Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:46 am
I was a rookie employee in 84 when all the greenmail crud was going on with Staul Steinberg and I can't remember the other guy... anyway, there were the same kinds of rumors going around that whoever bought Disney was going to sell off all the assets, that the parks would turn into junk (which kind of ended up coming true under Eisner's stewardship), etc, etc... We were wondering if we were going to have jobs in a year. The thing is that you can't believe the worst of the rumors - they're just stupid. If Comcast or Pixar buys the company, either way might be good. Personally, I think that Disney should divest itself of ABC/Capital Cities. I don't think that any studio should be allowed to own a network even though the government has loosened regulations (ever hear of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, you Washington weenies???). The parks are too valuable an asset for any buyer to want to divest itself of...the Eisner/Wells regime has pretty much exploited them as merchandise/marketing opportunities for anything and everything that the studio produces. The cruise line business can go - the travel industry is too volitile in this day of Orange alerts, and it really isn't part of the company's core mission. The studio and theme park should be separate but equal portions of the company. Attractions don't necesarrily have to tie in with filmed product. The creatives at the studio should be concentrating on writing and producing the best possible stories that are involving and innovative, and they don't have to be computer generated. If there is quality product out there, the audience will find it. I hope that Disney is sold to someone who really cares about the name and history, who will respect the past without being hindered by it and find a way to make the business productive without taking away from the front line employess both in the parks and at the studio.