Disney

Disney gives a thumbs down to Comcast offer

Published

22 years ago

February 17, 2004

MUMBAI: It all began on 11 February when America’s cable TV powerhouse Comcast made an unsolicited bid to The Walt Disney Company to merge the two companies in a tax-free transaction worth $ 66 billion.

The drama finally ended yesterday when Disney announced that it had rejected the unsolicited takeover offer from Comcast.

In a media report, Disney’s board said that it had full confidence in the business, financial and creative direction of the company under the leadership of Michael Eisner. The board also said that the current offer to acquire Disney by swapping shares of both companies would undervalue Disney’s holdings and that Comcast’s offer amounts to $3.60 less than the market value for each share of Disney stock.

After Disney made its decision clear, Comcast released an official statement saying, “Our proposal to acquire The Walt Disney Company reflects a full and generous valuation based upon Disney’s prospects and performance over a long period of time, representing a significant premium over Disney’s unaffected share price during any relevant measurement period over the last three years. We maintain the belief that our merger proposal represents a sound and compelling proposition for both sets of shareholders.”

Now that the merger is not happening, all those talks about Microsoft being a prospective suitor for the Mouse House remains just that – talks. The software company owns 7.4 per cent of Comcast and would have eventually ended up controlling about four per cent of the world’s largest media company if Comcast’s bid had succeeded.

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Disney

Disney movies on demand reaches over 8 million viewers in EMEA

Published

12 years ago

October 15, 2013

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Disney Media Distribution EMEA revealed the figures for its branded on-demand service Disney movies on demand and the continued growth of ABC TV on demand and Disney channels on demand, this Mipcom.

Since its launch at Mipcom in October 2012, Disney movies on demand, the family-friendly branded SVOD service, is now available on 12 live platforms in six EMEA territories. Disney movies on demand most recently launched on OSN in the Middle East and North Africa and Wuaki in the UK , reaching over eight million consumers across EMEA.

The service gives customers access to a wide range of Disney’s classic animation and live-action hits including the classic animation ‘Jungle Book’, Disney Pixar’s ‘Monsters’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’.

Since its launch in 2010, ABC TV on demand has been launched on 26 platforms in 16 EMEA territories. In 2013 to date ABC TV on demand has had over 60 million views in EMEA. In 2012, ABC TV on demand launched in four new countries and on 11 new platforms, registering 33 per cent increase in reach and 80 per cent increase in total views.

Disney channels on demand that offers popular Disney channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior series at the click of a button, is now available to 47 million Disney channel subscribers across EMEA on 55 live platforms, with further launches scheduled before the end of the year. The channel on demand has also enjoyed particular success in France, where it is now available to 4.7 million viewers with a 62 per cent uplift in viewers between July 2012 and July 2013.

The Walt Disney Company EMEA SVP & GM media distribution Catherine Powell said, “Disney and ABC Studios content is hugely popular with viewers across EMEA and the significant growth of our branded on-demand services reflects that. We are committed to bringing our great characters and excellent storytelling to all members of the family when they want it; where they want it and how they want it. Our branded services will continue to be a focus for the future.”

Disney

Disney’s ‘Talk It Loud comes’ to Mumbai

Published

18 years ago

August 13, 2008

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Disney Channel’s ‘Talk Out Loud‘ is all set to groom its fans across Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Ludhiana, Lucknow, Kanpur and Indore. One fan in each city will get to feature alongside his/ her favourite star on Disney Channel.

As many as 200 participants were shortlisted at a city-level audition held earlier this month on their stage presence, diction, confidence, presence of mind, diction, and unique style.

The second round of auditions further shortlisted 10 participants per city. The second round of auditions of these participants was held in Mumbai. These finalists were groomed in communications and presentation skills during various workshops such as ‘Theatre Workshop’, ‘Communications Workshop’ and performed in front of the camera before the final winner announcement.

