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Tag: Bob Iger

  • Buyers queuing up to buy Twitter; Disney, Microsoft included

    Buyers queuing up to buy Twitter; Disney, Microsoft included

    MUMBAI: Is Twitter up for sale? If the mounting media reports are to be believed, it most likely is. A queue of potential buyers is reportedly is lining up at its corporate doors. Among them: salesforce.com, Alphabet (google’s parent), Microsoft and Disney.

    Analysts say that it is no surprise that Twitter is in the market for buyers. It has been under tremendous pressure to find revenue streams what with the rising power of Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other social media outlets.

    Says an industry observer: “They received interest offer from salesforce.com and then probably Jack Dorsey, its CEO, and the board probably decided to pursue it as a strategy to see where it could lead to, and they have been fielding enquiries. For a media company, a Twitter acquisition makes sense as there are not too many companies on the social side out there with a subscriber base of 300 million. This is a good opportunity for them to make a play.”

    Salesforce.com is reportedly working with Bank of America on a potential bid while Disney is working with a financial advisor to evaluate whether they should throw their hat in the ring, says a Bloomberg report.

    Bloomberg appears to be betting on Disney being the front-runner. Reason: both Disney CEO Bob Iger and Dorsey are pretty close. Dorsey is on the Disney board along with Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg. And, Iger has been mentoring Dorsey for sometime now. Additionally, the former has been working on evolving Disney — as its traditional cable TV business is under pressure from cord-cutting and video-on-demand streaming services – into increasing new media plays.

    In recent times, Disney has invested in video streaming service Hulu, Shane Smith digital media company Vice and HBO Now tech partner MLB’s BAMTech. Twitter too has partnered with BAMTech for its live streaming services, says Bloomberg.

  • Buyers queuing up to buy Twitter; Disney, Microsoft included

    Buyers queuing up to buy Twitter; Disney, Microsoft included

    MUMBAI: Is Twitter up for sale? If the mounting media reports are to be believed, it most likely is. A queue of potential buyers is reportedly is lining up at its corporate doors. Among them: salesforce.com, Alphabet (google’s parent), Microsoft and Disney.

    Analysts say that it is no surprise that Twitter is in the market for buyers. It has been under tremendous pressure to find revenue streams what with the rising power of Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other social media outlets.

    Says an industry observer: “They received interest offer from salesforce.com and then probably Jack Dorsey, its CEO, and the board probably decided to pursue it as a strategy to see where it could lead to, and they have been fielding enquiries. For a media company, a Twitter acquisition makes sense as there are not too many companies on the social side out there with a subscriber base of 300 million. This is a good opportunity for them to make a play.”

    Salesforce.com is reportedly working with Bank of America on a potential bid while Disney is working with a financial advisor to evaluate whether they should throw their hat in the ring, says a Bloomberg report.

    Bloomberg appears to be betting on Disney being the front-runner. Reason: both Disney CEO Bob Iger and Dorsey are pretty close. Dorsey is on the Disney board along with Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg. And, Iger has been mentoring Dorsey for sometime now. Additionally, the former has been working on evolving Disney — as its traditional cable TV business is under pressure from cord-cutting and video-on-demand streaming services – into increasing new media plays.

    In recent times, Disney has invested in video streaming service Hulu, Shane Smith digital media company Vice and HBO Now tech partner MLB’s BAMTech. Twitter too has partnered with BAMTech for its live streaming services, says Bloomberg.

  • Time Warner seeks shareholders vote on tobacco depictions in movies

    Time Warner seeks shareholders vote on tobacco depictions in movies

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros’ parent company Time Warner has become the first company to hold a shareholder vote on smoking in movies. The resolution was submitted by shareholder advocacy non-profit As You Sow and non-profit healthcare provider Trinity Health.

     

    According to a 2012 U.S. Surgeon General report, “there is a causal relationship between depictions of smoking in the movies and the initiation of smoking among young people.”

     

    Based on a subsequent 2014 Surgeon General report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded in 2014: “Giving an R-rating to future movies with smoking would… prevent one million [1,000,000] deaths from smoking among children alive today.”

     

    “This is a historic opportunity for Time Warner. For the first time, shareholders will be informed that the company’s products are putting millions of children at risk,” said As You Sow CEO Andrew Behar.

     

    At the recent Walt Disney annual meeting, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that Disney would prohibit smoking in all future films. Disney is the first major movie studio to make such a public announcement, although the language of the policy has not yet been released.

     

    “More companies will follow the example of Disney,” said newly-appointed U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, at his swearing-in ceremony in April. “We could save over a million children from premature death if every film studio followed suit.”

     

    As You Sow published a memo in support of the Time Warner shareholder resolution, noting that Time Warner’s policy to reduce tobacco depictions in movies allows for “compelling creative reasons.”

     

    The number of tobacco images that Time Warner delivers to kids each year is subject to extreme fluctuations. According the University of California San Francisco’s Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, Time Warner eliminated nearly all smoking in its youth-rated films in 2010. But in 2013, its films accounted for 5.6 billion impressions, which was 44 per cent of all tobacco impressions delivered by top-grossing youth-rated films.

