Snoopy for sale....

[Kidatheart2010]

http://www.reuters.com/video/2017/0...?videoId=371030732&newsChannel=media-industry


Does anyone know if Disney is looking into the Peanuts purchase?
Just curious....

 

[mcd2745]

Don't know if Disney would any interest, however, as someone who has always been a huge fan of the entire Peanuts franchise I would love to see it happen. I think it would be another great IP for them to add.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

you never know ... if anything I could see Comcast/Universal interested to add to Dreamworks, etc. as more "kid friendly" IP for future parks/lands

 

[lockedoutlogic]

you never know ... if anything I could see Comcast/Universal interested to add to Dreamworks, etc. as more "kid friendly" IP for future parks/lands

First thought to cross my mind

 

[ImDMous]

Knott's Berry Farm already has their whole kid's section themed with Peanuts: Camp Snoopy. Guess they would have to do some limited east/west thing like Marvel characters in Universal for Florida.

Interesting thought though.

 

[Lvsdisney]

Knott's Berry Farm already has their whole kid's section themed with Peanuts: Camp Snoopy. Guess they would have to do some limited east/west thing like Marvel characters in Universal for Florida.

Interesting thought though.

Dorney Park in Allentown PA also features Snoopy characters. Not sure what their contract is like though.

ETA: Kings Dominion in VA also has them

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Dorney Park in Allentown PA also features Snoopy characters. Not sure what their contract is like though.

ETA: Kings Dominion in VA also has them

Perhaps it's because those places are all owned by Cedar Fair, LP?

 

[Lvsdisney]

Perhaps it's because those places are all owned by Cedar Fair, LP?

I honestly did not look into the parent company. I just have been to both places and remembered seeing the characters there. But it would make sense if Cedar Fair had the contract and could put the characters where they like!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Fair

 

[maverik85]

Yea all the Cedar Fair parks have their kids areas themed to Snoopy/Peanuts.
As for Disney or Universal/Comcast buying it, I just don't see that happening. Disney has plenty of characters old and new to use, many that are still not fully represented in the park and more continually coming out. And Universal has a wide selection now too with the acquisition of Dreamworks and Illumination. So I don't see either company as needing them to expand their line up any. And while the Peanuts are classics they aren't major hits anymore and don't see their inclusion drawing people to the parks like current major franchises will like Frozen and Despicable Me/Minions. Also given that aspect I don't think either company would view them as competition to their brands either to want to purchase them jsut to keep another company from acquiring them.

 

[Spacedog1975]

Fox wanted to do a Peanuts sequel. The family was hesitant. I think Fox might be out front on this one.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

Huh, I love Snoopy but I honestly don't think Disney would be the right hands for it (although Star Wars was a surprising fit if you ask me). This'll be an interesting development that's for sure

 

[StuckInKS]

Knott's Berry Farm already has their whole kid's section themed with Peanuts: Camp Snoopy. Guess they would have to do some limited east/west thing like Marvel characters in Universal for Florida.

Interesting thought though.

Our local theme park, Worlds of Fun, also has a Camp Snoopy. We are right in the middle of East/West coast, so where would the "line" be?

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

Yea all the Cedar Fair parks have their kids areas themed to Snoopy/Peanuts.
As for Disney or Universal/Comcast buying it, I just don't see that happening. Disney has plenty of characters old and new to use, many that are still not fully represented in the park and more continually coming out. And Universal has a wide selection now too with the acquisition of Dreamworks and Illumination. So I don't see either company as needing them to expand their line up any. And while the Peanuts are classics they aren't major hits anymore and don't see their inclusion drawing people to the parks like current major franchises will like Frozen and Despicable Me/Minions. Also given that aspect I don't think either company would view them as competition to their brands either to want to purchase them jsut to keep another company from acquiring them.

I don't know why Disney or Comcast (either one) wouldn't scoop up Snoopy and the gang. There's money to be made with those characters. Just because "Iconix" hasn't found the right combination, doesn't mean it's not out there. It obviously is.

 

[ThurlFan]

Lots of connections for those inclined to make something of them...

Bill Melendez, animator of the franchise, worked on Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Bambi. After the Disney strike of 1941 he was hired by Warner Brothers, then worked at United Productions of America before founding his own studio in 1963.

Among amusement parks, I'll mention Worlds of Fun in Kansas City as another property that has a current association with the Peanuts characters, including an entire 'land' named Camp Snoopy. Worlds of Fun was purchased by Cedar Fair in 1995.

 

[maltdizzy]

This isn't the kind of deal that media companies like Disney, Comcast and Newscorp are usually interested in.

The creative rights to Snoopy are NOT up for sale. This is a joint-venture partnership where the 20% minority owner (Schultz family) retains creative control.

The 80% that may be up for sale belongs to Iconix, which handles the business side of merchandising and licensing, but doesn't get the authority to create new content (neither would would whoever purchases it).

 

[Spacedog1975]

This isn't the kind of deal that media companies like Disney, Comcast and Newscorp are usually interested in.

The creative rights to Snoopy are NOT up for sale. This is a joint-venture partnership where the 20% minority owner (Schultz family) maintains all creative control.

The 80% that may be up for sale belongs to Iconix, which handles the business side of merchandising and licensing, but doesn't get the authority to create new content (neither would would whoever purchases it).

That would make this a very tough sell as the family tend to be very conservative about new media projects.

 

[maltdizzy]

That would make this a very tough sell as the family tend to be very conservative about new media projects.

Yep. And if Disney (or other media conglomerate) did buy the majority share, they would obligated (by the minority owner) to sale licenses and merchandising to the highest bidder, instead of to themselves at a discount. That's not the way media companies like to work these days.

 

[Spacedog1975]

I would go further to say that the media project conservatism and lack of studio fit is probably going to wither this brand in time. Very few properties survive if they aren't active - especially kids properties. Stuffed animals and toys only go so far, and even those will diminish without kids who recognize them from elsewhere.

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

This isn't the kind of deal that media companies like Disney, Comcast and Newscorp are usually interested in.

The creative rights to Snoopy are NOT up for sale. This is a joint-venture partnership where the 20% minority owner (Schultz family) retains creative control.

The 80% that may be up for sale belongs to Iconix, which handles the business side of merchandising and licensing, but doesn't get the authority to create new content (neither would would whoever purchases it).

That explains much about the (un)popularity of "Peanuts" these days.