DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Ron DeSantis' campaign was over when he decided to have a popularity contest against Mickey Mouse
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Before entering the 2024 presidential race, Ron DeSantis proudly touted his conservative record. The governor's fights with Disney didn't endear him to GOP primary voters in the way he had hoped. For decades, tourists have come to the state from all over the world to visit Walt Disney World. But while many GOP voters had a positive opinion of DeSantis, it didn't translate into many votes, no matter what he had done while tussling with Disney. AdvertisementBut in the end, it was DeSantis' fight with Mickey Mouse that stunted his campaign, and he never recovered.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Disney didn't, —, Donald Trump, DeSantis, Carolyn Kaster, Blaine Harrington III, Getty, Terri Peters, Saint Anselm, Trump, Mickey Mouse Organizations: Disney, GOP, Service, AP, Walt Disney, Florida's, Improvement, Magic, Republican, Trump, state's Republicans, Saint, Saint Anselm College Locations: Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, American

☆ Abigail Disney regrets that she once flew alone on her family's private Boeing 737 from California to New York
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Abigail Disney expressed regret for flying solo on her family's private jet nearly two decades ago. The Disney heiress made the comments in a report titled "Proud to Pay More." AdvertisementThe Walt Disney Company heiress and filmmaker Abigail Disney said it was "wrong" for her to fly on her family's private Boeing 737 plane alone. Abigail Disney is the granddaughter of Roy O. Disney, who cofounded The Walt Disney Company alongside his brother, Walt Disney. AdvertisementShe said that "one of the greatest luxuries" she experienced growing up was her family's private jet, but one of her strongest memories of using the plane was "actually not so fond."

Persons: Abigail Disney, —, Roy O, Walt Disney, Disney, She's, Bob Iger Organizations: Disney, Service, Walt Disney Company, Boeing, Financial Times, SEC Locations: California, New York

☆ How Disney made Star Wars the top film franchise of 2023 without a theatrical release
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-30 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Sunset Boulevard | Corbis Historical | Getty ImagesThe Force remains strong with the Star Wars franchise. Despite not releasing a theatrical film since 2019, Star Wars has been named the top film franchise of 2023 by Fandom, the world's largest platform for entertainment fans. In between each film in the sequel trilogy, Disney released a film that harkened back to an important plot point from past Star Wars films. "At the time, Disney's strategy was to essentially release one new Star Wars film theatrically each year," said Peter Csathy, founder and chair of advisory firm Creative Media. Rebuilding an empireDisney isn't set to release another Star Wars film in cinemas until 2026.

Persons: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Georges Lucas, Paul Dergarabedian, Star Wars Disney Harry Potter, James Bond, Disney, Harry Potter, Kylo Ren, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, —, Princess Leia, Han, Peter Csathy, Csathy, Boba Fett, Rosario Dawson, Tano, Ahsoka, Count Dooku, Stephanie Fried, Diego Luna, Cassian Andor, Alan Tudyk Organizations: Star Wars, Star, Disney, Comscore, Star Wars Disney, Marvel, Warner Bros, DC Studios, Lucasfilm, Wars, Creative Media, Lucasfilm Disney Locations: Florida

☆ Here's what streaming bundles could look like, according to Liberty Media's John Malone
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"It could certainly happen if one was focused on one type of demographic and the other, another type of demographic," Liberty Media Chairman John Malone told CNBC's David Faber in an interview that aired Thursday. "Broadcast continues to survive, but is under real pressure as Big Tech competes for sports," Malone told CNBC. Disney already offers a three-way bundle plan of Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+, which Disney owns. "The streaming version with ads will be part of the cable bundle," Malone, a former Charter board member, told CNBC. I would much rather see the cable companies be distributors of streaming in bundles and packages, because the two are kind of tied to the hip."

Persons: John Malone, CNBC's David Faber, Max, Malone, NBCUniversal's Peacock, Bob Iger, Iger, CNBC's Julia Boorstin, Disney didn't Organizations: Netflix, Hulu, Liberty Media, Warner Bros, Max, YouTube, Amazon, NFL Football, NFL Sunday, Big Tech, CNBC, Disney, ESPN, Communications, Charter Locations: Hulu

☆ Disney pulls Jonathan Majors movie 'Magazine Dreams' from schedule amid assault case
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Mike Calia | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jonathan Majors, and his girlfriend, Meagan Good, flanked by his lawyer Priya Chaudhry (R), arrive to Manhattan Criminal court for his pre trial hearing on August 03, 2023 in New York City. Disney on Friday said it was pulling troubled star Jonathan Majors' next film, "Magazine Dreams," from the schedule this December. Majors' trial for assault charges is scheduled to begin Nov. 29 in New York. Disney hasn't weighed in on the matter, despite Majors being front and center for the company's plans for its lucrative Marvel Cinematic Universe. "Magazine Dreams," a drama about a bodybuilder played by Majors, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year to critical acclaim.

