Disney CEO Bob Iger Says Linear Channels “May Not Be Core” to Disney As They Explore Their Options
Could Disney be planning an exit from the linear TV business?
Yesterday, it was announced that Bob Iger would stay on as CEO of Disney until December 2026.
Today, in an interview on CNBC, Iger discussed the challenges facing Disney and the industry at large. One of those challenges is the spiral of linear TV. Disney owns a portfolio of TV channels, and Iger said they are going to be “expansive” when thinking about the traditional TV business.
Iger admitted in his CNBC interview with David Faber that some of these linear channel assets may not be core to Disney. This means that Disney could potentially explore a sale of its linear channels. Although Iger seems keen on keeping ESPN, as he is eying that company going fully direct-to-consumer sometime in the future.
While Iger was away for 11 months, he knew the traditional TV business was facing great challenges, and once he returned to Disney he realized the challenges were even greater than he previously had thought.
The collapse of the linear channels is just one of the many challenges, Disney is facing. At least this is a challenge that Iger knows the solution to. Yet it’s weird we may see a future where Disney decides to sell its linear channels like ABC, Freeform, FX, National Geographic, and others. Also, could we potentially see the end of Disney Channel? Will Iger and Co. fold Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD simply into Disney+? I wouldn’t rule anything out.
Disney will report its fiscal third-quarter earnings after the market closes on August 9. Boardwalk Times will be providing comprehensive coverage of Disney’s Q3 earnings.
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Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
