Eric Holland 💀’s Post

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘀? In a major blow to Warner Bros. Discovery sports division, The Walt Disney Company, Comcast and Amazon have clinched an 11 year deal worth $77 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. What is surpring here is that Amazon is now providing a streaming base bigger than a lot of the Cable networks in the U.S. As ESPN is owned by Walt Disney, this could have been seen coming since Disney already owned the rights to national broadcast of Women's NBA i.e. WNBA. As Warner Bros is getting shoved behind by the Big Three of U.S.' media networks, the traditional media distribution networks seem to be falling behind in every metric. #NBA #ESPN #WALTDISNEY #AMAZON #WB https://lnkd.in/g_hC9XXd

🚨 Warner Bros. Struggles: What’s Next for the Entertainment Giant? 📉 Network Revenue Drops: Warner's cable TV segment took a hit, with an 8% drop in revenue to $5.3 billion, driven by cord-cutting, low ratings, and a weak ad market. This is significant as cable TV is a major profit driver for the company. 🏀 NBA Contract Loss: The failure to renew the NBA contract has darkened TNT’s future, leading to a massive $9.4 billion impairment charge. The network's future without the NBA looks uncertain. 🎬 Studios Decline: Warner’s Studios segment fell by 5%, with video game revenue plunging 41%. The underperformance of "Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League" and tough comparisons to "Hogwarts Legacy" contributed to this decline. 📈 Streaming Growth: On the brighter side, Max streaming platform gained 3.6 million new subscribers, reaching 103 million globally. The release of "House of the Dragon" at the end of June likely played a key role in this growth. 🔮 Zaslav’s Vision: Despite a tough quarter, CEO David Zaslav remains focused on the streaming strategy and isn’t considering breaking up the company. Can Warner Bros. navigate these challenges and find its footing, or are more drastic measures on the horizon? #WarnerBros #EntertainmentIndustry #StreamingWars #CordCutting #DhandaTheGreat #TNT #NBA #HouseOfTheDragon #MediaNews #BusinessUpdate #DavidZaslav #MaxStreaming

Discount and (negative) growth rates are discussed in the analysis referenced below. Next week we will show you another case with similar results.

Andrew Ross Sorkin asked Disney CFO, Hugh Johnston, the exact right question this morning: "Is Disney now a luxury brand?" Johnston's reply didn't confirm or deny, but the narrative of Disney's recent past is very much a story of raising prices mightily at parks, on cruises and at Disney+. Prices went up at their already highest priced theme parks and cruises in each category where they priced middle income consumers out of the market in the US. The story of the future depends on answers to two questions. Can the luxury experience trend continue? Johnston suggests that they have plenty of room to raise prices without losing park attendance or cruise bookings. The second question: Can Disney's media division start telling stories people will pay to view? Despite Johnston's confidence, that's a much less certain outcome. Disney overpaid for major content that has dramatically underperformed and led directly to Disney+ subscriber attrition. Streaming and media won't work unless the studio starts making quality content that people want to pay to view, again. Disney tells great stories. Will this latest one bomb at the box office or be a hit in 2024-2025?

Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery — ordinarily rivals for consumers’ time and money — are teaming up for a triple-play bundle of Disney+, Hulu and Max. I remember discussing the death of cable bank in 2010 and I remember saying it won't die. It will be the same business model on a different platform. Americans love the buffet model and simplicity of billing. It takes a while to realize we aren't using enough of it to justify the inevitable price increases that come along after we get comfortable. https://lnkd.in/emttSDTF

In the latest sign that physical media is on a fast descent towards being a relic, Walt Disney is handing the bulk of its DVD and Blu-ray business in the U.S. and Canada to Sony. Like "Old Yeller", it's also the end of the 23-year-old Disney Movie Club, the subscription service and online store where fans could buy DVDs and Blu-rays of films from the House of Mouse. Physical disc sales have been on "The Nightmare Before Christmas" decline for years, accelerated by the streaming boom. And the Disney news shouldn't come as a surprise since Best Buy discontinued sales of DVDs and Blu-ray discs in the store and online early this year, which followed Netflix’s decision last September to shutter its DVD-by-mail service. Chalk it up to "The Mighty Ducks" though, this isn't exactly the end. For Disney, the transition also makes sense since the studio’s physical media operation is pretty much an afterthought given the focus on its streaming service Disney+. On the bright side especially for physical media fans, this arrangement doesn't necessarily spell the end especially if Sony is as efficient as it sounds. Say what? That's right. Disney's vast library full of dust-covered, unreleased gems are a "Treasure Island" yearning to be discovered. These aren't forgotten cartoons, but live-action classics from Fox, Hollywood Pictures, and Touchstone with nearly two dozen former Fox titles remastered in 4K. Seriously, they haven't graced streaming platforms, found a home on Disney+, or earned a physical release on Blu-ray or 4K Ultra HD. If the Sony deal works out, fans could potentially get access to a trove that thus far may as well be "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". Of course, one can't but feel a range of emotions like "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" that the continuing decline of physical media is yet another sign of the erosion of personal ownership in this digital age. Keep those copies of "The Little Mermaid" close https://lnkd.in/e7dMgWR3 #disney #disneyplus #sony #dvd #streaming #culture #subscription #entertainment

