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Tag: Michael Eisner

  • Hollywood attorney Irwin Russell dies at 87

    Hollywood attorney Irwin Russell dies at 87

    MUMBAI: Entertainment attorney Irwin Russell, who represented industry notables including Michael Eisner, Jim Henson, David Wolper and Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), passed away on 23 August from complications related to Leukemia. He was 87.

     

    “Irwin Russell was a brilliant lawyer, an insightful executive, an eloquent writer and, in all things, a true gentleman,” said Eisner, the former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, in a statement. “He represented me for 40 years, including my tenures at ABC, Paramount, Disney and, until the day he died, at Tornante.”

     

    Eisner added: “He was able to write – and get all parties to agree to – a one-page deal, something unheard of in American business. Ethics, doing it right and being fair were embedded in his DNA. This is a deep loss for all of us.”

     

    Born in 1926, Russell arrived in Los Angeles in 1971 after experience serving on the National Wage Stabilization Board in Washington, DC and working in private practice in New York City. He was involved in the takeover of the Walt Disney Company in 1984 and served on the Disney board.

     

    Among the many industry deals he is credited with, Russell helped bring the Muppets to Sesame Street and Candid Camera to television. The lawyer is survived by his wife, Suzanne. A memorial is set for September.

  • Former Disney boss Eisner enunciates ‘box’ theory at HT summit

    Former Disney boss Eisner enunciates ‘box’ theory at HT summit

    MUMBAI: The success is all in a box. The financial box coupled with micro-management is the key to the success of any enterprise, says Michael Eisner, who used to head US media conglomerate Walt Disney.
    Speaking at the ongoing Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Eisner complimented India on its success and traced its cultural heritage as a reflection of its potential.

    Speaking about the glorious story of Walt Disney drawn from the concept of ‘Inside Box’, he pointed to the success that creativity could bring to any business. He also highlighted the need to learn lessons fast and to evolve to succeed rather than being bogged down by them.

    “We faced resistance when we entered France and were pelted with eggs. In India we did not get that reception. The Indian film industry is a success story, so I do not wish to suggest how it has to develop. But then we have developed the model that has had tremendous success” said Eisner.

    Stressing on the importance of weaving creativity around the financial box, he said, “Creativity is essential to any industry, not just animation. Creativity has to have a symbiotic relationship with financial aspects.”

    Eisner also pointed out that using the benefits of micro management, Disney achieved success. “We never lost a dime on a single movie, thanks to the financial box. Creativity can flourish within financial limits. It really works,” said Eisner.

    He explained that Disney, which was also involved in other activities, the financial box system had been deployed to achieve maximum benefits.

    Quality, creative products and the ability to bond with the customers was the mantra that Disney adopted in every toy, movie, hotel room, ashtray, Broadway, credit card etc. “Each of it is a dot that symbolises the Disney brand. The brand friendly initiative is also reflected in our hotel initiative (32 hotels) and each hotel is a financial box. We used whimsical icons to bring in creativity. In Star Cruise — it was a floating box –creativity was witnessed in gambling that was introduced,” said Eisner.

    Highlighting the importance of internet, Eisner said, “The world has become a single dot. Time, money or language, internet has impacted every part of the entertainment industry. With a video and internet one can be creative. Internet is the next platform for the entertainment industry. Fantastic things with tremendous potential are possible with internet.”

    “Think inside the box, micro-manage it and have a good time. That is what it takes to become a financial success,” was the mantra of Eisner.

  • Former Disney honcho Eisner turns his attention to IPTV

    Former Disney honcho Eisner turns his attention to IPTV

    MUMBAI: Former Walt Disney CEO Michael Eisner and media conglomerate Time Warner have invested in a startup that aims to build a delivery platform for IPTV.

    Media reports indicate that Eisner’s venture capital group Tornante Company together with Spark Capital and Time Warner will be investing a total of $12.5 billion in the company. How much Eisner is exactly pumping into the venture is another unknown.

    The San Diego based Veoh Networks is building a system for delivering broadcast-quality entertainment and informational content via the Internet, using distribution technology, the firm says will allow for unlimited capacity. Veoh envisions marketing its platform to everyone from independent video producers and hobbyists to large studios.

    In a statement Eisner said, “Cable and satellite fundamentally changed the way television was distributed by creating the capacity for greater choice in programming. Veoh revolutionises television again by leveraging the Internet to expand broadcast capacity to the point that every single user, whether an individual or a media company, can create their own `channel` and every `channel` can be supported by its own business model.

    “In the past, distributing television programming required an enormous broadcast infrastructure. Veoh enables anyone with an Internet connection to distribute and receive programming in the highest quality.”

    Eisner will be a member of the board of directors of Veoh Networks.Under Veoh’s model, TV networks and individuals will be able to programme their own channels on the service. At the moment, it shows programming already in the public domain and content sent by users.

    Veoh founder and CEO Dmitry Shapiro says, “Having Michael involved in the company gives us incredible credibility, experience and knowledge, not to mention the contacts”.