Disney In Talks to Acquire Majority of 21st Century Fox

DBDiz · Nov 17, 2017

I think at least some of this interest has to be Universal trying to stick it to Disney. Oh, you want to reunite multiple franchises and acquire others so you no longer have to worry about licensing fees? So sorry about that. We'll take that check now.

It would pretty much guarantee that Marvel would have to wait out Comcast's extinction before reuniting all of the movie rights, and even if they were able to negotiate park rights for Marvel characters in Florida, X-Men and F4 would be off limits indefinitely.

adam.adbe · Nov 17, 2017

Mr. Mickey said:
Universal is really stepping up their game and Disney may start falling behind especially with all the Universal purchased land. Many of these IPS may show up at the inevitable 3rd gate. If Comcast secures these rights then they will have Avatar which is in Disney in addition to Marvel characters. I am pretty sure that’s the last place Disney wants marvel characters.

Parks and Resorts is about 1/3 of TWDC's revenues, and IIRC a much lower slice of its profits. While the parks are important, I can absolutely guarantee you, Disney aren't buying 21st Century Fox just to build some theme park rides. This is about strengthening portfolios and bargaining chips ahead of likely disruptions in cable subscriptions. They could probably make close to what the Consumer Products division makes just by re-releasing the original SW trilogy minus the story changes.

That's also why Comcast are in this game. Comcast Corp is even less driven by parks activity (maybe 12-15%?). Their bread and butter is cable and media.

Irish_Mike · Nov 17, 2017

DBDiz said:
I think at least some of this interest has to be Universal trying to stick it to Disney. Oh, you want to reunite multiple franchises and acquire others so you no longer have to worry about licensing fees? So sorry about that. We'll take that check now.

Speaking of that, word is getting out that Sony is now interested in acquiring 20th Century Fox. That would give them ownership of the rights to Spiderman (though currently partnering with Disney for his appearance in Infinity War, Avengers 4 and Homecoming's sequel, with anything after that up in the air), X-Men and Fantastic 4, not considering everything else in the portfolio.

http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/21st-century-fox-sony-pictures-sale-comcast-disney-1202617500/

rteetz · Nov 17, 2017

Irish_Mike said:
Speaking of that, word is getting out that Sony is now interested in acquiring 20th Century Fox. That would give them ownership of the rights to Spiderman (though currently partnering with Disney for his appearance in Infinity War, Avengers 4 and Homecoming's sequel, with anything after that up in the air), X-Men and Fantastic 4, not considering everything else in the portfolio.

http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/21st-century-fox-sony-pictures-sale-comcast-disney-1202617500/

Looks like everyone is throwing their name in the hat and it will likely come down to best offer.

Mr. Mickey · Nov 17, 2017

rteetz said:
Universal already has Marvel and a set contract on what Universal can and can't use. Universal is doing a lot but still has a long way to go to catch up to Disney.

Lol I was being a little over dramatic

Mr. Mickey · Nov 17, 2017

adam.adbe said:
Parks and Resorts is about 1/3 of TWDC's revenues, and IIRC a much lower slice of its profits. While the parks are important, I can absolutely guarantee you, Disney aren't buying 21st Century Fox just to build some theme park rides. This is about strengthening portfolios and bargaining chips ahead of likely disruptions in cable subscriptions. They could probably make close to what the Consumer Products division makes just by re-releasing the original SW trilogy minus the story changes.

That's also why Comcast are in this game. Comcast Corp is even less driven by parks activity (maybe 12-15%?). Their bread and butter is cable and media.

I did not say that Disney would use them for the theme parks what I was saying that universal would with all of their new land. There would be no reason for Disney to especially when Avatar is already there. Universal on the other hand may jump at the opportunity for that reason as well as the already existing Simpson’s land

Princess_Lisa · Nov 17, 2017

I wonder if this will mean that someday MGM will get a Simpsons Land or at least ride - hopefully better than the one at Universal.

Chef Louis · Nov 17, 2017

I bet Apple is in the discussion as well. The every other year rumor of Apple buying Disney never made sense. Apple is looking to do something along the lines of Netflix and the Disney library would jump start it. But I don't think they would want the parks and hotels, doesn't mesh with their business flow. Fox could give them a jump start as well with out all the extra infrastructure.

IF it happened the partnership with Apple/Disney could provide a way for the Fox Marvel properties back to Marvel.

adam.adbe · Nov 17, 2017

Chef Louis said:
I bet Apple is in the discussion as well. The every other year rumor of Apple buying Disney never made sense. Apple is looking to do something along the lines of Netflix and the Disney library would jump start it. But I don't think they would want the parks and hotels, doesn't mesh with their business flow. Fox could give them a jump start as well with out all the extra infrastructure.

IF it happened the partnership with Apple/Disney could provide a way for the Fox Marvel properties back to Marvel.

