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Disney May Be Next in Line to Buy Warner Bros??
- Thread starter Cmdr_Crimson
- Start date
Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
The only benefits I see would be DC Editorial getting a shake-up (because DC has been on a downward spiral for the past ten years) and Bruce Timm getting a position over at Disney Animation.
Rodan75
Well-Known Member
I think this is fun to think about. But in reality why does TW or TWDC want or need the distraction of a mega merger. I think that TWDC needs to diversify their cable and/or Television production offerings to protect against eventual erosion at ESPN, they don't really need additional film production capabilities. You could argue about the value of adding the owned IP (DC, Looney Toons, etc) but I would have to imagine HP and LOTR IPs could be freed up during a Change of Control.
I see no value in adding DWA, Katz isn't making great decisions so I'm sure they will be shopped. Disney has plenty of animated production capacity. I could see Wanda or another BRIC company acquiring them to make inroads into entertainment.
I see no value in adding DWA, Katz isn't making great decisions so I'm sure they will be shopped. Disney has plenty of animated production capacity. I could see Wanda or another BRIC company acquiring them to make inroads into entertainment.
Bparso87
Well-Known Member
Dc has some of the best selling comics. They own marvel in animation and video games just bc marvel puts out movies means they are amazing watch young justice then go watch a Disney xd marvel cartoon that doesn't included the amazing direct to DVD movies they put out flashpoint was amazing
Horizons78
Grade "A" Funny...
Perhaps more accurately, DC had some of the best selling comics.
"New 52" has been a disaster.
Ranch Dressing
Well-Known Member
It would be a strategic move by Disney if Comcast acquires Time-Warner so I feel this story might have some merit. I doubt Comcast will get Time-Warner but if they do, Disney would be forced to make a move, and if this is the move they make it would trump Comcast. Disney already owns the most desirable cable channels, this would add more to their coffers.
Dreamworks animation has been run into the ground and is there on the cheap. Shrek is still a valuable property that Disney would give new life to so Dreamworks is not without assets. They just need to cut jobs and budgets, if I can see this I'm sure Disney can see the value.
Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
I could see Disney buying DreamWorks. Certainly, they've already cultivated a good working relationship by being DW's domestic distributor via Touchstone Pictures.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
DreamWorks and DreamWorks Animation are two separate companies.
Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
Sexy Teen Heartthrob Lobo... Euugghh....
yoda_5729
Well-Known Member
I'm not an economist, nor am I great at analyzing data, so understandably I could be wrong about this. Based on the information on this one site though, DC has actually been gaining on Marvel as apposed to the other way around.
In 2003 Marvel sold 39.68% of the market in units sold, apposed to DC who was 30.60% (9.08% different)
In 2013 Marvel sold 36.97% of the market in units sold, apposed to DC who was 33.35% (3.62% different)
http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2013.html
http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2003.html
In dollars they have stayed relatively similar...
In 2003 Marvel sold 33.24% share of the overall dollars, apposed to DC who was 29.89% (3.35% different)
In 2013 Marvel sold 33.50% share of the overall dollars, apposed to DC who was 30.33% (3.17% different)
If you go back to the 90s, DC was even a smaller share of the comic market, as Image Comics held a much better percentage. Now though, DC is gaining, though understandably not everyone will be impressed with the product.
I may be interpreting that data incorrectly, which if I am, please be kind as I wasn't saying I was positive. The website might not be the greatest source of information either, I don't know. The information I found was in the margin along the left hand side of the screen.
-Also I guess this info only includes North American comic shops.
In 2003 Marvel sold 39.68% of the market in units sold, apposed to DC who was 30.60% (9.08% different)
In 2013 Marvel sold 36.97% of the market in units sold, apposed to DC who was 33.35% (3.62% different)
http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2013.html
http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2003.html
In dollars they have stayed relatively similar...
In 2003 Marvel sold 33.24% share of the overall dollars, apposed to DC who was 29.89% (3.35% different)
In 2013 Marvel sold 33.50% share of the overall dollars, apposed to DC who was 30.33% (3.17% different)
If you go back to the 90s, DC was even a smaller share of the comic market, as Image Comics held a much better percentage. Now though, DC is gaining, though understandably not everyone will be impressed with the product.
I may be interpreting that data incorrectly, which if I am, please be kind as I wasn't saying I was positive. The website might not be the greatest source of information either, I don't know. The information I found was in the margin along the left hand side of the screen.
-Also I guess this info only includes North American comic shops.
