Walt Disney Company Annual Shareholder Meeting

[lockedoutlogic]

OTB

The only title I'd like to see attached to him at this point is "emeritus"

 

[Josh Hendy]

... shot down the claims that ESPN and ABC are bias[ed] saying he has worked with ABC and ABC News for 25 years. He called claims "complete exaggeration."

LOL, not false, just "exaggerated". And apparently the exaggeration is "complete" As in ... unfair or having no purpose except as a kind of bullying pickiness?

Never mind the political implications - the takeaway is, ABC news is peddling a lot stale, pandering gibberish, is probably also in fairly steep viewership/revenue decline, and you can begin to mentally strike it and everything else old-school network related off your list of "bright spots for the Disney Corporation".

 

[lockedoutlogic]

LOL, not false, just "exaggerated". And apparently the exaggeration is "complete" As in ... unfair or having no purpose except as a kind of bullying pickiness?

Never mind the political implications - the takeaway is, ABC news is peddling a lot stale, pandering gibberish, is probably also in fairly steep viewership/revenue decline, and you can begin to mentally strike it and everything else old-school network related off your list of "bright spots for the Disney Corporation".

News worked and was essential when it had nothing to do with revenue...it was a corporate/public partnership.

So I think you identified the problem.

 

[rteetz]

LOL, not false, just "exaggerated". And apparently the exaggeration is "complete" As in ... unfair or having no purpose except as a kind of bullying pickiness?

Never mind the political implications - the takeaway is, ABC news is peddling a lot stale, pandering gibberish, is probably also in fairly steep viewership/revenue decline, and you can begin to mentally strike it and everything else old-school network related off your list of "bright spots for the Disney Corporation".

Someone brought up a specific incident on ESPN that I never realized happened and Bob shot that down as complete exaggeration.

 

[Josh Hendy]

Someone brought up a specific incident on ESPN that I never realized happened and Bob shot that down as complete exaggeration.

OK. We don't need to go there ...

Last fall the atmosphere of uninformed hysteria (on both sides) was a bit much ... so I actually sympathize with Iger if he's still getting trolled about it months afterwards.

 

[mom2rtk]

3. Attendance is down but profits went up. Isn't that what shareholders would like?

Not if attendance continues to trend down even further.

What shareholders would want is growing attendance AND growing profits.

 

[dreiwhit]

I was in attendance at today's meeting and I liked Mr. Iger's (repeated) explanation of why he will stay on Trump's council.

and

I have no problem with that...as the head of a major corporation, if you're asked to be on an advisory board of the government...you say "yes"...

Maybe i'm old-fashioned, but when the President of the United States asks you to do something, or serve in a position, you say "yes'" no matter what party the president belongs to.

I hate that is all folks are focused on, when in reality, its a minor to non-existant issue. Folks should be focused on 1) declining attendance, 2) The long range plans for Epcot, 3) ESPN, 4) The Future of Disney Corporation, and so on.....

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Not if attendance continues to trend down even further.

What shareholders would want is growing attendance AND growing profits.

At some point those numbers will cross...it's a mathematical certainty unless they stabilize the attendance.

And THAT...is 100% about cost.

They're gambling that avatar and Star Wars will bring attendance and spending up kicking and screaming...no matter what...long term.

I disagree...even though they will get a Star Wars bump...the amount of their core audience that is being shed daily because they can no longer afford it is too much. And remember...we are in a good economy.

Which means the succession plan is the biggest issue. Because Robert iger has packed the foundation full of dynamite and lit the fuse trying for quick profits...long term Disney is going to be an overexposed, overexploited mess that hasn't been taking the longterm steps it needs to in order to weather storms.

 

[dreiwhit]

They're gambling that avatar and Star Wars will bring attendance and spending up kicking and screaming...no matter what...long term.

I disagree...even though they will get a Star Wars bump...the amount of their core audience that is being shed daily because they can no longer afford it is too much. And remember...we are in a good economy.

I think they'll get a bump in the short term, but they won't resist the self-imposed, or maybe I should say, Wall Street imposed, desire to raise prices and cut costs to boost shareholder value. Good in the short term, but bad in the long term.