It’d give them a decent library if not an especially exciting one. The problem as I see it is that Apple would likely view owning a movie company exactly as Fox currently does: only the strongest will thrive. They’re better off aiming for episodic content and smaller self-financed indie projects. My guess is that they leave this to Sony/Universal/Disney to squabble over.

Mr. Mickey · Nov 17, 2017

adam.adbe said:
It’d give them a decent library if not an especially exciting one. The problem as I see it is that Apple would likely view owning a movie company exactly as Fox currently does: only the strongest will thrive. They’re better off aiming for episodic content and smaller self-financed indie projects. My guess is that they leave this to Sony/Universal/Disney to squabble over.

Sony? I’d argue that Sony is smaller than FOX

XXRAINMANX · Nov 23, 2017

I'm late to the party, but here's my thoughts.

1. Disney solidifies rights to Star Wars and Avatar aka the last major non owned ip on its properties.

2. XMEN universe reboot into Avengers universe.

3. 80s/ 90s classics rebooted, continued for global market focus. (These are the Terminators, Die Hards, Aliens, Independence day type films) cash cows with great potential in global markets.

4. Hulu at 60% why build a streamimg service when you can convert an existing one that already has an existing marketshare?

5. Ip you don't want? Trade it for something you do. Steamboat Willie trade of 2006.... Spiderman for the Simpsons? Or something else that universal has already on its properties?

6. Disney could trade away rights to espn for a lower cost of purchase. Eliminate its main drag on the company and increase Fox's rights to sports.

7. Netflix without content. Yes netflix makes its own, but its expensive and not always a success. That's why they maintain other streaming rights.

Lee Matthews · Nov 25, 2017

What's the steamboat willie trade of 2006?

rteetz · Nov 25, 2017

XXRAINMANX said:
5. Ip you don't want? Trade it for something you do. Steamboat Willie trade of 2006.... Spiderman for the Simpsons? Or something else that universal has already on its properties?

Are you thinking of Oswald? Disney to my knowledge never traded for Steamboat Willie.

Lee Matthews · Nov 29, 2017

Talks are apparently back on and Disney is eager to make a deal.

http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2017/11/rumours-claim-the-disneyfox-takeover-deal-is-back-on/

Mr. Mickey · Nov 29, 2017

http://deadline.com/2017/11/disney-...-artists-be-stricken-from-history-1202214838/

It’s in here, but they are moving rapidly! I pray that this happens!

Lee Matthews · Dec 2, 2017

Apparently Comcast are eager to make the deal too. I can see them having deeper pockets than Disney on this but hope Disney wins out

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/16/com...-in-buying-some-major-assets-sources-say.html

Mr. Mickey · Dec 3, 2017

Lee Matthews said:
Apparently Comcast are eager to make the deal too. I can see them having deeper pockets than Disney on this but hope Disney wins out

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/16/com...-in-buying-some-major-assets-sources-say.html

I still see Disney as the winner. Honestly in my eyes this deal is now inevitable it’s just a matter of when will it be announced. A few reports have said that it could possibly be announced before January 1 which really gets me excited

tjkraz · Dec 3, 2017

Lee Matthews said:
Apparently Comcast are eager to make the deal too. I can see them having deeper pockets than Disney on this but hope Disney wins out

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/16/com...-in-buying-some-major-assets-sources-say.html

That story is about 3 weeks old. More recently there were rumors that Disney was again interested. Fox's licensing of Marvel properties would seem to lend urgency to Disney's bid. If Fox ends up in the hands of Comcast/Universal, they'll never wrest-away the X-Men, FF, etc. But we'll see. The rest of the Fox library doesn't seem too strong these days. Fox has mostly failed to revitalize Die Hard, Independence Day, Alien, Predator, etc.

Mattimation · Dec 3, 2017

tjkraz said:
That story is about 3 weeks old. More recently there were rumors that Disney was again interested. Fox's licensing of Marvel properties would seem to lend urgency to Disney's bid. If Fox ends up in the hands of Comcast/Universal, they'll never wrest-away the X-Men, FF, etc. But we'll see. The rest of the Fox library doesn't seem too strong these days. Fox has mostly failed to revitalize Die Hard, Independence Day, Alien, Predator, etc.

And on top of the Marvel properties, i do think there is some appeal for making Avatar an in-house IP, so they won’t have to pay licensing fees for Pandora in AK. If you look at their history, a lot of the IP that Disney initially only licensed for the parks (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Muppets, Pixar) has since become Disney property through Disney acquiring the parent companies. I’m almost surprised there weren’t rumors of Disney buying Fox when Avatarland was announced...granted that was like forever ago

Lee Matthews · Dec 4, 2017

Reading some articles online and it seems getting rights back to Marvel IP, oiginal Star Wars etc is a major push for them wanting this deal.

Shows like the simpsons though I just don't know what Disney will do with it make it exclusive to their streaming site, which would again help drive traffic or sell he rights to Comcast for example

Disney In Talks to Acquire Majority of 21st Century Fox

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