News Disney and Fox come to terms -- announcement soon; huge IP acquisition

[Rodan75]

Usually because there is more analysis and less joke...

But when you strip away the sarcasm...I don’t think the motivation is really about the Fox “library”...it’s not very impressive from the Disney angle. This is still a curious play unless it was just about “getting something”

But honestly...iger isn’t above that. He’s like Fido - wants to be patted and said “good boy!”...but he isn’t exactly “original” in his thinking...

I agree he isn't original, but he is bolder than most Media execs and got on the right trends at the right time. It was more than luck.

While I support this merger, I have to admit, much of the content they are getting is traditionally non-Disney. If they want to get value from this library they are going to have to be comfortable marketing things like SoA and AHS and Alien, etc. So I think the hand-wringing about Disney owning Fox is much ado about nothing...they are buying mature content, so they can sell mature content. (queue Touchstone/ Hollywood Pictures discussion)

If this merger was just about Hulu, then they could have made big offers to just buy Hulu. Which is silly because they already bought a platform with BAMTech.

Star India is a big get as are Fox's other distribution channels around the world.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I agree he isn't original, but he is bolder than most Media execs and got on the right trends at the right time. It was more than luck.

While I support this merger, I have to admit, much of the content they are getting is traditionally non-Disney. If they want to get value from this library they are going to have to be comfortable marketing things like SoA and AHS and Alien, etc. So I think the hand-wringing about Disney owning Fox is much ado about nothing...they are buying mature content, so they can sell mature content. (queue Touchstone/ Hollywood Pictures discussion)

If this merger was just about Hulu, then they could have made big offers to just buy Hulu. Which is silly because they already bought a platform with BAMTech.

Star India is a big get as are Fox's other distribution channels around the world.

What if it were about eliminating rival platform possibilities? Like bammtech and Hulu.

There’s really no viable reason why they couldn’t have launched a service by now...

They are just riding cable into the ground. That is iger...and that is not bold. Especially since they’ve filled Comcast’s pockets to rival them as well over the years.

I think they’re late to the party and this is possibly damage control. Somehow they thought the trash on espn wasn’t gonna get old...it got horribly old and rather quickly.

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

The board rules for Hulu are supposedly complicated, given the nature of the partners. Comcast will have the power to derail Hulu’s growth in the near term and potentially impact the asset value over the long term.

It is in Disney’s best interest to get all of Hulu as quickly as possible.

This is what I read as well. Apparently the minority owner is able to vote/halt what content goes in the platform and any expansion plans (i.e. if they want to launch outside of the US).

 

[Rodan75]

What if it were about eliminating rival platform possibilities? Like bammtech and Hulu.

There’s really no viable reason why they couldn’t have launched a service by now...

They are just riding cable into the ground. That is iger...and that is not bold. Especially since they’ve filled Comcast’s pockets to rival them as well over the years.

I think they’re late to the party and this is possibly damage control. Somehow they thought the trash on espn wasn’t gonna get old...it got horribly old and rather quickly.

Cable is still lucrative. It is still early innings in Streaming. These are the right choices give or take 6-12 months.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Cable is still lucrative. It is still early innings in Streaming. These are the right choices give or take 6-12 months.

I don’t see the two as “adversarial” though...

There’s a reason that the premium
Channels got onboard a streaming option...5+ years ago...
As people cable cut...they go to digital.

It’s not as though a Disney comprehensive service would result in “lost” subscribers or revenue...it would be a transition. The streaming service even allows possibilities such as cbs is doing with Star Trek (if only disney had some sci fi franchise)...or exclusive content like the Netflix and Hulu series.

I get that Disney is tied to abc and the suckling of espns now defunct advertising and subscription empires...but this “promised” service has not exactly been a priority.

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

(if only disney had some sci fi franchise)

Black Hole
Tron
Star Wars

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Black Hole
Tron
Star Wars

Sarcasm

 

[the.dreamfinder]

I don’t see the two as “adversarial” though...

There’s a reason that the premium
Channels got onboard a streaming option...5+ years ago...
As people cable cut...they go to digital.

It’s not as though a Disney comprehensive service would result in “lost” subscribers or revenue...it would be a transition. The streaming service even allows possibilities such as cbs is doing with Star Trek (if only disney had some sci fi franchise)...or exclusive content like the Netflix and Hulu series.

I get that Disney is tied to abc and the suckling of espns now defunct advertising and subscription empires...but this “promised” service has not exactly been a priority.

With the way it’s been set up, Media Networks and DTC will have an adversarial relationship.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

With the way it’s been set up, Media Networks and DTC will have an adversarial relationship.

I would say the broadcast networks have an issue...due to the loss of their bundling leverage.

But the providers are already there...I know I can get direct tv or Comcast on my devices to use now...they’ll just detach them from the cable and satellite and try to figure out ways to sell them direct.

But a CONTENT provider...like Disney...has little excuse for not getting ahead of it. Other than “fat and lazy”

What makes disney problematic is abc and their gripping of espn...
...maybe they should sell them to Eisner?

I’ll support whatever gets kelly ripa fired...finally

 

[bartholomr4]

Full Article in UK Daily Mail At: https://dailym.ai/2QjEpCb

Article Summary includes:
--21st Century Fox Inc. has hired advisory firm Georgeson in an attempt to help the company win support from Sky PLC shareholders amid a bidding battle with Comcast Corp. to buy the British pay-TV group, the Mail on Sunday reports, citing unnamed sources.

--Georgeson is understood to have been asking Sky investors about Fox's current offer of GBP14.00 ($18.08) a share--which is backed by Walt Disney Co.--to determine what would improve its chances of success, the Mail on Sunday reports.

