The Walt Disney Company / 21st Century Fox Deal Imperiled By Comcast’s Bid
Comcast Entry Creates 21st Century Fox Bid War With Walt Disney
The Walt Disney Company’s road to acquiring 21st Century Fox just got bumper. Comcast has created a bidding war between itself and The Walt Disney Company for the prized assets of 21st Century Fox. Once seen as a sure thing purchase by The Walt Disney Company, with Comcast talking to investment banks about putting in a bid for 21st Century Fox, Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox is now in peril. Comcast is looking to obtain $60 Billion from the investment banks to make Fox an all-cash offer. Comcast’s potential $60 Billion bid beats the $52 Billion bid already offered by The Walt Disney Company.
Some of the leading companies and disruptors in movies and television, like Netflix and Amazon, have introduced a new vertical business model that Comcast and Disney are desperate to acquire for themselves – the ability to create and delivery their products directly to the consumer.
Comcast and Disney see the writing on the wall – change and adapt or become Blockbuster. Disney is already on the road to directly selling elevision and film products to consumers, regardless of the 21st Century Fox deal. Disney is going to be launching its own video streaming services in 2019. The 21st Century Fox intellectual property would add to the exclusive content on that video streaming service.
Comcast has previously tried to disrupt the Disney / 21st Century Fox by making a bid for Sky, a pan-European media and telecommunications company that 21st Century Fox owns 39.14% controlling stake in.
Part of the back and forth for 21st Century Fox and its assets is because of the animosity between Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and Disney CEO Bob Iger. These two businessmen do not like each other. The 21st Century Fox deal is their latest battleground.
It is speculated that once and if a federal judge rules in Comcast’s favor regarding the AT&T-Time Warner acquisition, that Comcast will then focus on 21st Century Fox. Comcast believes in the judge’s favorable ruling and are planning ahead by approaching investment banks in anticipation of that judgement.
It is doubtful that Comcast’s offer for 21st Century Fox will be the last offer for 21st Century Fox. The Walt Disney Company has a large financial resources at their disposal. There is also nothing stopping Disney from going to investment banks to up their bid for 21st Century Fox.
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