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☆ Pop Land: Chinese toy company Pop Mart opens Beijing theme park
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —With its launch in 2010, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart set off a collectible craze with its anime-style figurines. Following in the footsteps of Disney and Studio Ghibli, Pop Mart has expanded into the theme park business, opening up its first in the Chinese capital of Beijing. The company said on Chinese social media platform Weibo that Pop Land - the 40,000-square-meter theme park that comes in four zones - opened on Tuesday, September 26 at Chaoyang Park. “I did think about whether Pop Mart will open a theme park. Pop Mart's character Pucky is featured in its recently opened theme park Pop Land in Beijing.

Persons: it’s, – Molly, Dimoo, Skullpanda, Mickey Mouse, Kitty, Harry Potter, Walt Disney, Molly, “, Pucky, Mart Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Disney, Weibo, Domestic, Chimelong, Shenzhen Overseas, Town Enterprises, Pop, Hong Kong Stock Exchange Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Chaoyang, Shanghai, China, Chinese, Guangdong, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Macao

☆ Non-tech companies are seeking AI talent and offering six-figure salaries. Here's who's hiring — including one role that pays up to $300,000.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"The demand for professionals with knowledge in AI research, machine learning, deep learning — it truly outpaces the available supply of candidates," Sines said. A machine learning researcher role at the trading firm Jane Street indicated a salary range of $250,000 to $300,000, for example. And Disney is looking to hire a senior machine learning engineer with expertise in machine learning, algorithms, and statistical methods; the entertainment giant is offering an annual salary of $145,400 to $199,870. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn May, HR firm Scratch posted a job listing for a remote senior machine-learning engineer for a client. The position — which had a listed salary range of $120,000 to $185,000 — required "familiarity with current AI tools" such as ChatGPT.

Persons: Morrison Foerster, —, Aaron Sines, Sines, Jane Street, Alan Schnitzer, Oliver Scholars, Danielle Cox, Cox, Scratch Organizations: Walt Disney Company, Service, Austin, Travelers, Real

☆ Rupert Murdoch to Retire From Fox and News Corporation Boards
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Jim Rutenberg | More About Jim Rutenberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Rupert Murdoch is retiring from the Fox and News Corporation boards, the company announced Thursday morning, making his son Lachlan the sole executive in charge of the global media empire he built from a small local newspaper concern in Australia starting 70 years ago. The elder Mr. Murdoch will become chairman emeritus of the two companies, the company said in a release. Mr. Murdoch, 92, had shown no intention to step down or even slow down — even after he named Lachlan as the operating heir to his business empire in 2019, when he sold his vast entertainment holdings to the Walt Disney Company. Even now, in his emeritus status, he will continue to offer counsel, Lachlan Murdoch said in a statement.

Persons: Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan, Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch Organizations: Fox and News Corporation, Walt Disney Company Locations: Australia

☆ The No. 1 employer for happy and fulfilled workers is a truck stop and convenience store chain
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The company where workers feel most happy, fulfilled and stress-free can be seen from any given highway coast to coast. Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, the truck stop and convenience store chain, was rated the No. 1 company for employee well-being, according to a new report from Indeed. Indeed based the awards on employee ratings focused on four aspects related to worker well-being: happiness, purpose, satisfaction and stress. While that looks a bit different at each company and in different industries, a high Work Well-being Score means employees feel appreciated, supported and generally satisfied at work."

Persons: Love's, Walt Disney Company Apple Love's, Jessee Rigney, Harris, Rigney, Priscilla Koranteng Organizations: Stores, Delta Air Lines Tata Consultancy Services Accenture IBM, Wipro Infosys Nike Vans, Cognizant Technology Solutions Hallmark Microsoft Northrop Grumman FedEx Freight Dutch, Coffee, Walt Disney Company Apple, CNBC, Employees Locations: Oklahoma City, New York, California

☆ Disney asset sales won't break the bank, but they will move legacy media forward
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Disney 's motivation to potentially sell ABC and its owned affiliates, linear cable networks and a minority stake in ESPN isn't predicated on what these assets will fetch in a sale. It's about signaling to investors the time has come to stop thinking about Disney as old media. Rather, a sale of ABC and linear cable networks would be a message to the investment community: The era of traditional TV is over. "Disney almost has a good bank and a bad bank at this point," Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall said in a CNBC interview. Nexstar has held preliminary conversations with Disney to acquire ABC and its owned and operated affiliates, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

Persons: Walt Disney Company Bob Iger, Mickey Mouse, that's, Bob Iger, Wells, Steven Cahall, Disney, Byron Allen Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, ABC, ESPN, Disney, CNBC, Nexstar, Bloomberg, . Media, Geographic Locations: New York City

☆ Bob Iger's grand plan for Disney is moving fast with reported talks to sell ABC
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Madeline Berg | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Disney is in talks to sell ABC to Nexstar, Bloomberg first reported. But the reported talks are another sign that Iger means business when it comes to Disney's streaming future. The company's direct-to-consumer business reported a loss of $2.2 billion in the first nine months of the year — 12% less than during the same period last year. But even if he does sell ABC — and manages to get a good price for it, despite its ominous future — his challenges are far from over. AdvertisementAdvertisementSo, then, what does the deal to sell ABC mean?

