More "coincidences " post EiSner annoucement?

[Goofyposter]

1) DIS stock has closed up each day since, and

now, 2)

Weinsteins looking to stay with Disney - NY Post
Tue Sep 14, 2004 05:20 AM ET

NEW YORK, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who founded and run Walt Disney Co.'s (DIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Miramax Films unit, are now looking for a way to stay within the Disney fold, the New York Post said on Tuesday, citing no sources.
The brothers are no longer considering splitting up, the newspaper said, citing an unnamed source who said: "They're a package deal."

The change comes after Disney Chief Executive Michael Eisner announced plans to leave after his contract expires.

Disney is lukewarm to the idea of the brothers splitting up, and Harvey Weinstein for sentimental reasons doesn't want to walk away from the studio he founded and named for his parents, the newspaper said, citing no sources.

A spokesman for Burbank, California-based Disney declined to comment to the newspaper. Miramax spokesman Matthew Hiltzik told the newspaper that the Weinsteins "remain dedicated to achieving an amicable resolution that will allow Miramax to perpetuate Eisner's legacy, and their own."

Eisner has long had strained relations with the Weinsteins over such matters as Miramax's size, budgets and direction, as well the Weinsteins' compensation. Miramax last month cut some jobs to save money.

Harvey Weinstein and Eisner recently clashed over the former's backing of Michael Moore's scathing documentary on U.S. President George W. Bush, "Fahrenheit 9/11."

Earlier published reports suggested that Harvey Weinstein might split from Disney to run his own production company, while Bob Weinstein might stay at Disney to make movies.

Disney bought New York-based Miramax from the Weinsteins in 1993. Recent Miramax movies include "Chicago," "Cold Mountain" and "Kill Bill."

© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.


Could this be a trend?

 

[DancingBear]

Maybe Bob and Harvey realized they've got a pretty sweet deal at Disney after all? Surely you don't think Eisner's replacement is going to be any more excited about films like Fahrenheit 911 and Dogma? Harvey's "sentimental reasons" ring hollow to me.

It's not all about Eisner, after all. Well before Eisner's announcement, Jobs started changing his tune about re-upping Pixar with Disney after he tested the market a bit, and found out Disney has something to offer after all.

 

[crusader]

There's nothing sentimental at all when it comes to these two. No way would they be making these statements for any reason except money.

The coincidence is that they are using publicity to try and mask the fact that they couldn't get their greedy little hands on Miramax as long as Michael Eisner was in charge. Now they'll sit tight and put on an act like it's all on their terms.

What a ridiculous demonstration of nonsense.

 

[Chuck S]

You can bet if any other distributor had offered Pixar and the Weinsteins the same sweet deals and potential profits that Disney did, they'd have signed up with them by now. It is all economics and greed, they are simply using Eisner's announced retirement as an excuse to save face.

 

[DancingBear]

But ya' gotta love the line:

the Weinsteins "remain dedicated to achieving an amicable resolution that will allow Miramax to perpetuate Eisner's legacy

 

[raidermatt]

Just like the other thread, this is being over-simplified.

Of course its not a simple case of "Eisner says he's leaving, we hate him, so now we are staying."

But its also not likely just the Weinsteins trying to save face.

None of us can pretend to know exactly what is going on here, but again, to write off these statements as meaningless face-saving is probably not on target.

At the least, its possible both Pixar and the Weinsteins are waiting to see what Disney's leadership will look like over the next few years before making a decision.

They wouldn't be the first rich guys to refuse to work with another rich guy.