Why Disney Didn't Not Deal With Jim Henson to buy Sesame Street Too during Disney-Jim Henson deal in 1990s

[DisneyFan32]

Why the heck Disney did not have ask Jim Henson to have Sesame Street to join The Walt Disney Company during Disney-Jim Henson deal in 1989-1990?
Imagine Sesame Street will have a mini land along with Muppet Studios near by New York Street at Disney-MGM Studios during 1990s also PBS will air Sesame Street special called Sesame Street Visit Walt Disney World in 1990, I can see story plot that Big Bird meets Mickey Mouse, the Count loves to count all seven dwarfs at Magic Kingdom, Grover is being a doctor for Body Wars scene, Oscar the Grouch was doing his business in his trashcan in New York Street but Roger Rabbit ruins his day at Disney-MGM Studios, Elmo friends with Peter Pan and teaches him to fly to Neverland, Bert & Ernie visits Hall of Presidents, Mr. Snuffleupagus becomes a movie star at Disney-MGM Studios, Cookie Monster ates his cookies around the World Showcase at Epcot Center, the Disney princesses hang along with Kermit at Cinderella's Castle but Miss Piggy shows up and punches all princess not let them dating Kermit.



and more.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Don't know the answer, but I'm not sure that Hanson had any ownership of the program. He was part of it, but it I don't know if he had any say in the selling of it.

 

[ppete1975]

I think henson didnt want disney to have sesame street if I remember

 

[lazyboy97o]

Sesame Street is owned by Sesame Workshop, formerly known as Children’s Television Workshop. Jim Henson was hired by Children’s Television Workshop, he did not own the company so he could not sell it. He held rights related to the characters and things like the noggin cable television channel but not the entire show or company.

 

[ppete1975]

Simple answer when disney bought the muppets. Sesame street was already gone.
after EM.TV subsequently experienced major financial problems, it sold the rights to the Sesame Street Muppets and Henson's interest in the Noggin cable network to Sesame Workshop, and by the spring of 2001, just one year after buying the company, EM.TV had officially put the remainder of The Jim Henson Company up for sale. The Walt Disney Company, HIT Entertainment, TV mogul Haim Saban,[2] Classic Media,[3] Entertainment Rights, Viacom, and a management-led buyout headed by then-Henson CEO Charles Rivkin, were among the parties who showed interest in buying the Henson company.

In December of 2002, a deal was announced in which EM.TV would sell a 49.9% stake in Henson to an investment group led by Dean Valentine, a former executive at Disney and at UPN. However in March 2003, the deal fell through, and the search for a new buyer resumed. On May 7, 2003, the Henson family, led by Brian Henson, re-acquired the Jim Henson Company from EM.TV for $84 million, and the company was once again independent.

In 2004, almost one year after ownership of the Henson company was returned to the family's hands, The Jim Henson Company sold the rights to the Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue Housecharacters to The Walt Disney Company, who now control the Muppets through the wholly-owned subsidiary The Muppets Studio (formerly Muppets Holding Company LLC).

 

[Inspired Figment]

I think henson didnt want disney to have sesame street if I remember

Yep, he very clearly said that to Eisner & co. when he met up with them. That they weren’t getting the Sesame Street characters. Despite that however, Disney fought like hell to try and get Henson to back down on that.. but failed. (IMO, for the better)

 

[JIMINYCR]

I remember reading in an account once that Henson clashed with Eisner's approach and personality and the deal wasnt going to happen because of that. Money wasnt as much the problem but how Henson viewed how Eisner was to use the acquisition as the biggest issue that cancelled the deals.

 

[mergatroid]

Doesn't Sea World (I don't go there anymore) have a Sesame Street land/attraction now anyway? I'm aware that it didn't in the 90's by the way.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Doesn't Sea World (I don't go there anymore) have a Sesame Street land/attraction now anyway?

Yes, Sesame Street Land is at SeaWorld Orlando. So even if Disney had acquired Sesame Street it would have been like Marvel where the theme park rights would be held by others.

 

[some other guy]

yeah as far as I've ever heard Eisner was regularly hassling Henson about getting the Sesame Street characters and that it was a big sticking point in finalizing things?

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

At least Sea World can make a better Muppet-Based land compared to Disney's..

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Sesame Street is owned by Sesame Workshop, formerly known as Children’s Television Workshop. Jim Henson was hired by Children’s Television Workshop, he did not own the company so he could not sell it. He held rights related to the characters and things like the noggin cable television channel but not the entire show or company.

 

[bellarosemarie]

I remember going to Sesame Street Park on vacation in New Jersey as a child in the 80's. It was a waterpark and I loved it!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I remember going to Sesame Street Park on vacation in New Jersey as a child in the 80's. It was a waterpark and I loved it!

it’s still there much the same. It has a charm to it that is hard to beat