Persons: Bob Iger's, Bob Iger, Iger, Peter Csathy, he's, ABC's, Brian Roberts, there's, it's Organizations: Disney, ABC, Nexstar, Bloomberg, Service, Nexstar Media Group, Walt Disney Company, CNN, ESPN, Hulu, Hollywood, Magic Locations: Wall, Silicon, Sun, Iger, Hulu —, Hollywood, Magic Kingdom

☆ Disney, Charter reach distribution deal ahead of 'Monday Night Football'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Rival media companies Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) and Paramount Global (PARA.O) gained 2.3% and 2%, respectively. That deprived nearly 15 million Spectrum video subscribers of access to the U.S. Open tennis tournament, college football and other programming. Charter pays Disney more than $2.2 billion annually for the right to distribute the media giant's channels to subscribers. Companies like Charter say rising distribution fees are forcing cable companies to increase prices, causing consumers to leave. It wants to keep as many cable subscribers as possible while it prepares to offer ESPN directly to consumers on an app.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Walt Disney, Robert Iger, Chris Winfrey, Akash Sriram, Maju Samuel Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Charter Communications, ESPN, NFL, Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount Global, ABC, U.S, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Charter, Companies, NBA, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, New York City, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

☆ Charter-Disney cable TV dispute leaves some NFL, U.S. Open fans in the dark
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ESPN and other Disney channels disappeared from Charter's Spectrum cable service on Aug. 31, as contract negotiations reached an impasse. Disney announced this spring that Monday Night Football games would be carried on both ESPN and its ABC Network. That means Spectrum cable subscribers who live in markets with a local ABC TV affiliate not owned by Disney, including Buffalo, New York, will be able to watch Monday's NFL match-up broadcast. Some 25 million cable subscribers have cut the cord, industry-wide, over the last five years, as rising prices for content translate to higher fees for subscribers, contributing to the exodus. Disney, for its part, announced a discount for its Hulu + Live TV service, which will provide access to the U.S. Open, college football and NFL games.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Walt Disney, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Aaron Rodgers, That's, Kris Shofner, Shofner, Dawn Chmielewski, Leslie Adler Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Charter Communications, Football, ESPN, Disney, Charter's, U.S, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, ABC, ABC TV, NFL, US, NBA, Spectrum, Hulu, U.S ., Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Los Angeles, Buffalo , New York, New York City

☆ Disney agrees to settle Magic Key annual pass lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Walt Disney Company agreed to pay $9.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the entertainment giant of “deceptive business practices” in regard to its Disneyland annual pass program, according to a court filing Thursday. The suit alleges that “thousands of people” with Magic Key passes may have been affected and were eligible to participate in the class action suit. A statement attributed to Disneyland officials said they “are satisfied that this matter has been resolved.”The attorneys representing affected Magic Key pass-holders did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment. Disney’s Magic Key pass program was introduced two years ago, replacing the theme parks’ legacy Annual Pass Program. Disneyland offers four Magic Key passes at different price points.

Persons: David Marcus, Marcus, they’ve, ”, “, ” Marcus Organizations: CNN, Walt Disney Company, University of California, Disney Locations: California, Anaheim , California, Los Angeles

☆ A bunch of current and former Disney execs reportedly think Bob Iger's 'end game' is to sell the company to Apple
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Kylie Kirschner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Former and current Disney execs told CNBC they think Bob Iger's plan is to one day sell to Apple. Analysts have speculated about an Apple acquisition of Disney for years. Iger himself wrote that he thinks the two companies would have combined if Steve Jobs were still alive. The Disney CEO has already made clear that the door is open for potential sales of non-core Disney assets, including ABC and cable networks like FX and National Geographic. Iger himself had a long-standing relationship with Steve Jobs, as did Disney with Apple.