Persons: Jonathan Majors, Meagan, Priya Chaudhry, Majors, It's, Disney hasn't, Disney didn't, Grace Jabbari, Disney Organizations: Disney, Majors, Marvel Cinematic, Marvel, , New York, Sundance Film Locations: New York City, New York, HBO's, , New

☆ Disney's top-selling merchandise line in Asia is this under-the-radar fluffy bear
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Duffy and Friends is Disney's top-selling franchise in Asia, having generated $500 million in revenue this year. Duffy, a fluffy bear, was introduced in 2002 with a back story linked to Mickey and Minnie. The revenues include sales from Shanghai Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, and the Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe back story for the fluffy bear involves Minnie Mouse hand-sewing the stuffed bear to accompany Mickey on a long sea voyage from Cape Cod. Both Duffy and LinaBell can be seen in a Disney video from September 2021, which shows the fluffy bear meeting his new fox friend.

Persons: Duffy, Mickey, Minnie, Mel, LinaBell, there's Organizations: Service, Disney, Shanghai Disney Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, Walt Disney World, Shanghai, Shanghai Daily Locations: Asia, China, Wall, Silicon, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Japan, Orlando , Florida, Cape Cod

☆ The Charter-Disney showdown didn't transform the TV industry, after all, despite the hype
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Charter and Disney have reached a rights deal, and the media industry was duped. Slate's headline the same day honed in further: "Disney Is in a Fight That Might Change TV Forever." But there's a reason why Dolan discussed this concept a decade ago and still linear cable TV exists. Charter still makes money by offering linear cable TV. Comcast , the largest U.S. cable TV provider, owns a slew of cable networks.

Persons: Devin Singletary, Michael Morris, Chris Winfrey, Winfrey, Goldman, CNBC's David Faber, Aaron Rodgers, haven't, Jim Dolan, Dolan, It's, it's Organizations: Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Highmark, Charter, Disney, Street Journal, Marks, CNBC, Guggenheim Securities, ESPN, ABC, U.S, Cablevision, Comcast, DirecTV Locations: Orchard Park , New York, Goldman Sachs, New York

☆ Disney's wildest ride: Iger, Chapek and the making of an epic succession mess
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +88 min

Iger told Chapek that he lived for those "two-shower days," according to people familiar with the conversation. In January 2020, Iger told Chapek the plan was back on. During his 27 years at the company, Chapek had only attended one annual meeting — as a guest in the audience. Bob Iger, Disney CEO, during a CNBC interview, Feb. 9, 2023. WATCH: Disney CEO Bob Iger's exclusive July 2023 CNBC interviewTake the 'A'During Chapek's tenure as CEO, Disney lost more than a quarter of its market value.

