logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2023
41m 26s

Money Talks: Can Disney rekindle the mag...

The Economist
About this episode

The Walt Disney Company turns 100 years old this week. But the silver screen success that helped it become the world’s biggest entertainment company will not be enough to keep it on top for another century. As households swap cable packages for streaming, and kids turn to gaming, rather than movies, Disney needs reanimating.

On this week’s podcast, hosts Tom Lee-Devlin, Alice Fulwood and Mike Bird ask whether Disney has lost its touch. The Economist’s Tom Wainwright takes us on a tour of the Magic Kingdom, to assess its sprawling empire. Analyst Rich Greenfield explains why the company is losing billions on streaming. And Matthew Ball, former head of strategy for Amazon Studios, tells us about the big bet Disney needs to make if it wants to retain its crown.

For full access to print, digital and audio editions, subscribe to The Economist at www.economist.com/podcastoffer



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
Sprawl of duty: Trump’s tariff drama
Once again President Donald Trump extended the deadline for spine-stiffening tariffs to go into effect on trading partners. We look at the effects of all the uncertainty. Brazil once dominated the world of football; we ask where it went wrong and assess the route to a comeback. A ... Show More
21m 53s
Yesterday
The French reconnection: Macron in Britain
Anglo-French relations have not been so good since before the Brexit vote. Beneath the state-visit pageantry, though, there is much co-operation for President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss. Gangs have infiltrated many of Latin America’s mining operati ... Show More
21m 10s
Jul 7
Trump card: can he broker a Gaza deal?
While Israel and Hamas officials discuss a ceasefire via mediators in Qatar, a key meeting will take place at the White House today, when Israel’s prime minister talks to the US president. Why the Chinese Communist Party is removing alcohol from official events. And remembering J ... Show More
21m 7s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2023
Money Talks: Can Disney rekindle the magic?
The Walt Disney Company turns 100 years old this week. But the silver screen success that helped it become the world’s biggest entertainment company will not be enough to keep it on top for another century. As households swap cable packages for streaming, and kids turn to gaming, ... Show More
41m 26s
Jan 2022
FT Weekend -- Happily ever after? Disney in the 21st century
Happy New Year! Our first episode of 2022 is dedicated to one of the world’s most powerful cultural forces: Disney. What happens when a company with that much influence just keeps growing? We visit Disneyland for a rare interview with CEO Bob Chapek, with FT reporters Chris Grime ... Show More
27m 12s
Mar 2023
The Walt Disney Company: An Entertainment Empire - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 101]
This is Jesse Pujji and today we’re breaking down The Walt Disney Company. Disney needs no introduction. We have all interacted with the entertainment empire in some capacity. It was founded 100 years ago as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio and over the ensuing century, the bus ... Show More
49m 36s
Oct 2023
Is Disney losing the magic?
As Disney celebrates its 100th birthday this month, a series of recent flops and gargantuan acquisitions has left people asking whether the shine is beginning to wear off. Plus, we look back at the studio’s past - including the time when Donald Duck dressed up as a Nazi.This podc ... Show More
26m 52s
Apr 2023
The Magic Kingdom goes to war
Walt Disney sued Florida governor Ron DeSantis over the state’s ‘retaliation’ for the company’s stance on ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law, UK regulators have blocked Microsoft’s $75bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and the FT’s Harriet Agnew explains why conservative UK pension funds ar ... Show More
8m 49s
Dec 2020
Breaking Down Disney Investor Day + Looking Ahead to WDW in 2021
Disney Investors Call: https://nerdist.com/article/disney-investor-day-highlights-2020-star-wars-marvel/ https://mickeyblog.com/2020/12/11/everything-we-learned-about-disney-during-investor-day/ Some highlights hybrid live-action animated feature called Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Range ... Show More
1h 8m
May 2024
Disney's $60 Billion Parks Plan
Riley and Aaron discuss Disney's announcement of investing $60 billion over 10 years into their parks, with $1.9 billion specifically going to Disneyland expansions.They analyze what the investments could go towards, like potential new lands, rides, and expansions based on concep ... Show More
40m 45s
Oct 2023
Can Bob Iger Save Disney, Again?
Bob Iger, The Walt Disney Company’s hugely successful CEO, came out of retirement last November and once again took the helm of the entertainment giant. But the company, and the industry, are facing tough new challenges. Bloomberg’s Thomas Buckley joins this episode to talk about ... Show More
26m 12s
Jul 2022
In Defense of Bob Chapek (yes really)
We don’t talk about Chapek: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/09/business/disney-peter-rice.html?searchResultPosition=5https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/28/disney-board-votes-to-extend-ceo-bob-chapeks-contract-by-three-years.htmlDoes Aaron have feelings about Bob 2.0?Riley has thoughts ... Show More
51m 25s