Disney movie holdings may benefit its TV side

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DisneyWalt Disney Company owns ABC, it owns Marvel Studios and the right to make films about its stable of characters, and it owns Lucasfilm and its Star Wars franchise. Motley Fool says the company is poised to benefit on both ends by marrying the film franchises to television.


A television show based on the Marvel side is already in the works: “S.H.I.E.L.D.”

MF says that there is already a pilot in the can and an order for more episodes is expected soon. The program is called a low-risk high-reward proposition, despite the low success rate for super hero programs on the small screen.

It gives Disney the opportunity to wring more cash benefit out of its acquisition of the Marvel franchise, and it further gives it the chance to introduce lesser-known members of the Marvel pantheon of super heroes. And the beneficiaries will ultimately be Disney shareholders, which is where MF’s interest lies.

Plans for the Star Wars franchise are not nearly as developed, but the risk/reward equation remains much the same. Disney will have the opportunity to recoup some of its investment outlay in Lucasfilm, while keeping the Star Wars characters in the public eye and perhaps introducing them to a new generation of viewers.

So in addition to being potentially attractive additions to ABC’s prime time lineup, spurring advertising income at potentially increase rates, they could also spur box office success for related Disney theatrical releases.

 

1 COMMENT

  1. “A television show based on the Marvel side is already in the works: “S.H.I.E.L.D.” MF says that there is already a pilot in the can and an order for more episodes is expected soon. The program is called a low-risk high-reward proposition, despite the low success rate for super hero programs on the small screen.”

    I wouldn’t overmuch agree with that last sentence; Smallville ran for 10 years and Arrow seems to be doing well for the CW (I watch it and while it’s not the Green Arrow I grew up with, I will continue to watch it.) Even the horrible, campy Batman from the 60’s is still airing. There was No Ordinary Family that I thought was very good, but the network blew it out without giving it time to mature or support that I could see as a viewer. And yes, some others have bombed, but that was due to the fact that they were just bad.

    I’m really looking forward to SHIELD and any other Marvel comics that Disney will put on, so long as they don’t settle for “cheap and easy” to make.

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