Persons: Disney execs, Bob Iger's, Iger, Steve Jobs, Bob Iger, Bob Chapek —, He's, he's, Jobs, Steve, Laura Martin, — Martin Organizations: Disney, CNBC, Apple, Analysts, Service, SAG, ABC, FX, Geographic, ESPN, Pixar, Apple TV, Walt Disney Company Locations: Wall, Silicon, Needham

A screen shows the logo and a ticker symbol for The Walt Disney Company on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 7 (Reuters) - Charter Communications (CHTR.O) Chief Executive Chris Winfrey said he has a sense of urgency to resolve a distribution dispute with Walt Disney (DIS.N), in remarks on Thursday at a tech conference in San Francisco. Charter is locked in a distribution battle with Disney as the second-largest U.S. cable company negotiates with the media conglomerate over how much its channels are worth and how to package them. Such "carriage disputes" are commonplace in the media world, though this negotiation may shape the future of television in the streaming era. Disney issued a statement saying it “stands ready” to resolve the carriage dispute, and “do what’s in the best interests” of Charter’s customers.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Chris Winfrey, Walt Disney, “, ” Winfrey, Goldman Sachs, Winfrey, ” Disney, Scott Robson, Robson, Dawn Chmielewski, Akash Sriram, Sriraj Kalluvila, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Charter Communications, Disney, Technology, ESPN, ABC, Charter's, U.S, NFL, P Global Market Intelligence, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

☆ Comcast and Disney Agree to Speed Up Hulu Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The tug of war over Hulu, one of the world’s most popular streaming services, might be over sooner than expected. Brian Roberts, the chief executive of Comcast, said on Wednesday at an investor conference that his company had agreed to move up negotiations to sell its stake in Hulu to the Walt Disney Company, which owns the majority of the streaming service. Mr. Roberts said Comcast and Disney had agreed to conclude their negotiations over how much Hulu was worth at some point after Sept. 30, when a formal appraisal process for Hulu’s valuation would begin. That process had been expected to conclude at some point after January. “It will take a little time for this to play out, but both companies wanted to get it behind us,” Mr. Roberts said.

Persons: Brian Roberts, Roberts, ” Mr, ” Organizations: Hulu, Comcast, Walt Disney Company, Disney Locations: Hulu

☆ 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

☆ Disney’s battle with Charter could pose an existential threat to the cable bundle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —It’s a carriage fight that could lead to the dismantling — or revolution — of the cable television bundle. Charter argues that it is paying a premium for Disney content ($2.2 billion in 2023), but that much of the first-class, buzzy content is actually on platforms like Disney+, not the linear channels. And it says it has proposed “creative ways” to make Disney’s DTC offerings available to Charter subscribers. But, in Disney’s eyes, why would it give away access to its expensive DTC content at no additional cost to Charter subscribers? “The Walt Disney Company and Charter have the opportunity to work together on transforming the industry for the long-term benefit of both companies and their customers,” Charter said.

Persons: CNN —, Disney, “, Bob Iger, Chris Winfrey, ” Organizations: CNN, Disney, Charter Communications, US, NFL, ABC, ESPN, Labor, Charter, Warner Bros, Paramount, Comcast, Fox Corporation, Hulu, FuboTV, Walt Disney Company, ”

☆ Disney urges Spectrum users to switch to Hulu live plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 4 (Reuters) - Walt Disney (DIS.N) urged customers of Charter Communications' Spectrum cable service to consider switching to a live television option from Hulu as the media companies remain at odds over a new distribution deal. With no deal in place, Disney suggested that Spectrum customers sign up for Hulu + Live TV, a streaming service that offers ESPN, ABC, Disney+ and dozens of other cable channels. "Despite the ongoing dispute, consumers have many other choices—such as Hulu + Live TV—that allow them to enjoy the great programming for which Disney Entertainment is known," the company said in a statement. Disney pulled its channels off Charter's Spectrum cable service last week in the middle of U.S. Open tennis coverage and other live sporting events including college football. Charter has about 14.7 million subscribers to its Spectrum TV service in markets including New York and Los Angeles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Walt Disney, Disney, “, ” Disney, Christopher Winfrey, Winfrey, Granth Vanaik, Lisa Richwine, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Stephen Coates Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Charter Communications, Hulu, ABC, ESPN, Disney, Disney Entertainment, U.S, Spectrum TV, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Hulu, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

☆ US Open champion can’t watch tennis because of Disney’s dispute with his hotel’s cable company
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Tennis champion Daniil Medvedev is competing at the US Open, but there’s a problem: He can’t watch any of the matches on his TV. “I cannot watch it on TV anymore,” Medvedev said about the tennis tournament. “I don’t know if it’s legal or illegal, but I have to find a way because I cannot watch it on TV. I got internet, probably this, how you call it, pirate websites, so I watch tennis there … I have no other choice.”Last week, Disney-owned channels like ESPN were pulled from 15 million Spectrum cable subscribers in prime time, angering fans trying to watch tennis and college football. However, its anchors didn’t acknowledge the carriage dispute or mention the irony that Spectrum subscribers can’t watch tennis on its own cable service.