--Suitors have to submit their final offers for Sky by Sept. 22, with Comcast currently outbidding Fox with its GBP14.75 a share offer which has been recommended by the independent directors of the British company, according to the Mail on Sunday.

 

[bartholomr4]

From Bloomberg: 21st Century Fox Inc. and Comcast Corp., locked for months in a takeover battle for British broadcaster Sky Plc, are now in discussions to settle the rules of engagement for the final standoff.

The contest between the U.S. media giants for the London-based pay-TV company is drawing to a close. If neither drops out by Sept. 22, the companies head to an auction overseen by regulators, according to U.K. takeover rules.

It’s a rarely used tool to help settle corporate sales in the U.K. that comes with a standard set of procedures set out by the nation’s Takeover Panel, which can be refined as requested by bidders. The auction is slated to last five days, unless the parties agree otherwise. As a likely auction approaches, Fox, Comcast and Sky are negotiating how the process should play out, according to people familiar with the matter. The terms could include things like how long the auction will be and how many bids a party can make, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. Regulators are expected to lay out the rules in the coming week, they said.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

From Bloomberg: 21st Century Fox Inc. and Comcast Corp., locked for months in a takeover battle for British broadcaster Sky Plc, are now in discussions to settle the rules of engagement for the final standoff.

The contest between the U.S. media giants for the London-based pay-TV company is drawing to a close. If neither drops out by Sept. 22, the companies head to an auction overseen by regulators, according to U.K. takeover rules.

It’s a rarely used tool to help settle corporate sales in the U.K. that comes with a standard set of procedures set out by the nation’s Takeover Panel, which can be refined as requested by bidders. The auction is slated to last five days, unless the parties agree otherwise. As a likely auction approaches, Fox, Comcast and Sky are negotiating how the process should play out, according to people familiar with the matter. The terms could include things like how long the auction will be and how many bids a party can make, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. Regulators are expected to lay out the rules in the coming week, they said.

 

[mab7689]

https://www.manalo-llp.com/deals/25-twenty-first-century-fox-comcast

This page has a timeline on the whole deal. According to it the CADE in Brazil approved the deal on August 20th.

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

EU will have a decision by October 19th.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/n...ct-19-deadline-disney-fox-deal-ruling-1143977

https://www.manalo-llp.com/deals/25-twenty-first-century-fox-comcast

This page has a timeline on the whole deal. According to it the CADE in Brazil approved the deal on August 20th.

Interesting, but that timeline does not have the India approval. Also google translating the source for CADE does not really say it was approved.

 

[Rodan75]

EU will have a decision by October 19th.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/n...ct-19-deadline-disney-fox-deal-ruling-1143977



Interesting, but that timeline does not have the India approval. Also google translating the source for CADE does not really say it was approved.

I wonder if the EU approval process is also why Disney hasn't been more aggressive for SKY. The fact that the SKY UK takeover auction process will play out before that 10/19 decision is interesting. Do we know if the EU does negotiations during the review process like the DoJ does?

Brian Roberts apparently downplayed the SKY deal thru the interviews he has done over the last couple of weeks. But that may be more about energizing the Stock price than existing shareholder sentiment.

 

[seascape]

I wonder if the EU approval process is also why Disney hasn't been more aggressive for SKY. The fact that the SKY UK takeover auction process will play out before that 10/19 decision is interesting. Do we know if the EU does negotiations during the review process like the DoJ does?

Brian Roberts apparently downplayed the SKY deal thru the interviews he has done over the last couple of weeks. But that may be more about energizing the Stock price than existing shareholder sentiment.

I am looking forward to next weeks end of this. I will be on my anniversary vacation and enjoying the slow time at WDW. I do plan on looking at the news every night but that's all. Vacation time with my wife is all that matters.

 

[mab7689]

EU will have a decision by October 19th.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/n...ct-19-deadline-disney-fox-deal-ruling-1143977



Interesting, but that timeline does not have the India approval. Also google translating the source for CADE does not really say it was approved.

It's broken English but my phone translates as this, and it says 'I hereby decide on the granting of applications for admission' so I think that is words to the effect of approval. The rest I think is related to the parties that have provided opposition, stating they had a 15 day period to object. That will have now expired. Of course I and that website could be wrong.

I also noticed India was missing too.

 

[bartholomr4]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-for-sky-could-be-resolved-in-one-day-auction

Highlights of the Article: The drawn-out battle for control of Sky Plc is likely to be settled in an abbreviated auction starting this Saturday, in a showdown to seal the fate of Europe’s biggest satellite broadcaster.

Details have yet to be finalized and they are still discussing whether to work with sealed or open bids, or a mix of the two, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private.

 

[Rodan75]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-for-sky-could-be-resolved-in-one-day-auction

Highlights of the Article: The drawn-out battle for control of Sky Plc is likely to be settled in an abbreviated auction starting this Saturday, in a showdown to seal the fate of Europe’s biggest satellite broadcaster.

Details have yet to be finalized and they are still discussing whether to work with sealed or open bids, or a mix of the two, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private.

It does make sense for them to get the auction completed as quickly as possible. I’m just really surprised that we actually made it to this point. I fully expected Disney to walk away with another 30% of Hulu, some Marvel rights and some cash for selling (soon to be ) their 39% of SKY.

It really changes my thoughts on the game that Iger is playing.

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

It does make sense for them to get the auction completed as quickly as possible. I’m just really surprised that we actually made it to this point. I fully expected Disney to walk away with another 30% of Hulu, some Marvel rights and some cash for selling (soon to be ) their 39% of SKY.

It really changes my thoughts on the game that Iger is playing.

What are your thoughts now? I'm curious.