The Rebooted "Keep Hope Alive" (that the rights can revert back to Marvel) Thread - - - - - - - - - - - Part 20

[Detective Conan]

I'm with Willie on this: "unlikely" still isn't good enough for me.

Comcast isn’t coming back.


Though wouldn’t it be funny that right when we’re all relieved about Comcast throwing in the towel all of sudden out of nowhere a third party comes and out-bids Disney for all of Fox assets and we’re back to the dreadful feeling we were having when the AT&T/Time Warner deal was approved back in June but worse?

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

Comcast isn’t coming back.


Though wouldn’t it be funny that right when we’re all relieved about Comcast throwing in the towel all of sudden out of nowhere a third party comes and out-bids Disney for all of Fox assets and we’re back to the dreadful feeling we were having when the AT&T/Time Warner deal was approved back in June but worse?

You've got a sick sense of humor.

 

[Detective Conan]

You've got a sick sense of humor.

 

[Big Bang]

Since they're not allowed to actually talk directly, I think there's a lot of subtle, indirect communication going on between Comcast and Disney.

I think Disney will back off and let them have the majority of Sky and likely then talk about selling the 39% after they've closed with Fox.

... But if Fox/Disney up their Sky bid again, I think Iger isn't playing and he's going for the jugular.

Personally, from my selfish point of view, I hope Disney lets Comcast get Sky and then sells them their share and hopefully gets Hulk and Namor in the process.

Agreed. I can see all of the Marvel rights being held getting exchanged, along with Comcast's 30% of Hulu. Not long afterward I expect AT&T to sell their 10%.

 

[Dark Raven]

Comcast isn’t coming back.


Though wouldn’t it be funny that right when we’re all relieved about Comcast throwing in the towel all of sudden out of nowhere a third party comes and out-bids Disney for all of Fox assets and we’re back to the dreadful feeling we were having when the AT&T/Time Warner deal was approved back in June but worse?

I've thought that this could occur at the very last minute. It's typical of films, TV shows or comic books where the hero has been fighting a big bad all this time. Then right at the last minute an even bigger bad shows up to plunder the spoils after both the hero and villain have spent all their energy fighting each other and have none left to fight anyone else.

This is crucial:



Iger signaled that Disney isn't pursuing Sky any longer, which gives Roberts the green-light to press forward and wrap up that deal. Any remaining incentive he might have had to keep after Fox evaporated.

Disney isn't pursuing Sky anymore? But then why not use that as a negotiating tactic to get the Namor, Hulk and theme park rights back from Universal instead of just backing off and letting Comcast go after Sky with the subtle understanding that they'll not pursue Fox?

 

[Big Bang]

Disney isn't pursuing Sky anymore? But then why not use that as a negotiating tactic to get the Namor, Hulk and theme park rights back from Universal instead of just backing off and letting Comcast go after Sky with the subtle understanding that they'll not pursue Fox?

They have to wait until the deals close. Once they have the 39% share, and Comcast the 61%, then they can bargain.

 

[Dark Raven]

So is Fox going to try to enter a bidding war for Sky with Comcast? They already did put in a larger bid, but if Comcast put in a new one, will Fox try to outdo them again or will they let Comcast have it? Was Fox's bid just tactical?

 

[Big Bang]

So is Fox going to try to enter a bidding war for Sky with Comcast? They already did put in a larger bid, but if Comcast put in a new one, will Fox try to outdo them again or will they let Comcast have it? Was Fox's bid just tactical?

Nope. It's Disney's call if Fox wants to take on more debt, and they have signaled they won't let them.

Comcast already put in a larger bid for Sky to the tune of £2 Billion.

 

[First Avenger]

Iger probably agreed to let Roberts have Sky over the last few days. This is the endgame imo.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

All that worrying over nothing in this thread

It was always happening

 

[Zarex]

Agreed. I can see all of the Marvel rights being held getting exchanged, along with Comcast's 30% of Hulu. Not long afterward I expect AT&T to sell their 10%.

