Disney may not be a software tech-first kind of company but they know how to produce content:
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Started well
Then this
Its a greta company that I would love to own. But I guess it needs to learn how to be a tech company!
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Bit of a fall in opening revenue for the new Star Wars film
I thought this latest one was better than the last one.
Still, an epic year all round for Disney: 'Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker' caps off Disney's incredible year | CNN Business
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Wait till they start selling Baby Yodas! 
Actually I’m surprised they haven’t made that the must have Christmas toy this year
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Yep, they’ve definitely missed a trick there - I would have definitely bought a Baby Yoda!
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Wait until the weed companies come out with the Baby Yoda strain ha
Disney is the Yahoo Finance company of the decade
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Disney+ to launch in the UK* on 24 March.
Will you get it?
https://twitter.com/i/events/1219543400438882305
*UPDATE: & Ireland (sorry @shane-aurora)
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Wise not to launch a week earlier on Paddys day 
And with the 6 nations done and dusted by then I think it’s a great time to launch in Ireland
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Bob Chapek Named Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company
Mr. Iger Will Direct the Company’s Creative Endeavors
Mr. Chapek Brings 27 Years of Successful Leadership Experience across Disney’s Parks, Consumer Products and Studio Businesses
BURBANK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) Board of Directors announced today that Bob Chapek has been named Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company, effective immediately. Mr. Chapek most recently served as Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.
Robert A. Iger assumes the role of Executive Chairman and will direct the Company’s creative endeavors, while leading the Board and providing the full benefit of his experience, leadership and guidance to ensure a smooth and successful transition through the end of his contract on Dec. 31, 2021.
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Iger did his job and left the stage on a high note.
Disney borrowed very heavily to buy those assets.
Anyone with the highest bid can be a successful at buying assets. WeWork managed to buy all the commercial property in the world with loans from third parties. Sooner or later, that debt has to be refinanced and/or repaid.
Just looking at the annual report here, not the latest Q1 2020 report:
- Total long-term debt more than 2x at the end of fiscal year 2019. 2019 annual report:
At September 28, 2019, the Company had $39.4 billion of U.S. dollar denominated notes with maturities ranging from 1 to 77 years… On March 20, 2019, the Company assumed public debt with a fair value of $21.2 billion (principal balance of $17.4 billion) upon completion of the TFCF acquisition.
- Total reported debt:
Our consolidated indebtedness as of September 29, 2018 was approximately $20.9 billion. With the completion of the TFCF acquisition, our consolidated indebtedness as of September 28, 2019 was approximately $47.0 billion.
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To balance that, intangible assets (things that exist on paper, including the amount companies overpay over “fair value” because that’s how acquisitions work) went from $6.8 billion to $23 billion. Total assets increased 2x to $194 billion, including the funny intangibles. Revenue went just from $59 billion to $70 billion year over year.
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In addition, free cash flow - as measure by operating cash flow less investments, was close to $ 1 billion during that year, versus nearly $10 billion during FY17 and FY18 (each). Because of acquisitions, they had to go to the market to fund themselves.
Good news is that the rates are low. Bad news is that they have so much debt, they have to make sure Disney+ - with all the acquired Fox content - is a huge hit, as people are not renewing cable TV subscriptions.
They have all the big titles but now they have to make more content that generates cash flow to repay those borrowings. Also, they should’ve launched ESPN+ a long time ago.
Note, in comparison, Netflix is producing more and more of its own content. Buying existing content from elsewhere costs a lot of money, which they keep off balance sheet.
Bob Iger be like:
Agree, that 71bn for fox assets was probably too much, but come on, 15.4 for marvel, Lucas film and Pixar seems like a steal to me. Of course, they have to keep making content to keep the franchises alive, but with the recent films they must have that money back many times over.
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- Disney+ is launching on 24 March in the UK and “much of Western Europe”
- £49.99 or annum
- We’ll get The Mandalorian!
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In the short term though, I’m sure most people who wanted to see the Mandalorian have already done so
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