Disneyfan_76
Well-Known Member
I couldn't disagree with you more. When Geauga Lake and Sea World combined it was an amazing park that offered some serious competition to nearby Cedar Point. Unfortunately it was only amazing for the first year or so. Cedar Fair saw this and bought out the park. They then went about dismantling each of the rides and shipping them off to their other amusement entities. They stopped maintenance on the rides they couldn't sell and ran the park to the ground until it was scuttled. The water park was the only portion that they planned to keep. It is a real shame what they did to both of the parks.
Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
No, that's very true. The thing is that DC got on the reprint market much earlier than Marvel. There biggest asset in that regard is they've got a much larger library of Golden Age comics to collect and reprint in hardbacks that go for $50-60 a pop- Charlston, Fawcett, and Quality, in addition to all the comics published by DC/ National.
yoda_5729
Well-Known Member
It is true, DC Has a ton of companies under it in terms of history, ala the Marvel Family, the Charlton characters, etc. The information as posted though displays DC is catching up to Marvel not in money (as that's staying relatively consistent), but in units sold. That I would think would not be as affected by the trade paperback reprints of their legendary material. Also, Marvel has been far more prevalent then DC in the international reprint market, though since this is only counting North America, that information isn't present. The international reprints are the only reason when comicvine listed the number of appearances characters have made total, Marvel has dozens of characters that place in front of much older and historic characters.
http://www.comicvine.com/characters...publishers=&___friends=&___enemies=&___teams=
Glancing at just the 2013 data, Marvel has the most expensive graphic novels that reached the top 500 sales, as the most expensive DC in the top 500 was 39.99 (and that was only one book). Everything made by DC on the list is cheaper then that, whereas Marvel has multiple hundred dollar books. Of the top 25 graphic novels, Batman and Justice League are most of DC's results, and those were not gained by DC buying other companies, as they have been part of DC since they were created.
When figuring the effects the Marvel movies have had on comics, it is surprising that DC has been able to keep up. By whatever method they have used, they are closing the gap from ten years ago (once again assuming I'm reading the data right). Much of DC's sales though have come from the iconic franchises as Batman has been doing well, and Green Lantern, Superman, Flash and Wonder Woman have seen times of relative success in recent years. Many of those characters back in the 90s were viewed as stale and limping along, and now, for whatever reason, some are making a comeback (likely due to artists and writers). I don't read all these books, this is just observations.
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Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
I wonder if it's DC is closing the gap or the market is shrinking but the number of people who will buy Batman comics come heck or highwater is staying roughly the same. I know many long-time fans, especially female fans, have been turned off by many of the editorial decisions regarding many characters, including but not limited to Harley Quinn, Starfire, and Amanda Waller.
Certainly, they're not trying to capitalize on younger fans who might have been interested in buying comics thanks to cartoons like Young Justice, Batman: The Brave & The Bold, Green Lantern, or most notably Teen Titans. Dan Didio's response to the Kamandi pitch is indicative of a type of tunnel vision prevalent at DC these days.
Certainly, they're not trying to capitalize on younger fans who might have been interested in buying comics thanks to cartoons like Young Justice, Batman: The Brave & The Bold, Green Lantern, or most notably Teen Titans. Dan Didio's response to the Kamandi pitch is indicative of a type of tunnel vision prevalent at DC these days.
yoda_5729
Well-Known Member
In 2013 DC Comics had 49 of the 100 top selling single issues in comics (Top selling issue was overall #2)
In 1998 DC Comics had 8 of the 100 top selling single issues in comics. (top selling issue was overall #58)
Harley Quinn for the last three months has outsold any single X-Men comic book.
For what it's worth though, for the month of July, Marvel handily outpaced DC in both sales and units, though the month before it was similarly close as from 2013. The other months in 2014 showed Marvel ahead by sizable margins. The difference in sales could be attributed to Guardians of the Galaxy as two of the top 10 comics in July revolved around characters from the movie, and Spider-Man had a recent relaunch.
Also in July, the top 300 comics sold 8.09 million copies, which is up 11% from 2013, 17% from 2009, 32% from 2004, and 21% from 1999.
Don't get me wrong, I don't like some changes they make to the characters (the same can be said for Marvel), or how they portray characters. Also, sales aren't everything. Clearly I think both companies have things they need to work on, but I do have to give some respect to DC, during this entire period in which they have made this comeback was a time in which many of Marvel's characters broke into the mainstream through movies. After all, with the only exception of Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern (doubtful on that last one), their sales have not been inflated due to mainstream public attention coming to them from movies. Superman and Batman hardly needed the extra publicity.