     

    “Tobacco in youth-rated movies is an unnecessary liability. This crisis in an opportunity for the company to demonstrate its leadership and its commitment to health,” said As You Sow environmental health program manager Austin Wilson.

  • Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger sells stock worth $21.7 million

    Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger sells stock worth $21.7 million

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney CEO Robert A. Iger sold 200,000 shares of the company worth $21.7 million on the open market.

     

    The shares were sold on 11 May at an average price of $108.73.

     

    Additionally, according to an SEC filing, Iger also gifted 90,900 shares this week to an unknown beneficiary.

     

    However, Iger continues to hold more than 1.1 million shares in the company, which are valued at approximately $124 million.

     

    According to a statement issued by Disney, the sale was a part of Iger’s normal diversification of his portfolio.

  • ‘Spider-Man’ swings back to Marvel in partnership with Sony Pictures

    ‘Spider-Man’ swings back to Marvel in partnership with Sony Pictures

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment is bringing Marvel Studios into the amazing world of Spider-Man.

     

    Under the deal, the new Spider-Man will first appear in a Marvel film from Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU). Sony Pictures will thereafter release the next installment of its $4 billion Spider-Man franchise, on 28 July, 2017, in a film that will be co-produced by Kevin Feige and his expert team at Marvel and Amy Pascal, who oversaw the franchise launch for the studio 13 years ago. Together, they will collaborate on a new creative direction for the web slinger. Sony Pictures will continue to finance, distribute, own and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films.

     

    Marvel and Sony Pictures are also exploring opportunities to integrate characters from the MCU into future Spider-Man films.

     

    The new relationship follows a decade of speculation among fans about whether Spider-Man – who has always been an integral and important part of the larger Marvel Universe in the comic books – could become part of the Marvel Universe on the big screen. Spider-Man has more than 50 years of history in Marvel’s world, and with this deal, fans will be able to experience Spider-Man taking his rightful place among other Super Heroes in the MCU.

     

    The Walt Disney Company chairman and CEO Bob Iger said, “Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s great characters, beloved around the world. We’re thrilled to work with Sony Pictures to bring the iconic web-slinger into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which opens up fantastic new opportunities for storytelling and franchise building.”

     

    “We always want to collaborate with the best and most successful filmmakers to grow our franchises and develop our characters. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Amy, who helped orchestrate this deal, are the perfect team to help produce the next chapter of Spider-Man. This is the right decision for the franchise, for our business, for Marvel, and for the fans,” said Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Michael Lynton.

     

    “Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios share a love for the characters in the Spider-Man universe and have a long, successful history of working together. This new level of collaboration is the perfect way to take Peter Parker’s story into the future,” added Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group president Doug Belgrad.

     

    “I am thrilled to team with my friends at Sony Pictures along with Amy Pascal to produce the next Spider-Man movie. Amy has been deeply involved in the realization on film of one of the world’s most beloved characters. Marvel’s involvement will hopefully deliver the creative continuity and authenticity that fans demand from the MCU. I am equally excited for the opportunity to have Spider-Man appear in the MCU, something which both we at Marvel, and fans alike, have been looking forward to for years,” said Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.

     

    Spider-Man, embraced all over the world, is the most successful franchise in the history of Sony Pictures, with the five films having taken in more than $4 billion worldwide.

  • Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey joins Disney board of directors

    Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey joins Disney board of directors

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney has named twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey as its independent board member. Reports also suggest that the company CEO Bob Iger can see a cut in his pay by 15 per cent.   

    Walt Disney on 23 December, through a statement, also announced the retirement of a former Cisco Systems chief technology officer Judith Estrin, citing tenure policy as a reason, which limits board service to 15 years. Estrin’s term comes to an end on 18 March 2014.

    Dorsey will stand for the election which will be held at Disney’s 18 March annual meeting. Dorsey confirmed the announcement by tweeting a famous quote from Walt Disney and also the sketches of Mickey Mouse.  At 36, Dorsey also is the CEO of the payments startup Square and will be the youngest board member in Disney.

    Iger through a statement said, “Jack Dorsey is a talented entrepreneur who has helped create groundbreaking new businesses in the social media and commerce spaces. His experience and perspective should be extremely valuable to Disney.”

  • Sequel of The Avengers on cards

    Sequel of The Avengers on cards

    MUMBAI: Disney CEO Bob Iger has announced that a follow-up of The Avengers was on the cards. He also said similar follow-ups are expected of films like Iron Man, Thor and Captain America.
    Repeating previous announcements made by Marvel Studios, the CEO said a third Iron Man and a second Thor are scheduled for 2013 and a sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger is in the works for 2014 release. He however gave no timeline for an Avengers sequel.

    Iger said that Avengers had shattered domestic box-office records with a $207.1 million opening weekend for a global performance of more than $702 million to date.
    He also revealed that there are Avengers-based attractions in the works for some of Disney‘s theme parks.

