10.31.2012

Thoughts on the Disney - Lucas deal



Disney Deal to Spur Sibling Rivalries
Excerpt:


Walt Disney Co.'s proposed $4.05 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd. expands its portfolio to "Star Wars" series, but risks diluting the 89-year-old entertainment empire's Disney-branded film franchise.

...Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger indicated this week that the coming "Star Wars" films will supplant Disney movies on the release schedule. Disney doesn't plan to spend more than it already does on film production, Mr. Iger said, meaning each new "Star Wars" film will lead to one less Disney film.
Comments:
  • I have not and do not intend to invest in Disney. Why:
    • Low dividend of 1.2%
    • I don't trust the movie business with the funky movie accounting.
    • I'm not that impressed with the product that Disney produces
  • I've seen all of the Star Wars films. The first three were ground-breaking and entertaining.
  • The 2nd set of 3 were terrible.
  • The Star Wars francise has jumped the shark

7 comments:

  1. More: How Disney Will Cash in on Lucas Deal:

    With Disney's global retail reach, Pachter says he expects to see Star Wars (and Indiana Jones) merchandise become even more prevalent in the near- to mid-term. Additionally, he notes, Disney will be better able to exploit the Lucas properties in its broad media holdings, creating more licensing opportunities.
    That's something Disney has said it intends to make a priority.
    "In 2012 Lucasfilm's consumer products business is expected to generate total licensing revenue that is comparable to the roughly $215 million in consumer products revenue Marvel generated in 2009, the year in which we announced our acquisition," said Jay Rasulo, senior executive vice president and CFO of Disney. "With renewed film releases, and the support we can give the Star Wars property on our Disney-branded TV channels, we expect that business to grow substantially and profitably for many years to come."

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  2. The Onion: Disney Buys Lucasfilm For $4 Billion

    I’m looking forward to all the attractive, multiethnic teen Jedi Knights with names like Obi-Juan and Liu Skywalker.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 12/4: Example of Hollywood accounting: Court upholds $319M verdict against Disney over 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' profits

    A jury decided in 2010 that Disney hid the show's profits from its creators, London-based Celador International. The ruling Monday by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found no issues with the verdict or with a judge's rulings in the case.

    "I am pleased that justice has been done," Celador Chairman Paul Smith said in a statement.

    Disney did not immediately comment on the decision.

    The ruling comes more than two years after the jury ruled in Celador's favor after a lengthy trial that featured testimony from several top Disney executives. The company sued in 2004, claiming Disney was using creative accounting to hide profits from the show, which first ran in the United States from August 1999 to May 2002 and was a huge hit for ABC.

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  4. Disney's 'Lone Ranger' Could Lead to $150 Million Loss (Analysis):

    Just as Lone Ranger began rolling out in theaters July 3, Cowen & Co. analyst Doug Cruetz predicted a $100 million write-down for Disney. Now, box office experts and rival studio insiders tell The Hollywood Reporter that the loss could approach or even surpass $150 million based on final opening numbers, although they add that Disney likely can weather the storm thanks to summer box office hits Iron Man 3 and Monsters University.

    ReplyDelete

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