DIS Shareholders and Stock Info ONLY

[Elijah Abrams]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/b...cession-battles-roiling-hollywood-1236031274/

Deep Background: Behind the Scenes of the Succession Battles Roiling Hollywood

Call it executive Hunger Games: As Sony Pictures seamlessly hands over its CEO reins, Rupert Murdoch is locked into a high-stakes court battle for control of his media empire and all eyes are on the bake-off to take over for Bob Iger at Disney.

By Kim Masters, Alex Weprin
October 14, 2024 - 8:39am PDT

Nice that Dana Walden is friends with Kamala Harris. It's just that I feel if Dana becomes the new CEO, she'll make Disney even more "woke" and even more "girly". Plus, Dana has no experience in films and the film industry, just television.

 

[Cfabar1]

Nice that Dana Walden is friends with Kamala Harris. It's just that I feel if Dana becomes the new CEO, she'll make Disney even more "woke" and even more "girly". Plus, Dana has no experience in films and the film industry, just television.

I think if Damaro plays his cards right it will be him. Biggest thing he has working against him, the last guy who had the job ran the theme parks too....

The Entertainment division is having an existential crisis moment. It is an industry in decline. To me, if Disney wants an internal hire, it would be wise for it not to come from a division that is flailing around, and instead from Parks & Experiences. Really, I think an outsider would be best - a super creative talent. But I am not optimistic that will happen.

 

[OKW Lover]

I think if Damaro plays his cards right it will be him. Biggest thing he has working against him, the last guy who had the job ran the theme parks too....

As much as I like Josh, I doubt he will be the next CEO. He hasn't been exposed to the rest of the company. I think the new CEO needs experience not only in the Parks, but also the other segments of the business. Having experience in the financial end of the business would be a plus.

 

[wabbott]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/b...preview-stock-analyst-unrealistic-1236027096/

Netflix Earnings Preview: Analysts Bullish Despite a Warning of Unrealistic Expectations

Several finance experts have further raised their stock price targets, but at least one questioned if the stock has gotten ahead of itself given its gains so far this year.

October 15, 2024 - 10:14am PDT
by Georg Szalai

 

[wabbott]

https://variety.com/2024/digital/ne...-preview-price-increases-analysts-1236178473/

Oct 15, 2024 - 11:30am PDT
by Todd Spangler

Netflix Q3 Preview: Price Increases Could Be Coming Soon, Analysts Suggest

 

[RivShore]

As much as I like Josh, I doubt he will be the next CEO. He hasn't been exposed to the rest of the company. I think the new CEO needs experience not only in the Parks, but also the other segments of the business. Having experience in the financial end of the business would be a plus.

Of the internal candidates, who has that well rounded experience? I don't think any of them do.

A normal company would use the COO postilion to get them that company wide experience but DIS has failed at that type of transition too. What a mess...

The talk around Mayer and Staggs has been quiet for a long time, one of them could still be a good "outside" possibility.

 

[OKW Lover]

Of the internal candidates, who has that well rounded experience? I don't think any of them do.

Agree. I was just posting about Josh.

The talk around Mayer and Staggs has been quiet for a long time, one of them could still be a good "outside" possibility.

Imagine the exodus if one of them came in.

 

[wabbott]

Meanwhile, at PARA

https://deadline.com/2024/10/paramo...bins-george-cheeks-chris-mccarthy-1236116799/

Paramount Grants Co-CEOs Additional Stock Awards Worth $3 Million, Other Sweeteners

By Jill Goldsmith - Co-Business Editor
October 15, 2024 - 2:44pm PDT

 

[Elijah Abrams]

Of the internal candidates, who has that well rounded experience? I don't think any of them do.

I believe Alan Bergman has a well rounded experience with Disney, since, like I’ve said before a couple times, he has been with them since 2001. He probably knows a lot about it, and I bet he knows Michael Eisner.

 

[afan]

I believe Alan Bergman has a well rounded experience with Disney, since, like I’ve said before a couple times, he has been with them since 2001. He probably knows a lot about it, and I bet he knows Michael Eisner.

Neither of those are reasons for someone to be ceo of any company if you replace Disney and eisner with any other company and former ceo.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

I think they are at a point of needing an Eisner Wells type of hire. The biggest difference currently is that the company seems to be functioning well under Eiger (at least recently, and in his past tenure). I still think they need a shake up to get everyone else back on their toes

 

[RivShore]

I think they are at a point of needing an Eisner Wells type of hire. The biggest difference currently is that the company seems to be functioning well under Eiger (at least recently, and in his past tenure). I still think they need a shake up to get everyone else back on their toes

I agree on a hire that shakes things up a bit but then you run the risk of mass exodus as @OKW Lover noted above.