Persons: Daniil Medvedev, “, ” Medvedev, Disney “, Disney, We’re Organizations: New, New York CNN — Tennis, Walt Disney Company, ESPN, Disney, Charter, Spectrum, Hulu, NY1 — Locations: New York, Queens , New York

☆ Disney, Charter in talks for new distribution agreement
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A screen shows the logo and a ticker symbol for The Walt Disney Company on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 31 (Reuters) - Disney (DIS.N) said on Thursday that the company is in negotiations with Charter Communications (CHTR.O) for a new agreement after Disney pulled ESPN, ABC and other cable channels off Charter-owned Spectrum's cable service. Charter will host a webcast on Friday to discuss the status of its distribution agreement with Disney, the company said in a statement. Minutes later, a message appeared on the screen informing viewers that Disney had removed its programming, social media posts said. Cable operator Charter Communications (CHTR.O) serves more than 32 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand, according to its website.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Disney, Akanksha, Nivedita Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Disney, Charter Communications, ESPN, ABC, Spectrum, U.S, Twitter, Cable, Disney Entertainment, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Bengaluru

Spectrum is the second largest U.S. cable provider, serving 14.7 million homes across large markets such as New York and Los Angeles. Shares of Disney dropped 2.65% to a three-year low while Charter lost 3.4%. Warner Brothers Discovery Inc (WBD.O) fell 10%, Fox Corp (FOXA.O) shed 6%, Paramount Global (PARA.O) dropped 8%, while Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O), the largest U.S. cable provider, was down nearly 3%. Charter said Disney rejected its proposal for a new distribution deal that takes into account the rise of competing low-cost streaming services, which has fueled cord-cutting among its customers. The cable provider said it pays Disney $2.2 billion in annual programming costs, excluding advertising.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Hogan, Disney, Dennis Dick, Chibuike Oguh, Amruta Khandeka, Khushi Singh, Michelle Price, Richard Chang Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Fox Corp, Warner Brothers Discovery Inc, Disney, Charter Communications, ESPN, ABC, Hollywood, Charter, Paramount Global, Comcast Corp, U.S, Riley, Triple D, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Bengaluru

☆ One of the Biggest Cable Companies Says Cable TV Isn’t Working
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

One of the biggest cable companies in the United States has a message for media companies: The traditional cable-TV model is broken, and it needs to be fixed or abandoned. Cable TV is too expensive for consumers and providers, Charter Communications, which has nearly 15 million pay-TV subscribers, said in a 11-page presentation to investors on Friday. The channels will not be available to Charter subscribers until both sides agree on how much Charter will pay Disney to carry its channels. Charter delivered a scathing indictment of the cable television industry, which has generated billions of dollars for companies like Disney and Charter for decades. It’s a notable acknowledgment from Charter, one of the companies that propelled much of that growth.

Persons: It’s Organizations: Cable, Charter Communications, Walt Disney Company, ESPN, FX, Disney, Charter Locations: United States

☆ Disney, Charter rates dispute spills over to TVs as ESPN, ABC go dark
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 1 (Reuters) - Disney (DIS.N) and Charter Communications (CHTR.O) traded salvos over their unresolved distribution agreement after channels like ESPN went dark on Thursday for customers of Charter's Spectrum cable service. Disney pulled ESPN, ABC and other cable channels off Spectrum, which serves giant markets like New York and Los Angeles, in the middle of U.S. Open tennis coverage. Charter flashed a message on screen that urged viewers to contact Disney. Charter serves more than 32 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand, according to its website. Without a resolution, Charter customers will not have access to other live sporting events including college football, which just kicked off its season.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, salvos, Disney, Akanksha, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Arun Koyyur Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Disney, Charter Communications, ESPN, Charter's, ABC, U.S, Cable, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

☆ Walt Disney Pictures VFX workers file for unionization with backing of IATSE
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

More than 80% of Walt Disney Picture’s 18 in-house VFX crewmembers signed their authorization cards, IATSE said in a release. While the Marvel Studios VFX unionization effort is set to count votes on September 12, workers at Puerto Rico-based Gladius Studios also voted unanimously to unionize earlier this month. The unionizing VFX workers are behind some of Walt Disney Pictures’ biggest hits, IATSE said, including the live-action adaptations of “Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”If the elections turns out in favor of unionizing, IATSE said the studio is obligated to hold good-faith negotiations. CNN has reached out to the Walt Disney Company for comment. VFX jobs have historically not been represented by unions, even though a wide range of positions from production design to lighting and props have fallen under IATSE.