Persons: Elham, Bob Iger, Bob Chapek, Iger, wasn't, Chapek, Michael Eisner, —, who's, he's, Clint Eastwood, Eastwood, Arthur Bochner, Jackie Hart, Kareem Daniel, Chapek —, Eisner, Michael Ovitz, Ovitz, Bob, Disney's, Kevin Mayer, Mayer, Bryan van der Beek, he'd, Tom Staggs, Staggs, Staggs —, Steve Jobs, cajoled Ike Perlmutter, George Lucas, Rupert Murdoch, Iger's, Susan Arnold, Arnold, Peter Rice, David Paul Morris, Rice, CNBC's Julia Boorstin, Mark Parker, Mary Barra, Michael Froman, Willow, Parker, John Donahoe, Roy Disney, Walt Disney, Stanley Gold, David A, CNBC Eisner, Big Bob, Little Bob, Christine McCarthy, Patrick T, He'd, McCarthy, Iger —, Coronavirus, Gavin Newsom, Michael Kovac, curtly, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Ben Smith, Smith, Disney, Randy Shropshire, Agnes Chu, Ricky Strauss, Chu, Strauss, Kevin Feige, Kathleen Kennedy, Who's, Alan Bergman, Bergman, Bob Kyncl, Daniel —, Iger didn't, Daniel rankled, Daniel, Chapek didn't, James Pitaro, Jesse Grant, CNBC Chapek, Jimmy Pitaro, Zenia Mucha, didn't, Mucha, Barbara Walters, Charles Eshelman, Scarlett Johansson, Scarlett Johansson —, Florence Pugh, Natasha, Yelena, " Johansson, Bryan Lourd, Johansson, Lourd, Steven Spielberg, Al Michaels, David Muir, Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan, Spielberg, Geoff Morrell, Alan Braverman, Alan Horn, Jayne Parker, Bochner, Claire Lee, Paul Richardson, Josh D'Amaro, Ron DeSantis, Morrell, Disney Animation —, George Floyd, Reba Saldanha, Reuters Chapek, DeSantis, Nicholas Maldonado, Octavio Jones, Chapek she'd, we're, " Morrell, CNN's Chris Wallace, Kristina Schake, John Skipper, Daniel steamrolled, Latondra Newton, Newton, Charles Krupa, Pitaro, NBCUniversal's Peacock, Dana Walden, Thomas Murphy, Josh Kushner, Privately, Schake, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Michelle Obama's, David Dee Delgado, Kara Swisher, hadn't, Netflix's, overhiring, McCarthy hadn't, Safra Catz, Kareem, DMED, Horacio Gutierrez, Justin Warbrooke, Alexia Quadrani, Bryan Castellani, Michael Buckner, Quadrani, Lindsay Lohan, Winnie, Nelson Peltz, Catz, Donald Trump's, they'd, Walden, Gutierrez, D'Amaro, Rich Polk, Walden he'd, Iger she'd, Mickey Mouse, Mark Rightmire, haven't, Indiana Jones, Halle Bailey, Ariel, Hamilton Faber, Rich Greenfield, Bob Iger's, — Mayer, McCarthy —, doesn't, they'll Organizations: Disney, Marvel, CNBC, Bloomberg, Getty, Walt Disney, Indiana University, Michigan State University, Shanghai Disney, Man, Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Pixar, Fox, Chapek, Nike, General, Mastercard, Foreign Relations, University of Pennsylvania, Grogan, Disney's, Fallon, ABC, ESPN, ABC News, California Gov, New York Times, Disney confidants, Hollywood, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Walt Disney Television, Walt Disney Studios, Hulu, HBO Max, Walt Disney Company, YouTube, Companies, Netflix, Apple, Disney Media, Entertainment, Stanford, Rights, Junior, petulant, Filmmagic, Brunswick Group, Covid, CAA, onetime Defense Department, Century Fox, Human, Florida Gov, Republican, Disney Animation, Reuters, Human Rights, HRC, Walt Disney World, Employees, American Foundation for Equal Rights, AP, Amazon Prime, Paramount, South Pacific, Capital Cities, Dow Jones, CVS, Kingdom, Variety, Trian Partners, Charter Communications, U.S, Comcast, Charter's, MediaNews, Orange, Allen, Co, Candle Media, Advisors Locations: Burbank , California, Midwestern, Brentwood, Los Angeles, Westlake Village, Iger, Hammond , Indiana, Shanghai, China, Hong, Fox, Willow Bay, Raleigh , North Carolina, Orlando, U.S, Hulu, Iger's Brentwood, coronavirus, Brunswick, Hollywood, Hawaii, Disney's, Marvel's, Anaheim , California, Montana, Florida, Rye , New Hampshire, Chapek, Hong Kong, California, missteps, South, DMED, Burbank, New York, India, Atlantic, Sun Valley , Idaho, America

☆ Comcast, Disney move up deadline to decide Hulu future ownership
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The timeline to decide Hulu's ownership fate has been moved up, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said Wednesday. Comcast and Disney are set to begin those discussions on September 30, months earlier than the initial January 2024 deadline. Under the original 2019 agreement, Comcast can force Disney to buy (or Disney can require Comcast to sell) that remaining 33% stake in January 2024, at a guaranteed minimum total equity value of $27.5 billion. In May, Roberts said at an investor conference that Comcast would likely sell its 33% stake in Hulu to Disney at the beginning of next year. For Disney, the move to add Hulu content to Disney+ came as it focuses on its ad-supported Disney+ option to attract more subscribers and advertising revenue.

