Disney CEO Bob Iger tells Cast Members that theme parks 'is a business where you spend to succeed'

Nov 28, 2023 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Posted: Tuesday November 28, 2023 3:00pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney CEO Bob Iger hosted a Town Hall session with Cast Members today, discussing the company's recent achievements and future building opportunities.

 

Despite not taking questions or making any new announcements, Iger continued reiterating recent messaging that Disney plans to invest heavily in the company's theme park segment.

Referring to the recently announced $60 billion investment in parks and resorts across the next ten years, Iger told Cast Members watching the virtual event that "this is a business where you spend to succeed." Iger has previously said that the investment would allow for expanding and enhancing domestic and international parks and cruise line capacity.

Speaking in April 2023 at the Walt Disney Company Annual shareholder meeting, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that Disney plans to spend $17 billion over the next ten years, specifically at Walt Disney World, bringing 13,000 new jobs to the area.

Interim CFO Kevin Lansberry told investors earlier this month to "expect those investments to ramp up towards the back half of that 10-year period with more gradual increases in the first few years."

Iger was joined at today's Town Hall by the four Disney segment Chairmen - Alan Bergman, Josh D'Amaro, Jimmy Pitaro, and Dana Walden.

Today's Town Hall session comes almost a year after Iger returned to the top job at Disney. When asked about the challenges facing him on his return, Iger said, "I knew that there were a myriad of challenges that I would face coming back. I won't say that it was easy, but I've never second-guessed the decision to come back, and being back still feels great."

In a previous memo to employees inviting them to the session, Iger said, "As I reflect on the immense progress we've made this year and look ahead to the many opportunities before us, I'm grateful to all of you - the people of this great company - for the tremendous work you do each and every day to ensure we continue delivering incredible entertainment for our audiences, guests, and fans all over the world."

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MR.Dis1 day ago

And remember, it is not valued as of today but as of the date they made the agreement. It already appears for all the smoke that Hastings was blowing, the value is not going to that much higher -- whatever value is decided Comcast gets one third minus of course whatever they already were paid. So on the high end it could be 3B, Hastings was making noises back in a day they could be getting 10+ billion more. Looks like he was drawing to an inside straight and we gamblers all know what happens in that case LOL.

MisterPenguin2 days ago

The difference between the two valuations is about $12B. So, even using the highest valuation, Disney would be on the hook for paying Comcast another $3B. It could also mean nothing more if the third valuation was at the minimum.

ToTBellHop2 days ago

I’d be happy to independently value it for them and I only cost $50.

DCBaker2 days ago

Reuters reports Disney and Comcast are now in talks to hire an investment bank that will independently value Hulu. NEW YORK, May 6 (Reuters) - Walt Disney (DIS.N),and Comcast (CMCSA.O), are seeking to hire a financial adviser to resolve a dispute over how to value the 33% stake in streaming platform Hulu that the former will acquire from the latter, according to people familiar with the matter. The move is in accordance with a deal the companies struck for Hulu last year. It is an action their contract foresees if JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N), which provided a fairness opinion on Hulu for Disney, and Morgan Stanley, which provided such an opinion for Comcast, are too far apart in their valuation assessments. JPMorgan has valued Hulu for Disney at close to $27.5 billion, which is the floor valuation for Hulu that the companies had set as part of their 2019 "put-call" agreement, one of the sources said. Morgan Stanley valued Hulu for Comcast at more than $40 billion, another source said. Disney and Comcast are now in talks to hire an investment bank that will independently value Hulu, the sources said, requesting anonymity because the matter is confidential. Hulu, which boasts popular original titles such as "Shogun", "The Bear", "Prey", and "Only Murders in the Building", had 49.7 million subscribers at the end of Dec 2023, representing a growth of 2% from the September quarter. In remarks at a Goldman Sachs conference last year, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts called Hulu a "scarce kingmaker asset" that is "way more valuable today" than when the deal was initially struck. Disney has already completed the addition of Hulu to its Disney+ streaming service, which is home to titles such as "Moana" and "Frozen." In regulatory filings last year, Disney and Comcast had outlined that if the valuation reached by their two banks were within 10% of each other, a deal will be consummated at a valuation that is the average of the two appraisals. Since the two appraisals are more than 10% apart, Comcast and Disney are jointly in talks to pick a third bank to do an independent appraisal, the sources said. As per the terms of the agreement, if the third appraisal is closest to the valuation of that produced by Disney's bank, the average of those two valuations will be the value at which the deal gets done. Similarly, if the third appraisal is closest to the valuation of that produced by Comcast's bank, the average of those two valuations is the value at which the deal gets done. If the average of the third appraisal is below $27.5 billion, the final valuation will be $27.5 billion. In 2019, Disney and Comcast signed an agreement for Hulu with an option strike date of January 2024, after Disney's $71 billion takeover of Fox's assets, including its minority stake in Hulu. The deal gave Disney majority control over Hulu as it already owned a 33% stake in the streaming service. Comcast retained its stake in Hulu at the time believing that its value would increase significantly by 2024. In November last year, Disney agreed to take full control of Hulu and pay Comcast at least $8.6 billion for the remaining 33% stake, after Comcast triggered the deal as part of the 2019 agreement. https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/disney-comcast-seek-advisor-resolve-hulu-valuation-sources-say-2024-05-06/

Sirwalterraleigh19 days ago

I’ve got a boot ready for the kick

JoeCamel19 days ago

They wanted to throw Bob out the window? ;) :cool::hilarious:

Sirwalterraleigh19 days ago

What are you two enlightened Renaissance men carrying on about?

Casper Gutman19 days ago

Turns out the anti-Peltz crowd did exactly what they said they would - they went back to criticizing Iger and skeptically discussing potential expansion plans.

James Alucobond19 days ago

I was promised gloating from the anti-Peltz faction but found only endless self-indulgent wallowing from those who wanted to defenestrate Iger at any cost. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Casper Gutman19 days ago

Come on, Penguin, let them have their fun while everyone else moves on.

MisterPenguin19 days ago

Thank you for letting us know how wrong a Hollywood trade magazine is!!

Sirwalterraleigh20 days ago

I’m having DoorDash delivery a really spensive espresso that morning to listen to it bright and early ☕️

monothingie20 days ago

But D+ will be declared "profitable" at the next Q's earnings report!