After Bob Iger returned as CEO of The Walt Disney Company in November 2022, many have wondered how things would change.
Since his return, Disney has made $5.5 billion in budget cuts and started laying off thousands of employees. Iger has also shared that Disney plans to invest $17 billion into Disney World which would create over 13,000 jobs. But what is in store for Disney’s media division? Well, Iger has been using one word again and again, and it could give us an idea of where things are going.
Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2017, a move that added assets like Hulu, FX, and Avatar into the Disney bubble. Since then, we have seen Disney push the boundaries on the content it releases — and it’s not always in line with what we recognize as “Disney.” How do they decide what to release?
In an interview with Time Magazine, Bog Iger shared his thoughts on how he plans to curate Disney output moving forward. He stated that Disney still intends on releasing this general entertainment that doesn’t necessarily fit into the typical Disney brands.
However, “I think actually curation is a good thing, because it probably forces more discipline on us in terms of quality,” said Iger. This is by no means the first time that we have heard him use this word: “curate“. In another such interview, the most recent Annual Shareholder Meeting, Iger mentioned plans to look at the volume of what they make and that aggressive curation is a way to cut costs on the general entertainment side.
Disney’s General Entertainment Content sector, the division responsible for assets like ABC Entertainment, National Geographic, and Freeform, are still an important component of Disney in Iger’s eyes. He has shared that they are “not getting out of that business.” But, it sounds like Disney will be reigning in their efforts in that department.
In the Time interview, he commented that “the more you make, typically, you dilute quality. And we’re looking to do the opposite.” So, we can probably expect to see less of this general entertainment in the future as Disney strives to reach profitability goals.
What do you think? Would you like to see Disney focus more on quality over quantity when it comes to its general entertainment? Let us know in the comments! We’ll keep an eye on how this develops so stay tuned to AllEars for more.
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Of course quality over quantity. However, I wish Iger would read these comments or at least have someone read the comments from the common person who actually goes to the parks. I know they don’t take ideas from unsolicited sources and like to their own creating but that isn’t always what the people want. That is most evident in things done in recent years. A shame in some respects as there are great ideas out there that would enhance Disney’s image instead of tarnishing it to where it needs polishing. If you get my meaning. One last thing is, Disney needs to stay out of politics and stay in their own lane. Do what they do best and leave the bickering to the rest.
Com’on Bob, talk to the little guy and see what they have to say, what they think and ideas they have. You may be quite surprised.
Quality over quantity every day of the week. In our household, we would regularly make fun of some of the live action series that Disney produced for the Disney Channel, because they were absolute garbage: bad writing, bad directing, and, as a consequence, bad acting from actors who, in general, aren’t especially bad.
The world’s entertainment industry will continue to push the envelope of societal norms and boundaries in seeking further profit (not progress). Disney should stay out of that realm and focus on the Walt-centered values that built this enterprise.
Disney world went from 1971 to 2019 without a reservation system not needed then not needed now