My biggest concern about their new strategy of "Toy Story Land" or "Star Wars Land" or "Pandora Land" is they are basing their expansions around one theme. Imagine if Fantasy Land was just Winnie the Pooh Land or Peter Pan Land, or Tomorrowland was Stitch Land? If you have a variety of rides and attractions, you will have something for everyone. For example, even though we don't go on Space Mountain or Stitch, there are other thing we do and like in Tomorrow Land. To be honest, Pandora: The World of Avatar really doesn't cause my family and I have a desire to AK. But adding a new land with multiple AK themed attractions just may make us visit there.

From what i've seen, the economy has been a localized recovery. Not all areas or job markets have come back. The area where I work and live hasn't recovered. In fact, my family and I are doing much worse now than back in late 2008 when the economic troubles started. Right now, we are borderline on being able to afford a Disney trip. And I don't think we're alone.....

 

[Tardisblue]

and



Maybe i'm old-fashioned, but when the President of the United States asks you to do something, or serve in a position, you say "yes'" no matter what party the president belongs to.

I hate that is all folks are focused on, when in reality, its a minor to non-existant issue. Folks should be focused on 1) declining attendance, 2) The long range plans for Epcot, 3) ESPN, 4) The Future of Disney Corporation, and so on.....

Ugh, using reason and logic instead of rhetoric and emotion. Knock it off!

 

[dreiwhit]

Ugh, using reason and logic instead of rhetoric and emotion. Knock it off!

LOL!! When I have a reasonable and logical idea, my coworkers tell me it will never work!

 

[crazy4wdw]

From D23:

Disney’s live-action tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast, is not released until March 17, but D23 Members had the opportunity to “be our guests” for two exclusive events following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, March 8.

Immediately following the meeting, D23 Gold and Gold Family Members were escorted to a breathtaking reserved area of the Colorado Convention Center. With the snow-capped Rocky Mountains in the background, members enjoyed a complimentary “Be Our Guest” Luncheon. Along with sampling soup du jour, grey stuff, and many other delicious items, guests had the chance to meet and mingle with Roy P. Disney. Before heading into the Bellco Theatre, Gold and Gold Member attendees were given a D23 bag full of Beauty and the Beast gifts from our friends across The Walt Disney Company—including a journal and limited-edition Twinings Tea!

Then, D23 General, Gold, and Gold Family Members had the opportunity to attend an advanced screening of Beauty and the Beast. As a special surprise, Michael Vargo, vice president of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, shared a special look at some Disney magic coming this year that included new clips from Cars 3,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2., Thor: Ragnarok, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. This exclusive footage was created for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and we were so thrilled to be able to share it with our D23 attendees!

Attendees were then whisked away to the enchanting tale of far-off places, daring swordfights, magic spells, and, of course, a prince in disguise.

 

[LeeAndRobin]

Anyone know the backstory of the guy that got up during the Q&A complaining about being systematically discriminated against? Apparently he spoke at last year's meeting too. Can anyone point me to threads here that cover this?

 

[rteetz]

Anyone know the backstory of the guy that got up during the Q&A complaining about being systematically discriminated against? Apparently he spoke at last year's meeting too. Can anyone point me to threads here that cover this?

I haven't seen any specific stories but they don't like to talk about personal things at these meetings. This guy apparently was a WDW employee for 13 years, and then was fired. He also never received recognition for 10 years of service. Iger claimed they looked into his issue and determined his firing was valid.

 

[crazy4wdw]

When Eisner was CEO, stockholder Evelyn Davis was always at the Disney shareholders meeting, criticizing Eisner's salary and asking lots of questions about the governance of the company. She would always try to talk through the entire question and answer session that was designated for shareholders. She was a shareholder in other major companies and followed the same pattern. It was always a hoot to listen to the webcasts of the shareholder's meetings just to see what she would ask about.

 

[rteetz]

When Eisner was CEO, stockholder Evelyn Davis was always at the Disney shareholders meeting, criticizing Eisner's salary and asking lots of questions about the governance of the company. She would always try to talk through the entire question and answer session that was designated for shareholders. She was a shareholder in other major companies and followed the same pattern. It was always a hoot to listen to the webcasts of the shareholder's meetings just to see what she would ask about.

There are always some people that so that kind of stuff.

 

[atkinstogram]

OTB

Can we call him Mahogany Bob from now on? He could have his own slogan - "Never Lighter Than a Shade Of Russet".