Disney+ is doomed

[CharlesPhipps]

https://collider.com/hulu-disney-plus-merger-explained/

Some select bits:

The pricing changes are part of the company’s "plan to set a higher price for [their] ad-free tier later this year to better reflect the value of [Disney’s] content offerings," according to Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger. In Disney’s second fiscal quarter of the year, its streaming business lost $659 million, which was less than the company’s anticipated loss. Although the financial loss was within the company’s expectations, it reflects the declining performance and demand for Disney+. The streaming business lost 4 million of its 157.8 million global subscribers, reported during the prior quarter. This second-quarter drop equates to an overall streaming loss of 26%, creating a concern about how Disney can hold onto its consumer base. Yet, during the same time period Disney+ prices have increased, the company removed some of its original content.

[clearspira]

Disney itself as we know it is doomed.

They are planning to sell a significant amount of its assets...
https://wdwnt.com/2023/07/disney-ceo-bo ... -freeform/

Why? Because... it has to find around 27 billion to finish buying Hulu in 2024. The company currently almost certainly does not have enough money to do so.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/16/comcast ... %20billion.

There are also rumours that Bob Iger is planning to sell the company outright to Apple.
https://fandomwire.com/disney-ceo-repor ... 20traction.

To recap: Poor management, Covid-19, an economic downturn, poor box office, poor streaming figures. It has been the perfect storm. There will always be a Disney - but not the Disney of today.

[CharlesPhipps]

Eh, acquiring 27 billion dollars is a lot less difficult than it sounds for Disney. They have the assets to get the kind of loans necessary.

[clearspira]

Eh, acquiring 27 billion dollars is a lot less difficult than it sounds for Disney. They have the assets to get the kind of loans necessary.

Maybe. But their financial situation sucks. The sort of sucks that makes the vultures circle. In other news, Disney's stock is down 55% since 2021.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/06/ ... o-buy-now/

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

He's denied claims of ambition to sell Disney, so I'll take that over any implied misdirection that anything else would suggest.

Looking at their stock index, it's an understandable range of peaks and valleys, distinct from pre-covid, to covid, and now in post-covid.

[CharlesPhipps]

He's denied claims of ambition to sell Disney, so I'll take that over any implied misdirection that anything else would suggest.

Looking at their stock index, it's an understandable range of peaks and valleys, distinct from pre-covid, to covid, and now in post-covid.

I mean, it's not a big secret that it has been a shitty couple of years for Disney+ that can be summarized as:

* Covid destroying the movie industry and it only now recovering to any extent
* Disney+ was a massive expenditure that has paid nothing
* The Marvel Television series were money sinks to get people to show up on Disney+, which they have but not enough to cover costs.
* Star Wars not being quite as awesome as they'd hoped

[clearspira]

He's denied claims of ambition to sell Disney, so I'll take that over any implied misdirection that anything else would suggest.

Looking at their stock index, it's an understandable range of peaks and valleys, distinct from pre-covid, to covid, and now in post-covid.

I mean, it's not a big secret that it has been a shitty couple of years for Disney+ that can be summarized as:

* Covid destroying the movie industry and it only now recovering to any extent
* Disney+ was a massive expenditure that has paid nothing
* The Marvel Television series were money sinks to get people to show up on Disney+, which they have but not enough to cover costs.
* Star Wars not being quite as awesome as they'd hoped

Man, I remember 2015. Everyone was stoked for new Star Wars. Absolutely everyone. This was a time where all we had had for fifteen years was the Prequels and everyone KNEW that the guys behind the MCU would make a show for the ages. The fans at that time were united and whole.

Star Wars not being awesome is all their fault. Every last bit of it.

And as for the Marvel Disney Plus series bringing viewers to the service. MAYBE Loki and that Scarlet Witch series. But She-Hulk, Ms Marvel and Secret Invasion? Hell noes. I would be willing to bet that She-Hulk actually drove people away. And I see that there is going to be a season 2 of that crap? Iger must actually be trying to hari-kari his company at this point, I see no alternative.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

He's denied claims of ambition to sell Disney, so I'll take that over any implied misdirection that anything else would suggest.

Looking at their stock index, it's an understandable range of peaks and valleys, distinct from pre-covid, to covid, and now in post-covid.

I mean, it's not a big secret that it has been a shitty couple of years for Disney+ that can be summarized as:

* Covid destroying the movie industry and it only now recovering to any extent
* Disney+ was a massive expenditure that has paid nothing
* The Marvel Television series were money sinks to get people to show up on Disney+, which they have but not enough to cover costs.
* Star Wars not being quite as awesome as they'd hoped

Streaming has become just a bit more normalized since Disney+ came out. There's no evidence that they will be abandoned, but the performance of hot ticket investments of LucasFilm and Marvel are just being stretched at the moment.

It didn't help that there was absolutely no culminations of events for the Marvel phase up to now. And, to be fair though, I find their Star Wars to be picking up since the Boba Fett show. Andore, and OB1 were pretty good, and personally I felt Mandalorian is better this last season. But what are they doing with Lucasfilm if they haven't even hinted to an upcoming movie project.

[CharlesPhipps]

Oh yes, they have, Rey Skywalker is getting her own film.

But it's more the issue that all the Star Wars shows have been getting 200+ million dollar budgets and being released direct to streaming versus in theaters and cutting off a massive source of revenue to the company.

[Thebestoftherest]

Umm why do you think they would make more money in theaters than streaming?