Disney CEO Bob Iger sounded rather bullish on Wednesday about his studio’s traditional linear television assets.
“We’re actually not a burden at all by our linear network. Iger told financial analysts over the morning call after the studio revealed first quarter revenue.
“We’re programming them and we’re funding at a level that actually provides the ability to strengthen our entire television business. This includes streaming, which is essentially the future of the television business, and is streaming. It’s leaning,” he added.
These comments marked a reversal from Iger’s comments in a July 2023 CNBC interview. He said linear networks “may not be at the heart of Disney” as the company led the business into streaming. Iger’s latest comment appears to inform Disney’s traditional linear television assets, with its evolving streaming platform being managed together, with broadcast and cable assets falling outside the auction block.
“So I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of some small networks in any way that would be different in terms of how we bring to market, or even the way we bring ownership. “He told analysts. “But now we actually feel good about the hands we hold,” Iger said, starting in 2023, with the potential to sell Disney’s ABC broadcast network and stations. I added it because it looked like it would shut down.
At the time, Iger tapped former top studio executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs to help advise on the possibility of selling linear TV assets beyond ESPN, such as ABC Broadcast Network and FX Cable Channels. I did.
