News Tom Staggs - Kevin Mayer have returned

[Trauma]

Disney CEO Bob Iger Taps Kevin Mayer, Tom Staggs to Consult on Linear TV Business, Streaming Strategy

Disney CEO Bob Iger has tapped Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs to consult on linear TV business and streaming strategy for the company.

www.thewrap.com

What impact will this have ?

 

[Tha Realest]

Disney CEO Bob Iger Taps Kevin Mayer, Tom Staggs to Consult on Linear TV Business, Streaming Strategy

Disney CEO Bob Iger has tapped Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs to consult on linear TV business and streaming strategy for the company.

www.thewrap.com

What impact will this have ?

It will cloud and muddy the succession plans, to the extent there are any, given the charter seems to be figuring out how to spin off certain assets?

 

[Trauma]

It will cloud and muddy the succession plans, to the extent there are any, given the charter seems to be figuring out how to spin off certain assets?

I wonder if other assets will be in play beyond ESPN?

 

[TsWade2]

Yippee skippy! I wonder if they’ll be Co-CEOs of Disney in 2026.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Oh look Iger has hand picked some people to blame next

 

[Indy_UK]

I do think another duo in charge is much needed with how big Disney has become.

 

[Trauma]

Yippee skippy! I wonder if these they’ll be Co-CEOs of Disney in 2026.

That will never happen but if it did I would love to see those meetings.

 

[celluloid]

Disney CEO Bob Iger Taps Kevin Mayer, Tom Staggs to Consult on Linear TV Business, Streaming Strategy

Disney CEO Bob Iger has tapped Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs to consult on linear TV business and streaming strategy for the company.

www.thewrap.com

What impact will this have ?

Them coming up with a moderate solution that if works, Bob Iger takes credit for?

 

[Slpy3270]

Lot of people crowing about Disney stock today over this news, but that doesn't explain why other media stock are soaring today at comparable or higher rates.

And no, I don't think this signals Iger is actually serious about getting rid of the linear networks, not when profitability remains high.

These appointments will likely amount to the same as Zaslav's appointment of Alan Horn as Warner Bros. Discovery advisor: as in, nothing.

 

[Trauma]

Them coming up with a moderate solution that if works, Bob Iger takes credit for?

This also gives investors something to consider beyond the next earnings call.

Something Iger desperately needs.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I wonder if other assets will be in play beyond ESPN?

ABC and the cable networks BESIDES ESPN are in play.

ESPN is not.

ESPN is open to a "strategic partner" to come in and buy a piece of it, but Disney has said that they're not selling off ESPN entirely.

 

[Trauma]

ABC and the cable networks BESIDES ESPN are in play.

ESPN is not.

ESPN is open to a "strategic partner" to come in and buy a piece of it, but Disney has said that they're not selling off ESPN entirely.

I’ve never followed the ESPN storyline closely.

Who are the potential strategic partners?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Who are the potential strategic partners?

Could come from a few different categories.

Tech: Apple, Amazon, Meta, Google, Twitter, Microsoft, Roku, Verizon, T-Mobile

Leagues: NFL, NBA, MLB

Betting: DraftKings, FanDuel, MGM

Wildcard: Comcast

 

[TsWade2]

That will never happen but if it did I would love to see those meetings.

You never know! But we’ll see.

 

[Trauma]

You never know! But we’ll see.

It’s hard to get excited at all about this.

The last thing this company needs is more Black Rock stooges.

 

[Mmoore29]

ABC and the cable networks BESIDES ESPN are in play.

ESPN is not.

ESPN is open to a "strategic partner" to come in and buy a piece of it, but Disney has said that they're not selling off ESPN entirely.

There's rumors Disney will buy out Candle Media (meaning Disney would inherit Moonbug, Hello Sunshine and a minority stake of Westbrook Inc.) to have Staggs and Mayer return fully to Disney and be back in the succession debate, not to mention impact Reese Witherspoon and Will Smith's projects and effectively mean Disney is now their first-look partner.

At the very least, as I've stressed, Disney will not sell ABC, ESPN (except potentially getting the sports leagues to take minority stakes) and Disney Channel. The overseas pay-TV assets are certainly up for grabs, though. But NOT ABC, NOT ESPN, and NOT DISNEY CHANNEL.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

There's rumors Disney will buy out Candle Media (meaning Disney would inherit Moonbug, Hello Sunshine and a minority stake of Westbrook Inc.) to have Staggs and Mayer return fully to Disney and be back in the succession debate, not to mention impact Reese Witherspoon and Will Smith's projects and effectively mean Disney is now their first-look partner.

Is this a credible rumor based on today's news that Mayer and Staggs have been consulting, or is this the same thing that's been floated ever since Chapek was fired?

 

[Mmoore29]

Is this a credible rumor based on today's news that Mayer and Staggs have been consulting, or is this the same thing that's been floated ever since Chapek was fired?

It's definitely appeared in TheWrap today, that Candle Media is supposedly looking for a buyer, and Disney is now the prime candidate. So that might happen.

Also, again, I politely disagree with you, but ABC is NOT in play. People think it is, but Disney's never going to sell the network, and there are no credible buyers for it.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It's definitely appeared in TheWrap today, that Candle Media is supposedly looking for a buyer, and Disney is now the prime candidate. So that might happen.

Also, again, I politely disagree with you, but ABC is NOT in play. People think it is, but Disney's never going to sell the network, and there are no credible buyers for it.

The buyer for ABC wouldn't be a media company, it would be an investment bank to come in and strip it for parts. Good Morning America is obscenely expensive when it's run by a brand-conscious conglomerate.

 

[Mmoore29]

The buyer for ABC wouldn't be a media company, it would be an investment bank to come in and strip it for parts. Good Morning America is obscenely expensive when it's run by a brand-conscious conglomerate.

There is no future for ABC outside of Disney. It can't survive under another buyer or spun out. They both need each other. And when Iger talked about linear TV assets on the block, he NEVER said "ABC might be." The press just ASSUMED that.