2012-11-06, 04:11 AM
From what I understand from recent stockholders reports, Disney is wholly concerned with the fact that there are so many up-and-coming companies on the rise in terms of mass media. Dreamworks has moved on from being the laughingstock of the animation world, and Disney XD has seen competition from Nicktoons Network, Cartoon Network, and the Hub.
This is a change. Disney had an absolute monopoly on family programming in the 2000's. Between Disney Channel with it's tween idols and child-friendly programming, and their more "mature" content on the ABC networks, they were more or less unopposed. Then their programming went to pomegranate, NBC and Time Warner stepped up their game, and Cartoon Network started airing halfway decent shows again.
Disney also had a massive drought in the quality of their animated movies. Chicken Little, Emperor's New Groove, Lilo and Stitch, Bolt, Meet the Robinsons, etc. were not as well received (in general). They got complacent, and meanwhile, everyone else got better too. Sure they had Pixar, but anything with that logo on it is at least partially good.
I imagine Disney is trying to get a hand on every market right now. They already have ABC as competition to NBC and any other major news networks, the have Disney Channel, I'd guess they're just trying to cover their bases, which is probably why the acquired Marvel (Time Warner owns DC), and LucasFilm.
I kind of suspect the Hasbro buyout to be (br)idle gossip, but we'll see. Honestly, it'd make more sense to purchase Mattel, what with Barbie and all, but I'm not sure they can afford that at this point.
This is a change. Disney had an absolute monopoly on family programming in the 2000's. Between Disney Channel with it's tween idols and child-friendly programming, and their more "mature" content on the ABC networks, they were more or less unopposed. Then their programming went to pomegranate, NBC and Time Warner stepped up their game, and Cartoon Network started airing halfway decent shows again.
Disney also had a massive drought in the quality of their animated movies. Chicken Little, Emperor's New Groove, Lilo and Stitch, Bolt, Meet the Robinsons, etc. were not as well received (in general). They got complacent, and meanwhile, everyone else got better too. Sure they had Pixar, but anything with that logo on it is at least partially good.
I imagine Disney is trying to get a hand on every market right now. They already have ABC as competition to NBC and any other major news networks, the have Disney Channel, I'd guess they're just trying to cover their bases, which is probably why the acquired Marvel (Time Warner owns DC), and LucasFilm.
I kind of suspect the Hasbro buyout to be (br)idle gossip, but we'll see. Honestly, it'd make more sense to purchase Mattel, what with Barbie and all, but I'm not sure they can afford that at this point.