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News Disney and Fox come to terms -- announcement soon; huge IP acquisition
- Thread starter ohioguy
- Start date
Yah, if Comcast becomes very cash-strapped, it will hurt their ability for continued self-investment in all their divisions, say, for example, expanding their parks. Now, I'm not saying they won't have a few billion to build the new gates, but, they won't have the billions needed year after year to catch up to Disney in any meaningful way seeing that Disney is currently throwing billions each year into all their parks to improve them.
Rodan75
Well-Known Member
That feels like Disney doing what is required, lip service to being serious. Disney doesn’t get SKY News unless Fox buys SKY, which is crazy unlikely now.
Rodan75
Well-Known Member
There was a rumor that Comcast could sell the Fox US entertainment assets to help bring down the debt. But no clue if that was serious, or just blogger wishes. That follows the narrative that what Comcast really wants are SKY, Star and the RSNs.
gmajew
Premium Member
The fact governments can force stuff like that is crazy! Sky is a great asset but not with those restrictions on it. Not for a company like disney...
Indy_UK
Well-Known Member
I may be totally wrong but I do get the sense now that Disney may not be too fussed about having SKY at all. They don't own any cable providers or provide TV services so why start now in a world where everyone is cord cutting, and wanting to ditch traditional TV. Maybe getting into that arena doesn't make sense for Disney. For Comcast that would though.
It's apparent that for Disney this is purely about content and IP bolstering for the long term. Maybe their 39% of SKY would be sold on to Comcast in return for sole ownership of Hulu?
Indy_UK
Well-Known Member
I like having SKY but as a company I don't think their subscriber base is increasing. It seems like people are constantly battling with them for better deals or threatening to leave altogether which SKY always gives into
Rodan75
Well-Known Member
In the big scheme of things, it is a small concession. $2B over 15 years, a rounding error for them.
The first round of negotiations resulted in Fox picking Disney for 2 basic reasons. The first was no breakup fee and the second was that if the Regional Sports Networks had to be divested they would go back to New Fox because Comcast did not want the tax liability in a sale. So it is clear the RSNs are not the key properties Comcast wants.
gmajew
Premium Member
LOL 2B is not a rounding error for any business.... the fact it is spread over 10 years is easier to swallow... but I dont like governments telling you how to run your business....
smile
Well-Known Member
i don't know anything about the guy... but for some reason, i believe you
i'm cool on either side of this gov thing...
can respect they want to keep an eye on things, just as i can respect any company for balking at such proposals
Quinnmac000
Well-Known Member
Comcast already said they would sell off the RSN and reduce the stake in Hulu....so I think those are the two things they don't want.
Rodan75
Well-Known Member
I knew about the Hulu part. Not about the RSN part, that is interesting. Because they really don’t need Fox IP or TV production capacity. So is this all about ego, SKY and Star?
Rodan75
Well-Known Member
Didn’t realize that re: the RSNs. Much of the coverage I had read indicated that RSNs were a primary consideration. That makes this whole standoff a bit more confusing.
Wednesday's Fox Board meeting will be very interesting. Will they accept the Comcast offer and ask Disney to match it? Very likely, but will Disney have their response at the meeting and if they do will Fox still have the July 10th vote. Personally I want Disney to respond at the meeting and get this over with. All Disney has to do legally is match Comcasts offer and they win. Tomorrow will be interesting and so will the next week.
Quinnmac000
Well-Known Member
They want it though....Fox shows sell well internationally. Having those IPs to leverage is great.
tirian
Well-Known Member
At this point, the WDC is little more than an IP holder anyway, and the elements that made the company “Disney” — the feeling established by the artists who created the animated shorts and movies stretching from Snow White, to Peter Pan, to Lady and the Tramp and Mary Poppins — barely exists. The Disney Renaissance of the late 80s through mid 90s was considered a return to form, and was therefore successful. For a long time, the public had expectations for something labeled “Disney,” which is why the awful movies from the 70s flopped and the great stuff from the 90s soared.
Now Disney buys a company and fans dictate to each other that the IPs are therefore just as much “Disney” as Mickey Mouse. Corporately owned? Yes. Classically appropriate for the everything that made the company beloved? Rarely.
But hey, if someone suddenly becomes a Marvel or Simpsons fan merely because Disney buys it, it improves my stock value.
Now Disney buys a company and fans dictate to each other that the IPs are therefore just as much “Disney” as Mickey Mouse. Corporately owned? Yes. Classically appropriate for the everything that made the company beloved? Rarely.
But hey, if someone suddenly becomes a Marvel or Simpsons fan merely because Disney buys it, it improves my stock value.