Blog: Disney - Page 4

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Why AT&T cashed in on its Hulu stake and what this means for Disney’s direct-to-consumer strategy

Tim Mulligan

23 Apr 2019

direct-to-consumer Disney hulu

Last week US communications giant AT&T announced that it had sold its 9.5% stake in US subscription video on demand (SVOD) service Hulu for $1.43 billion, valuing the third largest US SVOD operator at $15 billion.

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Can Disney do a Hulu?

Alistair Taylor

12 Apr 2019

Disney Disney Streaming Services Media

Disney finally unveiled to investors during a presentation yesterday its much anticipated direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service Disney+, announcing a November 12th 2019 launch. Disney+ will be an ad-free subscription launching in the US at $6.

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Fox News to ‘New Fox’: What is left after the Disney deal

Alistair Taylor

1 Apr 2019

Disney Fox Fox Corporation

On the 20th March 2019, The Walt Disney Company ’s acquisition of Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox became official. What did Disney acquire? The $71.3 billion merger significantly strengthens Disney’s value proposition as a service, solidifying its position as the world’s largest media cong...

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Fail Fast, Fail Early – Can Eleven’s UK Struggle Aid Future Growth?

Alistair Taylor

21 Feb 2019

Allsvenskan altice Amazon Fire Stick

Eleven Sports announced last week it had successfully agreed long-term distribution agreements with all four TV operators in Portugal – Altice, NOS, Nowo and Vodafone. Achieving this agreement puts Eleven Sports on TV platforms across 3.

ESPN+ leverages UFC appeal to double subscriber base to 2 million in five months

Alistair Taylor

8 Feb 2019

BAMTech combat sports direct-to-consumer

Disney announced in its Q1 earnings call on Tuesday that its sports-centric streaming service ESPN+ had surpassed two million subscribers, doubling its subscriber base in less than five months. Launched in April 2018 , Disney revealed in September 2018 that it had taken less than five months to surp...

UFC’s Debut on ESPN+ Draws In Record Subs

Alistair Taylor

24 Jan 2019

Bellator BT DAZN

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debuted on ESPN+ this past weekend, featuring the highly touted championship fight, which saw Henry Cejudo knockout current Bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw in just 32 seconds to retain his Flyweight title.

Amazon, Regional Sports and Owning the Local Economy

Georgia Meyer

16 Jan 2019

21st Century Fox Amazon Prime ATP

Amazon is reportedly bidding for all 22 US regional sports networks that Disney is putting up for sale (as part of its $73.1 billion deal to buy most of 21st Century Fox). Among the networks is the YES Network, that broadcasts New York Yankees games, as well as an array of professional NBA, NHL and ...

Media Musings: Who Will Buy Snap Inc?

Zach Fuller

14 Dec 2018

Disney Evan Spiegel Media

As outlined in our 2019 forecasting report, MIDiA predicts that Snap Inc. as we know it will be no more by the end of 2019. Its most notable asset Snapchat still has a sizeable audience among younger demographics but the company will be most likely acquired by a larger entity.

Why AT&T is Renewing Its Fox Distribution Relationship

Tim Mulligan

19 Nov 2018

21CF AT & T DirectTV Now

Yesterday , leading US telco AT&T publicly announced the multi-year renewal of its programme distribution deal with Fox Networks Group. AT&T negotiated the deal with 21stCentury Fox assets, which will go to Disney once their takeover of Fox is finalised early in 2019.

The State of California Goes Head to Head with The US Department of Justice on Net Neutrality

Tim Mulligan

2 Oct 2018

21st Century Fox AT & T California

The Golden State is renowned for doing things differently from the rest of the US and, yesterday, its liberal credentials were reiterated by California Governor Jerry Brown signing net neutrality legislation into state law.

Disney Q3 Earnings: The Painful Transition To Direct-To-Consumer

Tim Mulligan

8 Aug 2018

BAMTech Disney ESPN+

Yesterday a besieged Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of Walt Disney Co. had to defend his company’s Q3 (calendar Q2) results against the inflated demands of Wall Street. Disney has come out with a bold strategy to compete directly with subscription video on demand (SVOD) services, with the announcement...

DC Universe Is The First Strategic Move In The Next Round of Direct-To-Consumer Offerings

Alistair Taylor

25 Jul 2018

AT & T comic-con Comics

Warner Bro’s long awaited DC Universe subscription video on demand (SVOD) service is nearing its grand unveiling, having now decided upon a pricing plan. This is the latest of a long list of examples where networks and operators have realised the growing consumer shift from traditional pay-TV to o...

Can Eleven Sports Disrupt the UK Sports Video Landscape?

Alistair Taylor

19 Jul 2018

Allsvenskan broadcasters BT

Eleven Sports is a global sports content provider intent on global expansion. Already established in Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Singapore, Taiwan and the US. Eleven is systematically acquiring new rights to increase its value proposition before launching local channels into new target marke...

Corporate Mergers and the Battle for Fandom

Zach Fuller

22 Jun 2018

Comcast corporate mergers Disney

Back in 1999, the Cluetrain Manifesto appeared across the nascent web as a predictive gospel of what this new technology meant for commerce. Still revered among software entrepreneurs, the ebook outlined the paradigm shift of business in the digital era from a transactional model of one-off payments...

Telcos, Media, and the Battle for Monopsony

Tim Mulligan

14 Jun 2018

AT & T Comcast Disney

This week has seen the culmination of unprecedented moves in the realignment of the Telco and media ecosystems. In October 2016 AT&T, the largest US Telco, put in a bid to acquire content conglomerate Time Warner.

Is the UFC doing a Fox, and cashing in on content?

Alistair Taylor

31 May 2018

acquisition content provider digital content

Last week, Disney-owned ESPN acquired the exclusive rights to show the UFC tournament in the US for $1.5 billion over five years. The deal will see the UFC earn $184 million more each year than the previous deal with Fox, which begs the question; is the UFC mimicking Fox’s strategy and cashing in ...

Disney Q2 Earnings: The Warnings Lights Are Flashing

Tim Mulligan

9 May 2018

ABC Network Disney ESPN+

Yesterday’s Q2 Earning Results from the Walt Disney Company pleased Wall Street by beating earnings estimates. However, a closer look at the financials reveals why Disney’s much heralded pivot to subscription video on demand (SVOD) is a strategic imperative for the longevity of the media conglom...

Marvel versus Netflix

Tim Mulligan

13 Apr 2018

Daredevil Disney Jessica Jones

With yesterday’s launch of ESPN+ Disney has begun its direct-to-consumer strategy, which revolves around the introduction of proprietary subscription video on demand (SVOD) services. The move forms part of Disney’s stated aim to reach consumers directly, following on from the creation of a dedi...

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Is ESPN+ The Shape Of Future Video Sports Coverage?

Tim Mulligan

6 Apr 2018

Disney ESPN+ Sports

On 12 April Disney will launch ESPN+ into an increasingly competitive market. The move forms part of Disney’s stated aim to reach consumers directly, following on from the creation of a dedicated direct-to-consumer and international business unit established last month.

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Disney, Netflix and the Squeezed Middle: The Real Story Behind Net Neutrality

Mark Mulligan

15 Dec 2017

Amazon Apple Music Disney

Unless you have been hiding under a rock this last couple of weeks you’ll have heard at least something about the build up to the decision over turning net neutrality in the US, a decision that was confirmed yesterday.

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