The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[Trauma]

I took it different- that UNI has tentative plans that go beyond what is already rumored and that this expansion would be on such a level as to hopefully force WDW's hand.

Meaning a 3rd gate? With it's already scheduled plans if they are able to add a 3rd gate and the hotel infrastructure to go along with it in the next 5 years that would be amazing. They currently steal 3 days away from my trips and if that happens they would probably be stealing 5.

 

[Suspirian]

I don't see it as strange at all. Fair amount of crossover between hard core fans of HHN and FaceOff. Allows Universal to develop five mini Scare-zones with original, iconic horror characters while also promoting a show on an NBC-owned station (synergy!). And HHN has at least 3 or 4 FaceOff alum already working at the event anyway.

I just didn't expect it. I'm excited for it over here in hollywood (sans dubstep). I love face off, although I need to catch up on the most recent seasons.

 

[Cesar R M]

Nope sorry. Just refurbished toilets in the American Pavilion.
But I hear they may "plus it" by upgrading the toilets to play a patriotic tune when you flush.

and maybe wave flags while you set the seat down?

 

[Darth Sidious]

Actually if they were a problem keeping them because they own DC then they would have to give them up. They can't sell them to anyone else and if they cant keep them then why would Disney pay for something they would have to be given for free. However I'm not sure I agree with you that keeping them would be a problem.

Contracturally no issues likely but they may decide they rather not continue both and they could let Disney buy the termination of the agreement. I don't know the details of the arrangement but I'd imagine only Disney could pay to terminate the agreement similar to the Paramount distribution agreement.

 

[Darth Sidious]

Kaz has stated that it is in their intent to keep the entertainment assets, however, I wonder if 2014 will change their minds.

I think there would be fewer overlaps with either TimeWarner or Viacom than one would think. You don't always have to spin out assets that reduce competition, just when you eliminate competition. You could even say that Fox could keep CNN and Fox News because MSNBC exists (although that seems doubtful).

But I agree I think AMC, Starz or Discovery is much more ripe for a Disney acquisition than TimeWarner or Viacom.

Fox has already stated part of the proposed merger was the sale of CNN. The government could find issue with a combined company owning two of the major three cable news outlets.

 

[Cesar R M]

I would expect to see Disney pursue AMC if anything. Companies like Viacom have too many assets that overlap the preexisting Disney business that they'd need to sell them (ex. Nickelodeon). If the TW-Fox deal happens Disney could be the eventual acquirer of CNN from the combined company since they'd sell it as part of the merger. I wonder if the TW-Fox deal would also cause Fox to sell Disney-Marvel back the movie rights to Fantastic Four and X-Men since they'd have DC Comics. I'm intrigued by this potential deal for sure.

Edit: as for Sony Entertainment, I wonder how Kaz views that segment. It hasn't been what they'd like but it has potential and various synergy opportunities with their PlayStation brand.

oh please god no.
Id hate to see Disney destroy Nick efforts.. specially AVATAR (the last airbender one) or TMNT.

 

[alphac2005]

Disney would not purchase CNN. They already have ABCNews.

Totally right. Merger talks have gone so deep with CBS News in the past that detailed post-merger plans had been put in place to implement if that occurred. Murdoch is going to keep fighting to get his slimy hands on TW, so we'll see. I fully expect CBS to buy CNN *if* this ever occurs. It sure feels like we're going back to the Standard Oil days of virtually no competition in most industries.

 

[George]

In response to the comments that dhs is in worse shape then epcot I agree but walking into epcot the other day just gave me a weird vibe.


Sure this is true but isn't the supposed fix coming in the form of Star Wars?

The only thing I have read about epcot is some frozen cardboard stuff on a moldy boat ride.

DHS needs major help but has a plan (Star Wars ) that I'm sure tdo will manage to screw up.

Epcot as far as I can tell has no plan at all.....

With regards to DHS, I wish they would expand Pixar Place. Referring to PP as a stand alone land seems completely ridiculous.

 

[seascape]

So because they already exist they don't count? Wow. That must be some powerful dust you're snorting.

I wonder what will happen first, their second park or our third. If theirs opens first I also wonder how far along our park would be at that time. Does anyone know where this new park would go?* I can't help but wonder if a certain Alley could be part of it (would rather we kept it exclusive but oh well, business is business I guess).
*Edit: I just looked it up and it's going to be built on a man made island 3km from the current park along with a casino and I think some kind of entertainment complex.

I was talking about internal expansion and new parks. I never said those parks don't count but Universal is being crushed in Asia.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Fox has already stated part of the proposed merger was the sale of CNN. The government could find issue with a combined company owning two of the major three cable news outlets.

Well no good can come from a Comcast/TWC merger. The consumer will continue to get screwed over and the government will do nothing to regulate this other than to roll over like a puppy to have it's belly scratched.

 

[alphac2005]

Yeah, here as well. I once had issues so bad with them that I wrote Brian Roberts and explained all of the things they did wrong and how they could have fixed them, they had me fixed up in less than a day and a week later a Comcast recruiter called and asked for my resume. I sent them my info but I declined the opportunity as I had just started a new job.

