Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Disney and Pixar talking again

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-09-2005, 12:31 PM:

Found on the Orlando Sentinel website:

Disney and Pixar renew negotiations, Iger says

By Alex Armitage | Bloomberg News
Posted June 8, 2005

Walt Disney Co. has opened negotiations with Pixar Animation Studios to extend their movie-distribution deal, Disney President Robert Iger said Tuesday.

"We'd certainly like to figure out a way to continue to do business with them," Iger, 54, said during a Deutsche Bank conference in New York. "I think that's mutual. We've gotten to understand the issues that are most important to both sides, whether they're financial or creative."

The partnership, scheduled to expire next year, has already generated $3.2 billion in worldwide box-office receipts.

Iger's comments followed a remark last month that the companies had held "informal talks." The discussions signal relations between Disney, the No. 2 media company, and Pixar have warmed since Iger was picked to succeed Michael Eisner, 63, as chief executive officer in September. Eisner clashed with Pixar CEO Steven Jobs.

"If they are indeed talking, they might be heading in the right direction," said Adi Kishore, director of media and entertainment at Boston research firm Yankee Group.

Iger made the comments about renewing talks with Pixar in listing his accomplishments since March, when he was selected as Eisner's successor.

Disney spokeswoman Michelle Bergman would not comment. Pixar spokesman Nils Erdmann didn't return a call seeking comment.

Pixar last year halted talks to renew its Disney distribution contract, which ends in 2006 with the film Cars. The two companies split costs and profits equally after Disney receives distribution fees.

Shares of Pixar rose as high as $53.75 in extended trading after falling 67 cents to close at $52.71 in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. Disney shares rose 21 cents to close at $27.29 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Iger's comments also followed remarks Monday by Jobs, 50, who told financial news network CNBC that he has had some "great discussions with Bob Iger."

"We'll see where it goes," Jobs said. "We'll sit down and have some serious discussions, hopefully within the next month or two."

Under the partnership, Pixar has created six films including Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo and last year's The Incredibles.

Sentinel article

Posted by Adam Wilbert (Member # 1184) on 06-10-2005, 12:44 AM:

Pixar can certainly hold their own, and with Disney's lame product offerings lately, I don't understand why Pixar would want to be associated with them anymore.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-10-2005, 12:17 PM:

Pixar can make a lot more money with Dis than with any other studio, due to the cross-marketing opportunities (theme parks, ABC TV, etc.). Then in about ten years when they've amassed enough money, they can just buy Disney out.