Menu
Sports Media

DISNEY'S TV HEAD CONFIRMS COMPANY IS IN A BUYING MOOD

     Walt Disney Co.'s new head of television, Dennis Hightower,
says the company will continue to look at acquiring a TV network:
"We're obviously still evolving our strategic objectives in that
regard.  I'll say it is still on the slate" (REUTERS/COWLES
BUSINESS MEDIA, 3/15).  Despite Hightower's statement, Disney CEO
Michael Eisner refused to comment on the rumors that Disney and
former QVC Chair Barry Diller were teaming up to buy CBS.  Eisner
was in New York unveiling the Disney Institute -- a planned
educational resort in FL (Jonathan Auerbach, N.Y. POST, 3/16).
CNBC's "Business Insiders" noted takeover talk has led to a "run-
up" in CBS' stock this week.  On the show, there was a panel
discussion concerning the takeover rumors.  Among the panelists:
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Stephen Battaglio, USA TODAY's David
Lieberman, media analyst Porter Bibb, and economics columnist
Kathleen Hays.  Bibb on the rumors that CBS Chair Laurence Tisch
might be more "disposed" to sell to Disney rather than Ted
Turner:  "Larry Tish is more disposed to sell to the highest
bidder, and Disney can buy CBS anytime they want.  CBS is now at
68 1/4, it topped $70 a share, getting close to the $80 asking
price that Larry Tisch wants for CBS.  I don't see Disney paying
that price.  Ted Turner on the other hand, really has to buy a
network, whether it's CBS or NBC."  If he doesn't get a network,
Bibb said Turner would stay "forever relegated to the second tier
in the media business" (CNBC, 3/15).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/1995/03/16/Sports-Media/DISNEYS-TV-HEAD-CONFIRMS-COMPANY-IS-IN-A-BUYING-MOOD.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/1995/03/16/Sports-Media/DISNEYS-TV-HEAD-CONFIRMS-COMPANY-IS-IN-A-BUYING-MOOD.aspx

CLOSE