I think a lot of people don't believe that writing a well crafted letter directed at a corporate boss can really work, but they can. FedEx and Comcast both suffer from awful service issues and our company had several issues of absolutely unacceptable service by one of FedEx's divisions. It was some of the most unprofessional service that I've ever seen and I was given the private fax number for Fred Smith, who's the CEO of the company.

Less than a week later, his assistant called me at our office apologizing profusely, guaranteeing that all of the problems would be solved, and he made certain that I had all the direct contact information for he and Mr. Smith if anything else occurred. His assistant was had become fully aware of our business and knew about us up and down, showing that he actually took the time to go and do some research. I was quite impressed. The next day after our conersation, boom! Everything changed and all of the problems we had vanished. Somehow we ended up with FedEx service at our office no matter the type of service being delivered by their A.M. delivery deadline for overnights. Not bad. Complaining to the right places can work, especially when they are valid.

 

[doctornick]

I think the choice would have been more easier if DHS right now had DCA attendance numbers before DCA was redesigned and had expansions. The only way DHS can get the DCA treatment is Universal is able to take guests away from DHS. I think the 2 Universal parks are 3 to 6 years away from overtaking DHS in attendance though.

I mentioned the amount of years because IOA right now is around 2 million guest less than DHS according to 2013 TEA numbers and USF is around 3 million gusts less than DHS in 2013. My guess of amount of years is because Diagon Alley isn't enough to have USF to surpass DHS for attendance figures.

I don't think that it would be about DHS's attendance numbers vs Uni per se. The issue would be if DHS' attendance suffers and if in park spending decreases. That's what will get the attention of pencil pushers with Disney. If Uni increases attendance, but DHS remains stable despite doing nothing, the incentive to "do something" is not necessarily there -- leaders at Disney (apparently) aren't motivated with "winning" any sort of battle versus Universal.

 

[bhg469]

Well no good can come from a Comcast/TWC merger. The consumer will continue to get screwed over and the government will do nothing to regulate this other than to roll over like a puppy to have it's belly scratched.

no dave, 150 bucks is totally reasonable for cable.

 

[GLaDOS]

no dave, 150 bucks is totally reasonable for cable.

While Comcast is for sure to blame for that, channels like ESPN demanding more and more money are a problem as well.

The only way it's going to change is if people stop watching. Something I don't see happening any time soon.

 

[bhg469]

While Comcast is for sure to blame for that, channels like ESPN demanding more and more money are a problem as well.

The only way it's going to change is if people stop watching. Something I don't see happening any time soon.

Sounds really familiar. A company that seems to provide less, raises the prices at a much faster rate than inflation and charges an arm and a leg for an inferior product.

 

[Bolna]

no dave, 150 bucks is totally reasonable for cable.

Just out of interest for what cable prices are like in the US: 150 $ for how many channels, does it include HD and for what time period (week, month, year?)?

 

[xdan0920]

Just out of interest for what cable prices are like in the US: 150 $ for how many channels, does it include HD and for what time period (week, month, year?)?

$150 would be a decent price for cable + Internet. Yes HD. And it's per month.

Hundreds of channels.

 

[cw1982]

Just out of interest for what cable prices are like in the US: 150 $ for how many channels, does it include HD and for what time period (week, month, year?)?

$150 would be a monthly rate, and what's included will vary drastically depending on the package one picks. Sometimes it includes fewer channels but also includes Internet and/or home phone service. A big chunk of that, if that's the actual amount being paid, will be taxes and fees.

Edit: to add to what @xdan0920 said, it would include lots of channels but likely to have very few premium channels, like HBO and Showtime (unless it's during the first year of service, when people often get some kind of discount to sign up).

 

[Bolna]

$150 would be a decent price for cable + Internet. Yes HD. And it's per month.

Hundreds of channels.

$150 would be a monthly rate, and what's included will vary drastically depending on the package one picks. Sometimes it includes fewer channels but also includes Internet and/or home phone service. A big chunk of that, if that's the actual amount being paid, will be taxes and fees.

Edit: to add to what @xdan0920 said, it would include lots of channels but likely to have very few premium channels, like HBO and Showtime (unless it's during the first year of service, when people often get some kind of discount to sign up).

The most expensive cable I can get here in Germany which includes some premium channels, but not Sky, but also internet and phone (with unlimited calls within all of Germany) is 70 € per month, so 95$ (including all taxes and fees). Of course, there aren't hundreds of channels because we just plain don't have that many. But you would get well over one hundred.

 

[bhg469]

$150 would be a monthly rate, and what's included will vary drastically depending on the package one picks. Sometimes it includes fewer channels but also includes Internet and/or home phone service. A big chunk of that, if that's the actual amount being paid, will be taxes and fees.

Edit: to add to what @xdan0920 said, it would include lots of channels but likely to have very few premium channels, like HBO and Showtime (unless it's during the first year of service, when people often get some kind of discount to sign up).

This is about right. I pay about 175 a month because I have the whole house DVR service. When I had Showtime and HBO I was about $210 a month.