Mission:SPACE Sponsorship?

[larworth]

Some comments on SPACE

"We did take down the countdown clock, but there isn't any delay with the construction of Mission: Space," said Bill Warren, a Disney World spokesman.
I thought the countdown clock was for April 30th, 2003 not memorial day. Whichevver, glad to hear it is on schedule. But I’m a little confused by this statement

And besides, Currid revealed last week that his company isn't a sponsor of Mission: Space in the traditional sense. "Compaq isn't funding it . . . they're buying our technology. It's a purchase deal," he said. I thought the kicker in the deal was Disney agreeing to buy Compaq computers, but aren't they anteing up some major dinero, as well?

[mrtoadslastride]

Maybe Compaq didn't pony up the cash as in a traditional sponsorship deal, but I bet Disney didn't pay MRSP on the technology (ie computers) they "bought" from Comaq.

[Bstanley]

From the Compaq Corp Website:

In November 2000, Walt Disney Internet Group and Compaq Computer Corp. announced a three-year agreement naming Compaq as the preferred technology provider to the Walt Disney Internet Group and partner in delivering the Disney "magic" online. The agreement represented a substantial commitment by Compaq to advertise on Walt Disney Internet Group Web sites and a significant purchase of Compaq hardware and technology services by Walt Disney Internet Group.

It would appear that Compaq did not provide cash to Disney directly instead they worked a 'deal' where Compaq would (perhaps) provide hardware to Disney at a nice discount, and commit to a certain amount of advertising revenue on "Disney Online" - you know, those nice little "Powered by Compaq" labels on all the GO.COM webpages.

One imagines it all adds up to whatever money Disney needed to underwrite Mission Space.