Persons: Brian Roberts, Roberts, Goldman Sachs, we've, Disney didn't, Bob Iger, Comcast's NBCUniversal, Iger Organizations: Comcast, Disney, Technology, Hulu, Netflix, ESPN, CNBC Locations: Hulu, U.S

☆ How much is Hulu worth? As Disney gears up to buy Comcast's share of the streamer, analysts say Bob Iger may have to pay a hefty price.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

When it comes to Hulu, value is in the eye of the holder. However, Comcast claims Hulu is worth double what Disney is saying, according to Bloomberg — even in a tough media environment. "It's what would a willing buyer in a robust auction pay," Roberts said of Hulu's valuation at a MoffettNathanson conference in May. Another way to value Hulu is by comparing its EV-to-subscriber ratio with that of Netflix. By buying all of Hulu, Disney can position itself for the next big trend in media, Noell said.

Persons: Bob Iger, Bloomberg —, Peacock, Brian Roberts, Roberts, financials, maven, Hulu, Tim Nollen, Netflix's, Nollen, Iger, Matthew Thornton, who's bullish, Barton Crockett, Crockett, Brandon Nispel, Nispel, Jason Bazinet, Bazinet, Davis Noell, Noell Organizations: Disney, Comcast, Hulu, Bloomberg, Wall Street, Macquarie, Netflix, Rosenblatt Securities, Citigroup, Star Wars, Marvel, Providence Equity Partners Locations: Hulu

☆ Boycotts rarely work — but anti-LGBTQ+ backlash is forcing companies into tough choices
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

For companies like Target and Disney, it is unclear if boycotts will hit sales. The company said it has not changed any policy on decorations and is encouraging stores to celebrate Pride Month. Despite the mounting headlines and sustained criticism of Bud Light, corporate boycotts are "overstated," and those offended by campaigns tied to Pride Month are in the "minority," Ellis said. Bud Light appears to be an outlierIn April, the brewer ran a March Madness promotion with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, who shared a customized Bud Light can on Instagram. Justin Sullivan | Getty ImagesIt isn't just Bud Light — brands across the board are facing calls to boycott their goods or services.

Persons: Gene Kim, Bud Light, Anson Frericks, Starbucks baristas, Sarah Kate Ellis, Ellis, Dylan Mulvaney, Brendan Whitworth, — Alissa Heinerscheid, Daniel Blake —, Bump Williams, Busch, Frericks, Bud, Marcel Marcondes, Marcondes, Justin Sullivan, Jack Daniel's, Lawrence Glickman, Glickman, baristas, hasn't, Disney isn't, Ron DeSantis, Lindsey Roeschke, Brayden King, King, David Cliff, Nurphoto Organizations: Anheuser, Busch, Target, Disney, Starbucks, Pride Month, Target's, Pride, GLAAD, Mulvaney, CNBC, Gay, Chamber, Commerce, Cannes Lions International, Creativity, Brands, Kohl's, Nike, Adidas, Ford, Associated Press, American Studies, Cornell University, Consumer, Walt Disney Co, Florida Gov, Brand Intelligence, Morning, Northwestern University, Getty Locations: U.S, America, San Francisco , California, Oklahoma, Florida

☆ 'The Little Mermaid's' box office will say a lot about Disney's live-action remake strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

That opening is on par with the $91 million "Aladdin" secured in 2019 on its way to more than $1 billion at the global box office. Audience buzz has become an increasingly important factor in box office success in the wake of the pandemic. Those that skip out on seeing a film during its opening weekend can be enticed to cinemas by positive chatter, helping to bolster the film's overall box office. The studio, which is known for its animated content, saw two of its recent releases — "Lightyear" and "Strange World" — flounder at the box office. Although there were two live-action films based on "101 Dalmatians" in 1996 and 2000, Disney didn't start producing these remakes in earnest until 2010's "Alice in Wonderland."

Persons: Alice, Maleficent, Lilo, Shawn Robbins, it's Organizations: Disney, Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, BoxOffice.com Locations: Wonderland

☆ Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs bill that could block Disney's real-estate developments as feud intensifies
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that allows Disney's new real-estate developments to be canceled. Disney and DeSantis are in a long-running feud over the governor's strict social stance in Florida. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stepped up his feud with Disney, threatening the company's real-estate empire with a fresh bill that could see new developments in the state cancelled. It was basically born out of Disney's arrogance that they would be able to subcontract around the duly enacted laws of the state of Florida," DeSantis said in a press conference Friday. But this was pared back by DeSantis months after Disney pledged to work to repeal a law employees and LGBTQ rights advocates called "Don't Say Gay."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during an event on his nationwide book tour at Adventure Outdoors, the largest gun store in the country, on March 30, 2023 in Smyrna, Georgia. Disney didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about DeSantis' desire for a probe. The agreement was signed on Feb. 8, the day before the Florida House voted to put DeSantis in charge. The Florida governor took aim at Disney after the company publicly balked at Florida's HB 1557 law early last year. HB 1557, dubbed by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, limits early education teachings on sexual orientation or gender identity.