I think a solution I mentioned on here a long time ago still might be best - co-CEO's - take the 3 heads of the business units and make them equal CEO's. Very similar to what Paramount is doing, what Netflix has done and what a few other major companies have done. It doesn't solve the shakeup this company needs but it does solve for the exodus of talent when just one is named. And a side benefit, it would be much harder for the board to become captive to a single CEO, as it was during much of Iger's tenure.

​

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

I agree on a hire that shakes things up a bit but then you run the risk of mass exodus as @OKW Lover noted above.

I think an solution I mentioned on here a long time ago still might be best - co-CEO's - take the 3 heads of the business units and make them equal CEO's. Very similar to what Paramount is doing, what Netflix has done and what a few other major companies have done. It doesn't solve the shakeup this company needs but it does solve for the exodus of talent when just one is named. And a side benefit, it would be much harder for the board to become captive to a single CEO, as it was during much of Iger's tenure.

​

I think you may screw the culture in the company, who plays tie breaker in that scenario who approves budgets and has the power to Vito ideas. I think that it may have potential but someone still needs to reign supreme. Maybe 1 outside CEO and elevate a bunch of internal candidates or shuffle them around to give them more experience in different areas to see who rises to the top

 

[wabbott]

https://www.reuters.com/business/me...gets-with-5-million-new-customers-2024-10-17/

Netflix beats earnings targets with 5 million new customers
By Lisa Richwine and Dawn Chmielewski
October 17, 2024 - 3:06 PM CDT

LOS ANGELES, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Streaming video pioneer Netflix picked up 5.1 million subscribers in the third quarter, topping Wall Street estimates by more than 1 million users, the company said in its earnings report on Thursday.

Investors had expected Netflix to bring in 4 million subscribers from July through September, according to analysts' estimates compiled by LSEG. New programming during the period included murder mystery "The Perfect Couple" and romantic comedy "Nobody Wants This."

Diluted earnings per share landed at $5.40, above the consensus forecast of $5.12. Revenue hit $9.825 billion, just ahead of the $9.769 billion consensus forecast.

The company said its operating margin hit 30% in the quarter, compared with 22% a year earlier.

 

[wabbott]

Interesting article on cable vs broadband.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cable-companies-another-cord-cutting-100000418.html

Cable Companies Have Another Cord-Cutting Problem: Broadband

by Kelcee Griffis
Thu, October 17, 2024 at 5:00 AM CDT

(Bloomberg) -- Cable companies have long contended with consumers who drop their TV bundles for streaming. But Comcast Corp. and Charter Communications Inc. are also losing subscribers on another front: broadband.

Cable providers may lose up to 481,000 internet customers in the third quarter, according to estimates from SNL Kagan and Bloomberg Intelligence, the worst ever decline for the industry. The expiration of a government subsidy program and phone companies signing up home internet customers for wireless connections help explain the losses.

Verizon Communications Inc., T-Mobile US Inc. and AT&T Inc. are expected to report they added more than 900,000 broadband customers in the third quarter, including wireless home service and fiber, according to according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

The winners have been telephone companies selling fiber connections and home wireless service powered by their 5G networks. T-Mobile sells wireless internet plans for the home at $50 a month, compared with the average cable internet bill of $65 to $70 — an attractive proposition buoying the carriers as they get set to report third-quarter results next week.

T-Mobile added 406,000 home broadband subscribers last quarter and is projected to report another gain of 401,000 in the third quarter, the average of estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Analysts project Verizon will add 223,000 home wireless customers. AT&T, which got into the fixed wireless game a little later, is projected to sign up 147,000 fixed wireless subscribers in the third quarter.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

Interesting article on cable vs broadband.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cable-companies-another-cord-cutting-100000418.html

Cable Companies Have Another Cord-Cutting Problem: Broadband

by Kelcee Griffis
Thu, October 17, 2024 at 5:00 AM CDT

(Bloomberg) -- Cable companies have long contended with consumers who drop their TV bundles for streaming. But Comcast Corp. and Charter Communications Inc. are also losing subscribers on another front: broadband.

