same attention with time.
Disney is unique among major media companies for the very fact that P&R is such a big component and revenue driver.
And you're free to see Iger as a savior, but some of us see him as a huge reason why the foundation continues to crumble while fanbois get lathered up because they're painting at the MK (message to them: Disney used to paint every day of the year!)