☆ 2 charts show how Disney+ is outpacing Netflix and HBO Max with ad-supported tier signups as streamers battle for new subscribers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

By its third month, 36% of new subscribers to Disney+ chose its ad tier, versus 19% for Netflix in its ad tier's third month. Disney+ launched an $8-per-month ad-supported tier, Disney+ Basic, on December 8, after Netflix rolled out a similar offering, Basic with Ads for $7 per month, on November 3. Antenna data compares Disney+, Netflix, and HBO Max signups in their early months. Disney+ and Netflix have much smaller proportions of their subscribers on the ad tier than other streamers, per Antenna data. AntennaThe shares of Disney+ and Netflix subscribers choosing the ad tier were still small — 3% and 1%, respectively, Antenna found.

☆ How Netflix leaders, including its new co-CEO, are thinking about a fast streaming service that could supercharge its ads business
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Netflix said it's open to adding a free, ad-supported streaming service. A FAST offering could help Netflix scale its nascent ads business, which has been slow to take off. Could Netflix launch a free, ad-supported service? A FAST channel — free, ad-supported television — is a linear stream, a model media companies are increasingly using to complement traditional TV and paid streaming services. For Netflix, a FAST could be a quick way to scale its ads business.

☆ Disney drops 'Simpsons' episode in Hong Kong in which character references 'forced labor camps' in China, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Disney dropped a "Simpsons" episode from its streaming service in Hong Kong, the FT first reported. Another Simpsons episode, referring to the Tiananmen Square massacre, was cut in Hong Kong in 2021. Beijing has sought to exert greater control over Hong Kong, a semiautonomous region of China, since pro-democracy protests erupted there in 2019. It's been accused among other things of conducting forced labor, surveillance, forced sterilization, and setting up re-education camps. Disney cut another episode of The Simpsons from its streaming service in Hong Kong in 2021.

☆ Netflix is thinking about a free streaming service to boost its ads business, insiders say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

☆ 'Avatar: The Way of Water' failed to live up to box office expectations on its opening weekend, reports say — putting pressure on Disney's $2 billion bet
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

"Avatar 2" isn't living up to box-office expectations on its opening weekend. Disney cut its forecast from above $150 million to between $130 million and $150 million. Box Office Pro analyst Shawn Robbins had predicted earlier this month the movie would bring in somewhere between $167 million and $192 million after positive hype. Disney took control of the rights to "Avatar" with its $71 billion acquisition of Fox in 2019. Despite failing to live up to initial heady hopes, the "Avatar 2" opening weekend still represents a sizeable intake, outpacing the opening for "Top Gun: Maverick."

☆ Bob Iger signals support for LGBTQ rights on company call. Here's why that's so important for Disney's future.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

On a company call Monday, Disney CEO Bob Iger said inclusion is a "core value." Iger told employees that inclusion and acceptance are among the "core values" at the company, according to CNBC. Florida lawmakers voted to rescind the special tax status of Disney World in Orlando. Disney/PixarMost Americans support LGBTQ rightsFor Disney's leadership, losing the company's special tax status in the state carries financial repercussions. He's also bold and wildly empathetic," Don Hall, director of "Strange World," told Variety, speaking about the film's openly gay main character.

☆ Bob Iger has a lot to get right as he returns to Disney. One big challenge is repairing LGBTQ relations.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Disney's newly reappointed CEO, Bob Iger, could face further backlash against LGBTQ content. Iger needs to support LGBTQ rights or risk upsetting employees and millions of Americans. Florida lawmakers voted to rescind the special tax status of Disney World in Orlando. Disney/PixarIger needs to understand that most Americans support LGBTQ rightsFor Disney's leadership, losing the company's special tax status in the state carries financial repercussions. There is a slice of American conservatives who are against LGBTQ rights.

Search resuls for: "Disney didn't"

21 mentions found