Marvel isn't bulletproof in it's ideas, as the concept they'd celebrate a fabricated 100th Anniversary at the same time Batman is celebrating a genuine 75th anniversary is a bit lame. It'd be like going to someone's birthday and realizing they are getting all the presents and accolades, and just deciding that you'd lie about your birthday to get attention too. I don't want to make this into a list of all the bad, boneheaded ideas both companies have made because that would be way to long, and pointless. My only reason for bringing those stats up was I was surprised by them, and based on where DC came from in the 90s, it's a heck of a turn around. Maybe it'll just be temporary, and Marvel will go back to stomping them out, like in 1998.
In 1998 DC Comics had 8 of the 100 top selling single issues in comics. (top selling issue was overall #58)
Harley Quinn for the last three months has outsold any single X-Men comic book.
For what it's worth though, for the month of July, Marvel handily outpaced DC in both sales and units, though the month before it was similarly close as from 2013. The other months in 2014 showed Marvel ahead by sizable margins. The difference in sales could be attributed to Guardians of the Galaxy as two of the top 10 comics in July revolved around characters from the movie, and Spider-Man had a recent relaunch.
Also in July, the top 300 comics sold 8.09 million copies, which is up 11% from 2013, 17% from 2009, 32% from 2004, and 21% from 1999.
Don't get me wrong, I don't like some changes they make to the characters (the same can be said for Marvel), or how they portray characters. Also, sales aren't everything. Clearly I think both companies have things they need to work on, but I do have to give some respect to DC, during this entire period in which they have made this comeback was a time in which many of Marvel's characters broke into the mainstream through movies. After all, with the only exception of Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern (doubtful on that last one), their sales have not been inflated due to mainstream public attention coming to them from movies. Superman and Batman hardly needed the extra publicity.
Marvel isn't bulletproof in it's ideas, as the concept they'd celebrate a fabricated 100th Anniversary at the same time Batman is celebrating a genuine 75th anniversary is a bit lame. It'd be like going to someone's birthday and realizing they are getting all the presents and accolades, and just deciding that you'd lie about your birthday to get attention too. I don't want to make this into a list of all the bad, boneheaded ideas both companies have made because that would be way to long, and pointless. My only reason for bringing those stats up was I was surprised by them, and based on where DC came from in the 90s, it's a heck of a turn around. Maybe it'll just be temporary, and Marvel will go back to stomping them out, like in 1998.
Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
I'd have to check to see which DC titles are tops, but I'm betting most, if not all, are tied into Batman, Superman, or GL or they're a Justice League title, as those are pretty consistent.
PhilharMagician
Well-Known Member
The Comet is hands down one of the best roller coasters have ever been on. Built in 1927 and moved to the Great Escape by Charlie Wood (The original owner and builder of the park) in 1994 after Crystal Beach closed. It was in the top 10 wooden roller coasters in the world for many years after it's rebirth. It's getting close to it's 100th birthday.
Ok Rambling over
Yes and no. Six Flags (then owned by Bally) purchased the Chicago Great America park only. Marriott had already sold the California park, which is why the Chicago park still had the Looney Tunes license. When they sold the Chicago park, the license for Looney Tunes was transferred to Six Flags. When Warner Bros. purchased Six Flags, they actually forced a Batman theme on B&M's prototype inverted roller coaster at Six Flags Great America (which was going to have a hurricane-based theme). When Premier Parks purchased the parks from WB, they entered a new license agreement with WB to include DC as well. Unlike Universal and Marvel, I don't believe there are too many restricions with their use, and the license was for 50 years.The only reason the Looney Tunes were brought to the other Six Flags parks was when they Bought both Marriott Great America parks. They were the only parks that obtained the rights until the 1984 Buyout and then the Licence agreement went through to use them at every Six Flags Park.
Nope. Universal has the world-wide theme park rights to Harry Potter from JK Rowling directly. The license agreement with WB is to use the film designs and likenesses, so they didn't have to start from the ground-up. Marvel as a company owned the theme park rights to Marvel characters, but not the various film identities of the those characters, which is why Universal had to use the comics version (which is fine, in my opinion). So even if by some miracle (or curse) Disney ended up owning Universal, Disney still would not own the theme park rights, because Rowling had retained those rights and WB never owned them.
That's not even remotely true. For one thing, Geauga Lake was owned by Cedar Fair when it was closed, not Six Flags. Two: lack of themeing does not make an amusement park a permanent carnival with poorly maintained rides. And while I haven't been to all the Six Flags parks, I would never say the rides/games are poorly maintained. I think, operationally, they are making some mistakes and ruining efficiency in the process, but that's a different issue. The real problem is there are too many parks and they are all managed on the whims of each park's president with no major oversight or standards. But again, those are separate issues.