Disney is facing some problems and may seek to sell parts of the company. Apple would be one of the few companies in a position to make the purchase. Find out all the details!
Apple never tires of innovating and making money, and it even has its eye on Disney. This brand idea has been around for a long time, but speculation is getting more and more serious and everything indicates that Disney may sell some parts of the company to the technology giant Apple. If this really happens, the company will need to shell out a few billion dollars to make the purchase and become one of the owners of another giant company.
Learn more about this deal now and see what Disney's current CEO has to say about this possibility!
Disney Sale
According to an article published in the Hollywood Reporter, executives are in Hollywood discussing the possibility of selling Disney to Apple. The sale would be a huge deal for the industry, and has been speculated about for a few years. However, now it seems that the possibility is more real and the deal could be closed.
According to a source from the publication, many still do not believe that the idea is real, but Disney is considering selling parts of the company to reduce its size and facilitate a possible sale, in addition to removing some of the pressure that government agencies would put on them, in order to reject the agreement.
In an interview with CNBC, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that elements such as Disney's television networks, including Disney Channel, FX and ABC, may not be core to the company, which could suggest they are open to sale. In recent months, as Iger has found a company on the brink of collapse, with disappointing box office numbers, low viewership on Disney+ and executive departures, the proposed sale has received more attention.
A source told The Hollywood Reporter that he doesn't believe Apple would buy Disney as it is now, but that Iger may be preparing a sale and there is no other buyer outside of Apple. According to The Hollywood Reporter, there is also a chance that Disney could sell its presence in India through its streaming channel Hotstar and National Geographic. There are also rumors that the company could sell ESPN, although the report doesn't mention that.
Apple and Disney
Steve Jobs was on Disney's board from 2006 to 2011, the year he died. Iger, in turn, joined Apple's board, where he remained until 2019, when Apple launched Apple TV+ and became a “rival” of Disney, competing for audience.
Apple currently has a value with a market cap of US$1.8 trillion and US$1.4 trillion in cash, making it one of the only technology companies with enough resources to buy Disney and also obtain federal approval to close the deal. Amazon, which in 2021 acquired MGM and already has a strong streaming service, would have more difficulty.
However, many believe that Apple is not interested in this type of purchase, ruling out the possibility. The company has been cautious in producing original films and series and prefers to form partnerships with other studios. This happened with its two biggest releases this year. Paramount will release Killers of the Flower Moon, and Sony Pictures will release Napoleon, both in theaters. Both films will then be released on Apple TV+.
