OK Disney --- what's your move ???

[corky441]

CNN is reporting the sale of DreamWorks to Comcast/NBC/Universal for$3.8 billion dollars

Things are going to get interesting in the Theme parks on both coasts

 

[SarahDisney]

This is going to be interesting ...

 

[cxcelica]

Very interesting. In terms of right now, its a nice move, but not a complete game changer.

Dreamworks has stumbled alot recently and most of their franchises are either stale/getting stale or have not been successful.

However, Disney has been able to breathe alot of life into "stale" or faded franchises recently, so theres no doubt that with the right people and the right IP, you can do some great things.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Not sure if Disney needs to make a move, and rather, I see this as Universal responding to Disney acquiring Lucasfilm and Marvel

I do think this ramps up the intellectual property Universal has for use in a 3rd park - so this combined with Nintendo gives them a lot

 

[rteetz]

Jeffrey Katzenburg is out as Dreamworks CEO with this deal as well. One thing Comcast and universal lacked was content. Now with ownership of Dreamworks that gives them content. Universal Orlando has 470+ acres and Nintendo in their back pocket. Add in Dreamworks that third park will be here in no time. I've also heard that there are some execs within Comcast that want to directly go at Disney. Disney won't worry yet, they will start to worry when they lose market share though or when universal gains it faster than they already are.

 

[rteetz]

Not sure if Disney needs to make a move, and rather, I see this as Universal responding to Disney acquiring Lucasfilm and Marvel

I do think this ramps up the intellectual property Universal has for use in a 3rd park - so this combined with Nintendo gives them a lot

I think Comcast also wants something to directly go at Pixar and Disney animation with. This also gives them something when cable cutting becomes an even bigger problem.

 

[cxcelica]

I think Comcast also wants something to directly go at Pixar and Disney animation with. This also gives them something when cable cutting becomes an even bigger problem.

I think its more about your second point. This helps to grow Comcast's library of content especially distribution to T.V.On Demand services etc.

Comcast already had Illumination Entertainment, which over the past five years has probably been more successful than Dreaworks.

 

[SarahDisney]

I agree with all of the points about Comcast doing this to compete with Disney and grow their library. This can definitely be a big thing for Universal, and I'm interested to see how it plays out over the coming months and years.

That said ... I'm wondering if Disney will see it that way and "ignore" this until it starts to cut into their market share or if they will panic and have some knee-jerk reaction. I'm hoping its the former, but we'll see.

 

[rteetz]

I agree with all of the points about Comcast doing this to compete with Disney and grow their library. This can definitely be a big thing for Universal, and I'm interested to see how it plays out over the coming months and years.

That said ... I'm wondering if Disney will see it that way and "ignore" this until it starts to cut into their market share or if they will panic and have some knee-jerk reaction. I'm hoping its the former, but we'll see.

They definitely won't have a knee jerk reaction with their current management. They aren't going to do squat until it cuts into their marketshare. The places that are going to lose out terribly in this is SeaWorld and Legoland, and other smaller parks. Marketshare is going to be the biggest thing to watch now.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

They definitely won't have a knee jerk reaction with their current management. They aren't going to do squat until it cuts into their marketshare. The places that are going to lose out terribly in this is SeaWorld and Legoland, and other smaller parks. Marketshare is going to be the biggest thing to watch now.

I almost wonder if it would be better for Legoland and/or SeaWorld to be acquired by Disney or Universal (though likely no one would touch SeaWorld at this time)

 

[rteetz]

I almost wonder if it would be better for Legoland and/or SeaWorld to be acquired by Disney or Universal (though likely no one would touch SeaWorld at this time)

Legoland is owned by Merlin Entertainment. Merlin is the largest theme park and entertainment enterprise in the world. I don't think anyone Disney or Comcast would pony up the money for that. SeaWorld on the other hand is a possibility.

 

[Tonyz]

Can't wait to hear Pete's opinion on this!

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Pete's said it before........this "Clash of the Titans" can be great for us fans!!

 

[HubbDave]

I'm sort of meh on the deal. Disney paid $4 billion for Lucasfilm and might make that back in 5 years

Are the big Dreamworks franchises still pulling in $$$?

 

[MikeTaylor]

How to Train Your Mario and Luigi

 

[SarahDisney]

How to Train Your Mario and Luigi

I'm sold. Time for me to go to Universal!

 

[Princess Jes]

This excites me far less than the deal for the Nintendo theme park rights.
As a child of the 80's and 90's, Mario and Luigi were a big part of that landscape, so having a Nintendo area, that gets me excited.

Madagascar was great, and maybe a great overlay in toon lagoon? But it's not getting me on a flight to Orlando like Nintendo will