I'm not sure what's going to happen with Hulu. Unless Disney puts all of their A-List product on the service it will struggle to compete with Netflix, Amazon and Disneyflix without contributions from NBC/Universal and Warner Media. The Fox-HBO contract runs through 2022, so they won't be available for Hulu in the pay window for another five years and won't be able to fill in the gap.

I could see Disney using Hulu as the main platform for their streaming efforts or ditching the service altogether.

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

I'm not sure what's going to happen with Hulu. Unless Disney puts all of their A-List product on the service it will struggle to compete with Netflix, Amazon and Disneyflix without contributions from NBC/Universal and Warner Media. The Fox-HBO contract runs through 2022, so they won't be available for Hulu in the pay window for another five years and won't be able to fill in the gap.

I could see Disney using Hulu as the main platform for their streaming efforts or ditching the service altogether.

Once Disney has their own streaming service(s), I don't think they'll have any use for something they only have a shared stake in, and I think they'll bury it.

And if I'm right about that, I think they'd want to get any value they can from their share of Hulu now - before they bury it.

 

[ImSGirl95]

Oh man. It's near! I can feel it!

 

[Spider-Fan]

I don't see them burying Hulu. Disney won't want R or mature themed programming on their family friendly service. I see all the mature programming all moving to Hulu.

 

[Zarex]

I don't see them burying Hulu. Disney won't want R or mature themed programming on their family friendly service. I see all the mature programming all moving to Hulu.

But is Disney going to produce enough of that mature themed content to sustain a streaming service in a time of increasing competition? The HBO pay TV contract with Fox runs through 2022 and it is going to be tough for Hulu to complete with HBO - which AT&T wants to transform into another Netflix - if HBO is getting all of the Fox movies first.

If Kabletown and Warner Media drop out of the Hulu partnership, Disney will be relying on original content not fit for Disneyflix (Handmaid's Tale Season 7!), ABC TV reruns and Fox R rated movies already seen on HBO. That service is going to take a beating in subscriber #s against Netflix, HBO, Amazon and Disneyflix. I'm thinking Disney may sell of their majority stake in Hulu before that happens.

 

[Big Bang]

I'm not sure what's going to happen with Hulu

It's a rather strange conundrum. While it makes sense to not blend rated R product with their traditional content, that rationale is kind of out the window right now with their Netflix deal. On top of that, Netflix has a pretty good profile and filtering system that they could have created within their own service. So it is doable to have have the two in the same place. Want to have only child friendly content available? It's very easy to do, and even have that be the default.

So rather than a one stop shop, they are giving the appearance of double dipping. I would think they would be looking to have a streaming product that has mass appeal, especially when consumers don't want to have to be subscribed a dozen different OTT services. I know I sure don't. I suppose it will just be a wait and see until they execute whatever their vision is.

 

[Big Bang]

All that worrying over nothing in this thread

It was always happening

It kind of was touch and go there for a while.

 

[Marvel united]

I'm just wondering how Disney will incorporate the X-brand into their streaming services or whether we will see any more Marvel shows on Netflix

 

[Spider-Fan]

But is Disney going to produce enough of that mature themed content to sustain a streaming service in a time of increasing competition? The HBO pay TV contract with Fox runs through 2022 and it is going to be tough for Hulu to complete with HBO - which AT&T wants to transform into another Netflix - if HBO is getting all of the Fox movies first.

If Kabletown and Warner Media drop out of the Hulu partnership, Disney will be relying on original content not fit for Disneyflix (Handmaid's Tale Season 7!), ABC TV reruns and Fox R rated movies already seen on HBO. That service is going to take a beating in subscriber #s against Netflix, HBO, Amazon and Disneyflix. I'm thinking Disney may sell of their majority stake in Hulu before that happens.

Right, they are making the content but Disney is anal about brand recognition and remaining family friendly. I don't see them putting out non-family friendly material on a DISNEY branded service. That is why they use to have Touchstone, Mirimax, etc. When is the last Disney R-rated film in Cinemas you remember? Not from a subsidiary, full on Walt Disney Pictures presents in a R-rated film?