  • Disney expands cruise line business

    Disney expands cruise line business

     MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Disney plans to expand its successful cruise business by adding two new ocean liners,

    Scheduled to launch in 2011 and 2012, the ships will more than double the passenger capacity for Disney Cruise Line to meet the sustained demand for Disney’s family cruise vacations.

    The company signed a letter of intent with Meyer Werft shipyard, based in Papenburg, Germany, to negotiate a contract to build the 122,000-ton new cruise liners, which will be two decks taller than the existing 83,000-ton ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. Each ship will have 1,250 staterooms. Specific design plans and itineraries for the yet-unnamed ships are still in development and will be unveiled at a later date.

    Disney CEO Bob Iger says, “Since our maiden voyage in 1998, Disney Cruise Line has been a huge success for our guests and for our shareholders alike. It has brought our unparalleled family vacation experience to the high seas, and has also generated high margins and double digit returns on invested capital. We are excited to announce the expansion of our fleet, which is a logical next step in what is a real growth business for us.”

    Disney Cruise Line established the family market within the cruise industry when the business launched in 1998. The first two ships were purpose built for families to reconnect and recharge while creating vacation memories that will last a lifetime. From a theater featuring live musical spectaculars to a luxurious spa for adults and nearly an entire deck dedicated to children’s activities, the ships offer something for every member of the family. Disney Cruise Line continues to grow by attracting passengers who say they would not have cruised if it hadn’t been for the Disney brand.

    Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Jay Rasulo says, “Focussing on families has been smart business for us. More than 95 per cent of Disney Cruise Line guests rate their cruise experience as excellent or very good. Families know they can trust us to provide a quality, immersive Disney experience. As a result, Disney Cruise Line continually sets sail with the highest load factors in the industry of nearly 150 per cent.”

    Similar to the original Disney Cruise Line ships, the new ships will be a modern interpretation of classic ocean liners of the 1930s. Disney Imagineers drew their inspiration from the original trans-Atlantic ships that featured a dramatic black hull with two funnels and porthole windows. The profile of the ships, with its gentle curves at the stern combined with sleek angles at the bow, are reminiscent of the art deco designs of the era.

    To add whimsy to the classic design, the Disney ships have the same exterior colour palette as Mickey Mouse with black, white, red and yellow. The new ships will feature elegant, detailed Disney scrollwork at the bow and will evoke images of the glamour of the golden age of cruising.

     

  • Disney Q1 net profit grows on DVD sales

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Disney blew past Wall Street expectations as it reported strong first quarter earnings on gains from the sale of its shares in US Weekly magazine and the E! Entertainment channel.

    Even without the one-time gains, which boosted earnings by 29 cents per share, the media conglomerate beat analyst forecasts by 11 cents per share on strong performance from sales of DVDs, including Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

    In the quarter ended 30 December 2006, Disney earned $1.7 billion, or 79 cents a share, which includes a gain of 39 cents a share from the sale of Disney’s stake in E! Networks and Us Weekly. Excluding the gains, the earnings did top analyst estimates of 39 cents a share.

    Quarterly revenues were $9.73 billion, driven by DVD sales of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Cars and High School Musical along with strong results from ABC and ESPN.

    Net income rose from $734 million in the first quarter last year to $1.7 billion. Revenue grew 10 per cent to $9.7 billion. Disney CEO Bob Iger said, “These results are particularly gratifying given the great year we had in 2006 and are another clear sign our strategy is driving growth and creating shareholder value.”

  • ‘Path to 9/11’ miniseries draws the ire of Democrats

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster ABC is being put under pressure from democrats including former president Bill Clinton not to air the five hour miniseries The Path to 9/11.
    The series among other things shows how the Clinton administration repeatedly messed up opportunities to catch Osama Bin Laden. It also shows that the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center would not have happened had authorities including the FBI not been so complacent.

    Media reports indicate that with the mid term elections around the corner the Democrats are concerned that the series will prejudice voters. As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the film is a dramatisation of the events documented in the 9/11 Commission report.

    Media reports also indicate that some of Clinton’s officials — including former secretary of state Madeleine Albright and former national security adviser Sandy Berger are unhappy about the manner in which the series depicts them.

    In the film, Berger refuses to authorise a 1998 raid designed to capture Bin Laden. This event reports state was contradicted by the 9/11 Commission. Berger sent a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger saying that “no such episode ever occurred, nor did anything like it.”

    Clinton aides say that as per the 9/11 Commission Report, it was CIA director George Tenet who refused to authorise the raid on Bin Laden. The film also suggests that Clinton was distracted from fighting terrorism by the Monica Lewinsky affair and impeachment proceedings.

    Bill Clinton Foundation executive director, Bruce Lindsey, in a letter to Disney said, “The content of this drama is factually and incontrovertibly inaccurate. ABC has a duty to fully correct all errors or pull the drama entirely.”

    In a statement ABC says, “No one has seen the final version of the film, because the editing process is not yet complete. So criticisms of film specifics are premature and irresponsible.”

    In India the show will air on Zee Studio on 10 and 11 September 2006. The miniseries cost around $40 million to make.