Disney sale to Apple

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

There's a solid rumour floating around the net that Apple is plotting to buy Disney. From the little I've gleaned, Apple could feasibly do this (they're a monster of a company) and Cook is a big Disney fan; but do you think it will actually happen? Poll to follow...

 

[EveV]

I know that some of the largest shareholders of Apple are also very large shareholders of Disney... and the board at Disney is very split in terms of getting along. In terms of tech-- it's match for the tech stacks and likely to offer both access to some great content and platforms. It's a very real discussion among the execs. Iger left the Apple board in 2019, amid competition concerns, but remained friendly, apparently. I could see this working.

 

[BrianL]

I don't know if it's a "solid" rumor, but more like specualtion tha tpops up from time to time. I really don't think it's realistic though as I don't think Apple wants to be in all the business that Disney is in. I could see some kind of partnership maybe, but I don't think a buyout is even on the table.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I think the question is, would a deal be advantageous to both parties? What does Disney bring to the party? Parks and TV rights, right? Apple? A line of computers and, like Disney, TV rights.

 

[GreatLakes]

I think it is less likely than likely.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Gosh, I hope not! That would just be too big a company. Both of them are huge and control a lot of their respective markets. We don't need that doubled-up.

Plus, it's already annoying having to be glued to smartphone apps to navigate Disney now. How much worse would it be if the folks in charge of that also sold the phones? (And would we have yet another two-tier system if those apps only worked "just right" on iPhones?)

 

[superme80]

I am very much against this. PollyannaMom already posted most of my concerns. I hate these huge companies.

 

[tvguy]

I can't say what Apple wants to do, but the Disney purchase of ABC barely passed anti-trust tests. I think if a sale was proposed regulators would kill it.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I remember reading somewhere that Apple had grown so much it could literally buy the Russian economy - with enough left over to buy every adult an iPhone. Could be exaggeration.

 

[MillauFr]

I am very much against this. PollyannaMom already posted most of my concerns. I hate these huge companies.

But you still go to Disneyland?

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I dunno. I like the idea of Tim Cook being in control of Disney. Under his stewardship, Apple has enjoyed massive growth, trend setting ways and an ability to branch out into new markets (Apple Music, Beats headwear, a complete hardware and software range, a TV empire, mobile deveices, home speakers, watches, a Tivo like device and more). I could see this same winning formulae making Disney elite again.

 

[superme80]

But you still go to Disneyland?

There is a point where companies become a monopoly. An Apple/Disney merger would be that. I would feel that way if Meta merged with Disney or Google's parent company. I don't begrudge large corporations. When they branch out to stifle competition or cover one too many things, I have issues. Seriously Disney should probably be broken up into different companies, but it won't.

 

[RamblingMad]

Not gonna happen. Way too much overhead.

 

[Jwaire]

One of the dumbest rumors. Apple doesn't want Disney or Disney's legacy assets. It's not in their core mission.

 

[MillauFr]

There is a point where companies become a monopoly. An Apple/Disney merger would be that. I would feel that way if Meta merged with Disney or Google's parent company. I don't begrudge large corporations. When they branch out to stifle competition or cover one too many things, I have issues. Seriously Disney should probably be broken up into different companies, but it won't.

Which sectors would a combined Apple / Disney have a monopoly if they combined?

 

[superme80]

Which sectors would a combined Apple / Disney have a monopoly if they combined?

I think the issue is 2 giant companies combining is the issue. It may not be a complete monopoly, but it does squash smaller companies, and makes things harder for them. Now you may be totally on board with that, and that is fine. I just do not like just giant companies and that is it. The food industry has these problems. Nestle owns so much. I think "parent companies" is my issue. Now IF, and it is a big IF, they attempt to merge, the government may shoot it down. I have no legal or business reason WHY I dislike it. I just hate companies being swallowed up by other companies. I don't think it does anyone any good.

 

[Colleen27]

Which sectors would a combined Apple / Disney have a monopoly if they combined?

Horizontal monopolies (total control of a sector) aren't the only thing regulators concern themselves with. A Disney/Apple merger would create a lot of potential for abuse as far as the vertical goes, with control of such a huge share of the market in so many areas where substitution effects are limited. For example, the company deciding making Disney+ content or WDW apps or specific features exclusive to those who buy into their device ecosystem, so you can only access certain elements from an iPhone. Or, probably more likely because it would be less transparent to the consumer and therefore provoke less outrage, a behind-the-scenes favoring of their own tech in prioritizing traffic to high-demand features like Genie+/boarding groups so iPhone users would be more likely to succeed in the game of milliseconds that we all play to get access to high-demand park experiences.

Remember, it wasn't a monopoly in the operating system arena that got Microsoft in trouble with federal regulators, it was the use of their market power in that area to force/coerce users into adopting other Microsoft products. A combined Apple/Disney conglomerate would carry with it immense potential to do the same thing, and potentially to do so in some very opaque ways.

 

[MillauFr]

I think Disney Apple would be as successful as ITT was back in the 60s and 70s.

 

[MillauFr]

If anything I think that Disney will shrink by dumping the albatross that ESPN is.

 

[fla4fun]

I don’t see Apple wanting to be in the theme park and hospitality business. What happens if Apple decides to sell that part off, but won’t let the new park owners use any Disney IP because Apple owns it? Would people go to Disney parks if all the Disney was stripped away? I wouldn’t.