Cable providers may lose up to 481,000 internet customers in the third quarter, according to estimates from SNL Kagan and Bloomberg Intelligence, the worst ever decline for the industry. The expiration of a government subsidy program and phone companies signing up home internet customers for wireless connections help explain the losses.

Verizon Communications Inc., T-Mobile US Inc. and AT&T Inc. are expected to report they added more than 900,000 broadband customers in the third quarter, including wireless home service and fiber, according to according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

The winners have been telephone companies selling fiber connections and home wireless service powered by their 5G networks. T-Mobile sells wireless internet plans for the home at $50 a month, compared with the average cable internet bill of $65 to $70 — an attractive proposition buoying the carriers as they get set to report third-quarter results next week.

T-Mobile added 406,000 home broadband subscribers last quarter and is projected to report another gain of 401,000 in the third quarter, the average of estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Analysts project Verizon will add 223,000 home wireless customers. AT&T, which got into the fixed wireless game a little later, is projected to sign up 147,000 fixed wireless subscribers in the third quarter.

makes you think that cable companies may finally have real competition in the marketplace. Maybe there will finally be a fair market in terms of cable that drags prices lower for consumers.

 

[wabbott]

makes you think that cable companies may finally have real competition in the marketplace. Maybe there will finally be a fair market in terms of cable that drags prices lower for consumers.

Lots more wireless coverage than there used to be. Recall how cell phone coverage has improved over the past 5 to10 years. Dead spots are a rare thing nowadays.

 

[RivShore]

makes you think that cable companies may finally have real competition in the marketplace. Maybe there will finally be a fair market in terms of cable that drags prices lower for consumers.

Count us among those who said bye bye to Spectrum internet and moved over to VZ wireless. Speed is just a bit less but it is almost half the cost.

 

[wabbott]

Some good news.

https://deadline.com/2024/10/moana-2-box-office-projection-1236120216/

‘Moana 2’ To Catch A Big Wave Over Thanksgiving With Potential $100M+ 5-Day Opening; $75M+ 3-Day – Box Office Early Look

by By Anthony D'Alessandro - Editorial Director/Box Office Editor
October 18, 2024 - 11:26am PDT

 

[HokieRaven5]

The Walt Disney Company Board Names James P. Gorman as Chairman, Effective January 2, 2025

He Will Succeed Mark G. Parker, Who Is Departing After Nine Years of Service on the Disney Board

Gorman Provides Update on Succession Planning Process, Says Board Plans to Announce Disney’s Next CEO in Early 2026

The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors (the “Board”) has named James P. Gorman as Chairman of the Board, effective January 2, 2025. He will succeed Mark G. Parker, who is departing the Disney Board on January 2 after nine years of service.

Gorman is Executive Chairman of Morgan Stanley and, as previously announced, will be stepping down from that role on December 31, 2024. He is currently Chair of the Disney Board’s Succession Planning Committee, which is working to identify and prepare the next chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company.

“James Gorman is an esteemed leader who has become an invaluable voice on the Disney Board since joining earlier this year, and I am extremely pleased that he has agreed to assume the role of Chairman upon my departure. Drawing on his vast experience, James is expertly guiding the extensive search process for a new CEO, which remains a top priority for the Board,” said Parker, who is Executive Chairman of NIKE, Inc. “As I prepare to leave the Board to focus on other areas of my work, I am proud of Disney’s renewed position of strength and excited for the company’s future, and I want to thank my fellow directors, Bob Iger and his exemplary management team for their continued strong leadership and dedication.”

“The Disney Board has benefited tremendously from James Gorman’s expertise and guidance, and we are lucky to have him as our next Chairman – particularly as the Board continues to move forward with the succession process,” Iger said. “I’m extremely grateful to Mark Parker for his many years of Board service and leadership, which have been so valuable to this company and its shareholders, and to me as CEO.”

“I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to serve as Disney’s Chairman at this important moment in the company’s history,” Gorman said. “In the short time I have had the opportunity to work with Mark, I have come to appreciate and deeply respect his authentic leadership, humility and intelligence. I know all Directors join me in saying we have been honored to serve with him as the Chairman of the Board.”

“A critical priority before us is to appoint a new CEO, which we now expect to announce in early 2026. This timing reflects the progress the Succession Planning Committee and the Board are making, and will allow ample time for a successful transition before the conclusion of Bob Iger’s contract in December 2026,” Gorman said.