Persons: Walt Disney, IATSE, “, ” IATSE, Aladdin ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Labor Relations Board, International Alliance, Walt, Walt Disney Picture’s, Marvel Studios, Gladius Studios, Writers Guild of America, SAG, Walt Disney Pictures, “ Pirates, CNN, Walt Disney Company Locations: New York, unionize, Hollywood, Puerto Rico, Caribbean

☆ DeSantis’ appointees attack Disney over local employee perks and discounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Allies of Ron DeSantis have fired another shot at the Walt Disney Company as the Florida governor’s long-standing rivalry with the media company heats up again. As part of DeSantis’ bill, RCID was renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, and the district’s pre-existing oversight board was replaced by five people hand-picked by DeSantis. Earlier this year, Disney sued DeSantis and the district oversight board in federal court, accusing DeSantis of weaponizing his political power to punish the company for exercising its right to free speech. In May, the oversight board voted to sue Disney in order to maintain its oversight of the district. Earlier this month, DeSantis urged Disney to drop its lawsuit in an interview with CNBC, saying “we’ve basically moved on.”

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis ’, DeSantis, RCID, Jeremy Redfern, ” Disney, Aubrey Jewett, It’s, ” Jewett, Jewett, “, ”, Disney, Disney’s, Bob Chapek, “ we’ve Organizations: CNN —, Walt Disney Company, Central, Walt Disney World, Disney, DeSantis, Twitter, University of Central, CNBC Locations: Florida, Central Florida, DeSantis, RCID, University of Central Florida, Reedy Creek

☆ Disney heiress says 'money and power have hijacked' CEO Bob Iger's sensibilities
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Disney heiress Abigail Disney has some criticisms of Bob Iger's handling of her family's business. She told Fortune he's "a basically decent person" but "money and power have hijacked his sensibilities." Abigail Disney has some thoughts on Bob Iger's leadership of her family's company. The 63-year-old film producer, who is the grand-niece of Walt Disney, addressed Disney CEO Iger's controversial remarks about the ongoing strikes in Hollywood in a Fortune interview published Tuesday. "I think Bob is a basically decent person, but I think money and power have hijacked his sensibilities," Abigail Disney told Fortune.

Persons: Abigail Disney, Bob Iger's, Fortune he's, Walt Disney, Iger's, Fortune, Iger, we've, We've, we're, it's, Fran Drescher, Drescher, Variety, Bob, Bob Chapek, he'd, Kara Swisher, I'm Organizations: Disney, Writers Guild of America, SAG, CNBC, Sun Valley Conference, Walt Disney Company Locations: Hollywood

☆ DeSantis said he's 'basically moved on' from the Disney feud — and now wants Bob Iger to drop the lawsuit against Florida that legal experts say the company could win
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ron DeSantis told CNBC he and his allies would like to move on from the Disney feud. DeSantis said he would tell Disney CEO Bob Iger to drop the lawsuit, and that they can't win it. I'm totally fine with that," DeSantis told CNBC. When asked what he would tell Disney CEO Bob Iger today, DeSantis said he would tell him to "drop the lawsuit." The Walt Disney Company and DeSantis's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Bob Iger, Disney —, They're, Sindhu Sundar, that's, David Schultz, it's Organizations: Florida Gov, CNBC, Disney, Service, Gov, Florida, University of Minnesota, Walt Disney Company Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon

☆ Disney's future, a hot topic among Hollywood elite
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Executive Chairman of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger arrives at the world premiere for the film 'The King's Man' at Leicester Square in London, Britain December 6, 2021. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File PhotoAug 14 (Reuters) - Hollywood's favorite parlor game of the week: What will Bob Iger do next? Another veteran media executive predicted Disney would spin off the television asset to its shareholders as a separate, publicly traded company by 2024, with private equity potentially playing a role. "You sell the parts, then sell what's left," said the veteran. Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Kenneth Li and Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bob Iger, Hannah McKay, Walt Disney, Iger, Jeff Bewkes, what's, It's, Laura Martin, Dawn Chmielewski, Kenneth Li, Richard Chang Organizations: Walt Disney Company, Leicester Square, REUTERS, U.S ., Walt, CNBC, Reuters, ESPN, Disney, ABC, Disney Channel, NBA, Comcast, Hulu, Time Warner, Google, Facebook, Apple, Netflix, MGM, Needham, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Culver City, New York City, U.S, Hulu, Hollywood, Los Angeles

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