Disney in MAJOR trouble

[dcentity2000]

"Well hi there everybody!"

Things may be very bad for Walt Disney.
Aside from other things, the Disney spirit seems no longer to exist.
A few days ago, the 'volatile' and 'brilliant' head of Apple Computers and Pixar - Steve Jobs, the man who rescued Apple from 0.7% market share to 10% with the iMac - stormed away from discussions with Disney over their contract. Now only two further films will be made for Disney and at a time when Pixar accounts for 40% of all Walt Disney profits this could not be worse news - especially given the Roy Disney, the last surviving Disney family member in the company and other board members have also resigned and left for the same reason as Jobs - Michael Eisner, the CEO of Disney, brushed them up the wrong way.
Or did he? Remember, without Eisner the company could well have gone in to liquidation by now. Eisner is brilliant and furiously independent; unfortunately so was Jobs, who left in a veritable tornado of insults. Roy Disney wrote a letter accusing Eisner of building parks 'on the cheap', saying that 'it shows'; Eisner retorted, calling him the 'Idiot Nephew'. Jobs cited a condescending and insulting attitude by Eisner despite the fact that Apple was rumoured to be poised to BUY Disney out, as well as numerous shots taken at his company, especially over the 'Rip, Mix, Burn' campaign (which apparently made Jobs go red with rage). Eisner retorted, pointing out that Disney needed to hold on to the rights it needed and that Pixar was being petulant and greedy...
SHOULD EISNER HAVE LET THIS MAN WALK?
Remember, the last 3 Disney films have all bombed - Brother Bear was good, but it was a relative disappointment. Atlantis did poorly and so did Treasure Plant. Contrast that with Monsters Inc., Toy Story and Finding Nemo (the highest grossing animated film EVER). So has Eisner let his personal feelings towards his only contestant to the 'most brilliant mad CEO ever' title get in his way of keeping Disney safe, even afloat?

Pixar are now in talks with Warner Brothers, Universal and various others (according to rumour).


You decide.



Rich::

 

[grinningghost]

All I know is I got a "Goodbye Michael. Bring Back Roy" bumper sticker in the mail the other day from savedisney.com

Looks like things are really heating up.

 

[dcentity2000]

"Well hi there everybody!"

http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2004/commentary040206RAM.htm
Suggests that Steve Jobs may become the CEO of Disney. Which would mean MASSIVE changes all over. Especially the theme parks. Judging by the way Jobs acts, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Paris park close.

I actually feel really sorry for Eisner. Without him, Disney may not be here now and he's toiling under the reputation of Walt, be it deserved or not.

Poor guy


Rich ::