 

[Zarex]

Right, they are making the content but Disney is anal about brand recognition and remaining family friendly. I don't see them putting out non-family friendly material on a DISNEY branded service. That is why they use to have Touchstone, Mirimax, etc. When is the last Disney R-rated film in Cinemas you remember? Not from a subsidiary, full on Walt Disney Pictures presents in a R-rated film?

I agree that R-rated content on Disneyflix is a problem. But does it make sense for Disney to support Hulu as a "boutique" adult oriented streaming service for their less valuable product? Hulu lost nearly $1B last year, and that red ink is going to increase after Disney loses it's partners. It may make sense for Disney to but out Comcast and AT&T's stakes and then sell off a majority stake to Verizon, Apple or another interested buyer.

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

Right, they are making the content but Disney is anal about brand recognition and remaining family friendly. I don't see them putting out non-family friendly material on a DISNEY branded service. That is why they use to have Touchstone, Mirimax, etc. When is the last Disney R-rated film in Cinemas you remember? Not from a subsidiary, full on Walt Disney Pictures presents in a R-rated film?

Do we know that they will brand it as Disney?

As I've mentioned on similar discussions, Disney owns "Movies Anywhere", but that's not Disney branded and they offer R-Rated movies.

It seems to me their goal is to compete with Netflix and become the future of streaming - not just to have a family-friendly niche of streaming, but the whole damn thing. Why are they even going after Fox if their goal is a family-friendly service? Most of Fox's offerings aren't family friendly. I can't see them spending billions of dollars like this and then dumping most of the content they just acquired on a service they don't own.

I don't know what their actual plans are, but if I were them, I wouldn't limit the streaming service in that way.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

Oh man. It's near! I can feel it!

Happening status: it literally is

 

[Spider-Fan]

I agree that R-rated content on Disneyflix is a problem. But does it make sense for Disney to support Hulu as a "boutique" adult oriented streaming service for their less valuable product? Hulu lost nearly $1B last year, and that red ink is going to increase after Disney loses it's partners. It may make sense for Disney to but out Comcast and AT&T's stakes and then sell off a majority stake to Verizon, Apple or another interested buyer.

Disney is prob going to create bundles for all their services, which would mean more Hulu subscribers. Why pay like 8 bucks for 1 service when you can get ESPN, Disney, and Hulu for $20!!! (arbitrary price, but you see my point).

 

[Big Bang]

Disney is prob going to create bundles for all their services, which would mean more Hulu subscribers. Why pay like 8 bucks for 1 service when you can get ESPN, Disney, and Hulu for $20!!! (arbitrary price, but you see my point).

If they do that, that will undoubtedly be a win.

 

[MasterCat]

Do we know that they will brand it as Disney?

As I've mentioned on similar discussions, Disney owns "Movies Anywhere", but that's not Disney branded and they offer R-Rated movies.

Right. The ideal would be to have multiple revenue streams in a way that's streamlined for consumers: one UI, one website you have to give a credit card number to. Absolutely not 4, including going to competitor Netflix for new seasons of several Marvel shows.
Iger said in an earnings call that they have a plan to undercut Netflix on price. Netflix starts at $8/month for SD. I just looked it up (not a sports fan) and ESPN Plus is $5/mo just for sports. So imagine having one website where you can pay $7 a month for the PG-13 MCU/Marvel animation/Star Wars/Pixar/Disney film & TV animation/Disney Studios live action/Disney Channel live action/the former Freeform content, $5 for ESPN, and a small monthly fee for Touchstone/Miramax R films, mature dramatic series and FOX-brand content like The Simpsons, Aliens and Predator films, Deadpool (and new Netflix-level Marvel shows?) etc. (subject to restrictions of the HBO deal from 2019-2022) with parental lock functions in the UI.
The alternative is to retain Hulu for that third group, to maintain the Disney image, but then you have a problem with relatively anemic content for $12/month unless you accept commercials.