Five Key Questions for Disney’s Fiscal Q3 2024 Earnings 1) How Do You Expect Epic Universe to Impact Disney? 2) What Do You Want Sports Fans to Subscribe to? 3) Does NBA Impact ESPN’s Appetite for Sports Rights.. LightShed Partners Rich Greenfield Brandon Ross Mark K.0

At Disney, we are all storytellers. Bob’s recent performance for Wall Street is a classic example. One skill I’ve honed in my career and worked hard to elevate in my time as a Cast Member is to tell data-driven stories (thank you Lisa Becket Jill Estorino Emmanuel Marques Courtney Shamitko Tom Aronson and countless others here at Disney that have helped me be a better executive storyteller). As a performance marketer, it’s easy to get caught up in metrics (let’s be honest: we can very easily measure our way into paralysis, boring our audience to tears along the way). But spoiler alert: Numbers don’t move people. Emotions do. Every. Single. Time. Bob immediately fired our imagination, infusing excitement, nostalgia, and anticipation in his announcements right out of the gate. Then he layering in the numbers that prove his point that we’ve moved from fixing to building. And it’s the sequencing of these two story elements that matters most. Make no mistake: your numbers are important. Critical, even. They reinforce your points, establish your credibility, and demonstrate your command of a situation. But here you see they intentionally took a back seat to his boundless, infectious optimism for the future. Why? Because facts and figures alone will never move your audience. But when you combine a solid performance story with an emotional call to action, you win the game. So regardless of your brand, your role, and your level, focus your time and attention on balancing these two critical story elements, making emotion center stage, and you’ll crush it every time. And as my friend Maui (coming back to theaters in Moana 2 this November!), would say, “You’re welcome.” #disney #disneyparks #disneycastlife #leadership

"🎬✨ Exciting News from Disney! 🌟 Dear The Walt Disney Company, we're still undecided if you're a perfect fit for the global health community. However, because our founder, Stephen Fahey, is a huge Star Wars fan, we wanted to show our support for your ambitions to grow the brand streaming service. Best of luck on your journey, and remember, should you ever need us, we're here! And speaking of growth, Disney's chief executive, Bob Iger, just announced some major moves aimed at bringing "significant growth" to the entertainment giant. 🚀🎶 The plans include streaming an exclusive version of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concert movie on Disney+. Plus, Disney is investing a whopping $1.5 billion in Epic Games, the creators of the beloved video game Fortnite. 🎮💰 Amidst pressure from activist investor Nelson Peltz, Disney is doubling down on its streaming business and exploring new avenues for expansion. And with initiatives like streaming sports content and share buybacks, Disney is poised for an exciting future ahead. 🏀⚽ While the journey may have its ups and downs, we're confident that Disney's magic will continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Here's to the next chapter of storytelling and imagination! ✨ #DisneyMagic #StreamingGrowth #HealthySecrets" https://lnkd.in/efYVhvei

HBO and Warner Bros. have demonstrated remarkable adaptability in the evolving entertainment landscape. Under the leadership of executives like Casey Bloys and Ann Sarnoff, these iconic brands have successfully balanced tradition with innovation. HBO, led by Casey Bloys as Chief Executive Officer, continues to deliver groundbreaking television series while expanding its offerings to cater to diverse audiences. From acclaimed shows like 'Game of Thrones' and 'Westworld' to the recent additions of 'Trolls Band Together,' 'Barbie,' and the 'House of the Dragon' series, the network has showcased its commitment to delivering premium content. Warner Bros., renowned for its contributions to film production, has adeptly navigated the challenges posed by the pandemic. The decision to release major films simultaneously on HBO Max and in theaters has positioned the studio as a leader in exploring hybrid distribution models. The strategic vision of Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO of Warner Media Studios and Networks Group, has facilitated collaborations and crossovers between television and film, creating a seamless entertainment experience across platforms. The success of HBO and Warner Bros. stands as a testament to the leadership's ability to balance tradition with innovation. Exceptional storytelling, technological advancements, and strategic decisions have solidified their positions as industry leaders, ensuring they remain at the forefront of delivering compelling content worldwide. @HBO @WarnerBros @CaseyBloys @AnnSarnoff #entertainment #innovation #strategicvision