News The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors Extends Robert A. Iger’s Contract as CEO Through 2026

[networkpro]

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[Sirwalterraleigh]

They're going to avoid it as long as possible, because it's very unlikely they'll be able to make as much money going DTC.

See…I think that’s what they’ve been doing

I believe espn peaked in profitability in 2008

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Are the theme parks core to TWDC? Just asking.
We know D+ and their Movie business are.

My guess is ABC and the other TV stations are the assets they’re likely to sell, ESPN being the exception since it’s important to a D+ and/or Hulu streaming bundle. On the movie side I think Fox is probably the only thing they’d sell, although I think they’d retain rights to Marvel and a few other things.

I’d be shocked if they sold Pixar, Marvel, LucasFilm, ESPN, D+, Hulu, any of their long term studios, or the parks.

That said, if the price is right everything’s for sale.

 

[Nubs70]

That said, if the price is right everything’s for sale.

Like when your wife has a garage sale and you find out she sold your lawnmower.

 

[Batman'sParents]

Are the theme parks core to TWDC? Just asking.
We know D+ and their Movie business are.

Yes,100%. During the past few years, they and cruises have been the division keeping the company afloat.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Are the theme parks core to TWDC? Just asking.
We know D+ and their Movie business are.

Yes. Disney may keep pumping billions into D+ and their studios, but the parks have been very profitable for Disney.

 

[HauntedPirate]

In related news:

Media mogul Byron Allen made a $10 billion offer to The Walt Disney Company to purchase the ABC TV network, local stations, as well as the FX and National Geographic cable channels.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Yes,100%. During the past few years, they and cruises have been the division keeping the company afloat.

Well, the cruise line lost $325 million last fiscal year, but pre-pandemic it was a rather profitable division. But the parks have been Iger’s Cash Cow for 15+ years. Farmer Bob will keep milking them as long as possible. Keep producing, park guests, keep producing.

 

[GimpYancIent]

WDW needs to repurpose the star wars hotel into a Vegas style burlesque show.

I like the sound of that!

 

[ChrisKinney357]

Even if when cable/linear is dead dead, and streamer bundles are as much as cable used to be, we have this: Just about everything is now Video on Demand. No more missing shows because linear TV was... linear.

Except when they remove something from streaming, as is the trend right now.

 

[FutureCEO]

One of the main reasons why ABC and ESPN is going downhill (besides getting rid of cable) is sports. Sports brings in the viewers but also wicked expensive to get the rights to air them.

Though if I wanted to watch my favorite football teams, I would have to get Peacock and ESPN Plus. And I think Paramount has the UEFA league too.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

In related news:

Media mogul Byron Allen made a $10 billion offer to The Walt Disney Company to purchase the ABC TV network, local stations, as well as the FX and National Geographic cable channels.

If I were CEO, I would snap-call that, take the $10 billion, and build a 5th gate. I guess it’s a good thing I”m not CEO.

 

[Lilofan]

I like the sound of that!

The show could star Donald Duck who doesn't even wear pants.

 

[ABQ]

One of the main reasons why ABC and ESPN is going downhill (besides getting rid of cable) is sports. Sports brings in the viewers but also wicked expensive to get the rights to air them.

Though if I wanted to watch my favorite football teams, I would have to get Peacock and ESPN Plus. And I think Paramount has the UEFA league too.

That's a whole other issue. One would wonder if there will be a day that the bubble bursts on the cost of sports. From the price of an athlete's contract to the cost of admission to the cost of the broadcast rights. If the broadcasters cannot gain viewership, they will eventually be unable to purchase the rights, then what does the sport do? NBA+, MLB+? Direct to consumer. When my MLB stream today goes to a commercial break, I don't get the usual ad I would get if I were watching on NESN or YES or whatever.

 

[pdude81]

I'm sure the 10 billion also would buy ABC's content rights, which would be a blow to Hulu unless a long-term licensing deal were struck. I think they still license old shows to lesser known networks also to bring in money. My assumption is they'd love to unload the stations and would be fine with the ABC brand leaving, but content is king in the long run.

 

[Indy_UK]

On its own though is abc loosing Disney a ton of money compared to Disney+ bleeding money?

 

[Chip Chipperson]

That's a whole other issue. One would wonder if there will be a day that the bubble bursts on the cost of sports. From the price of an athlete's contract to the cost of admission to the cost of the broadcast rights. If the broadcasters cannot gain viewership, they will eventually be unable to purchase the rights, then what does the sport do? NBA+, MLB+? Direct to consumer. When my MLB stream today goes to a commercial break, I don't get the usual ad I would get if I were watching on NESN or YES or whatever.

I think MLB is dipping their toes into that already. They've taken over the broadcast rights for a few teams after their regional sports networks (Bally's and whatever AT&T owns/owned) defaulted on their payments. They already offer streaming for out-of-market games, but if they make enough money off these new DTC offerings for in-market games then that could become a viable option for other teams, too. YES started offering a DTC streaming package this season, but it's expensive as far as streaming services go and is only available if you're within their footprint, so anyone outside that area still would go with the MLB service (which is cheaper anyway).

 

[mikejs78]

On its own though is abc loosing Disney a ton of money compared to Disney+ bleeding money?

It's not - but the trends are there.

Quarter after quarter, ABC's revenue is declining sharply.

Quarter after quarter, Disney+ losses are declining sharply.

The trends are there for them to swap places in the next couple of years, if not sooner.

 

[larryz]

BURBANK, Calif., September 14, 2023 – The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) issued the following statement in response to media reports regarding our linear businesses.

“While we are open to considering a variety of strategic options for our linear businesses, at this time The Walt Disney Company has made no decision with respect to the divestiture of ABC or any other property and any report to that effect is unfounded.”

Just curious -- wouldn't this be significant enough to start its own thread, rather than tagging along with discussion over Iger's contract extension?

 

[Ayla]

You basically have to if you care about sports (well, or you can have Youtube TV etc. but that's basically the same thing).

Yep. Sports are the only reason we still have cable.