Walt Disney Television International (India) SVP and MD Antoine Villeneuve said, “Disney Channel’s ‘Talk Out Loud’ aims to connect with the audience through their own idioms while also providing a platform for fans to express themselves. Disney Channel fans have always been a part of the channel and now we are giving them an opportunity to be a popular face and voice on the Channel!”

In July this year, Disney Channel engaged its fans across 10 cities through interactive classroom and school auditorium sessions where the channel invited schools to send entries for the ‘Talk Out Loud’. Viewers enrolled through a quiz played on IVRS, SMS and online.

Disney

Disney lines up global promotion to give theme parks a push

Published

21 years ago

December 22, 2004

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Disney theme parks and resorts around the world are poised to embark on a global celebration in 2005 to mark the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland.

To celebrate the achievement the media conglomerate will launch an innovative new portfolio marketing campaign. The historic celebration comes on the heels of a fiscal year highlighted by strong increases in revenue and operating income and expanded entertainment offerings at all Disney destinations worldwide.

On 1 January 2005 Disney will launch a television commercial Coming Home in the US during the Tournament of Roses Parade.. It marks the beginning of a new way to market the full portfolio of Disney Parks and Resorts assets. Disney claims that the spot will take creativity seen in the ad world to the next level.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts president Jay Rasulo said, “The Coming Home spot draws on our rich heritage and the strong character franchises we’ve built over time to rekindle the lifelong emotional connection we have with our guests. It serves as a call to action to anyone who has ever made a memory at Disney parks around the world to come back home and celebrate this historic milestone with us.

“This is just the start of an innovative campaign of powerful messages that will touch audiences in non-traditional ways to give them a special incentive to visit a Disney destination this year.”

The ad is a part of Disney’s Happiest Celebration on Earth campaign. The transition to a global marketing campaign for the Happiest Celebration on Earth represents a significant departure from the traditional marketing model employed by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. It is the first time that Disney destinations have embraced a portfolio approach focused on the global appeal of the Disney theme park experience. The campaign is designed to convey that the Happiest Celebration on Earth will provide an opportunity to join in the magic – at any Disney resort around the world.

In addition to airing on majoir US networks like NBC The ad will also stream on Yahoo, MSN, Google Weather.com and Disney.com. The 18-month celebration officially begins on 5 May 2005. Every Disney destination around the world, along with Disney Cruise Line, will join in the festivities with new attractions, shows and other offerings.

Through its theme parks Disney is looking to tap into emerging lifestyles. Rasulo said, “As lifestyles continue to evolve, we spend a lot of time thinking about how to capitalise on emerging trends and desires. If I had to sum up the expectations of today’s marketplace in two words, they would be flexibility and customisation.”

As had been reported earlier by indiantelevision.com 2005 will mark the opening of Disney’s first theme park in China, Hong Kong Disneyland, on 12 September. Once Hong Kong Disneyland opens, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will have a lineup of 11 theme parks around the world in five resort destinations, along with a cruise line, nearly 35,000 Disney-branded hotel rooms, seven Disney Vacation Club resorts with approximately 95,000 members, world class dining and retail, sports entertainment venues and water parks.

Tokyo Disneyland Park honours its namesake in California with a tribute Rock Around the Mouse, as well as a new attraction at Tokyo DisneySea called Raging Spirits. This new attraction, which debuts in the summer of 2005, will have a 360-degree vertical loop. Disneyland Resort Paris will commemorate the 50th Anniversary with a brand new fireworks spectacular and whole new look and feel as it launches Space Mountain: Mission 2.

In the US The Disneyland Resort will treat guests to new spectacles. They will include the new look of Sleeping Beauty Castle to a “golden” sheen on classic ride vehicles – along with new attractions like Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and a “re-Imagineered” Space Mountain. Disney’s resort in Florida will debut new attractions imported from Disney parks worldwide, such as the Soarin’ from Disney’s California Adventure; Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show from Disneyland Resort Paris; and Cinderellabration from Tokyo Disney Resort.