Comment Disney is about culture--comcast isn't (Score 5, Insightful) 214
The general public usually forgets that the best mergers are not just about money (and stock price) they are also about synergies. The potential merger with Comcast brought some synergies to the table (an outlet for Disney programming and cheaper advertising space). But ultimately, the key synergy is missing: Disney's focus on family entertainment.
To the external public, Disney is the ultimate family company. The ability for Disney to remain a reconginized name in family entertainment is crucial to its continued success. What does Comcast bring to that image? A merger could potentially dilute the image that Disney has worked decades to develop. (In accounting terms: Disney has a LOT of Goowill).
What's ironic about all of this is that Disney's external image and internal culture are so different. Many former employees have complained about it being a glue factory (i.e. hire people and use them up). Benefits, especially family benefits, are not as competitive as other companies in the industry. And most importantly--Disney no longer creates most of its content--almost all of it is outsourced to other organizations (i.e. Pixar) or just re-telling of old Disney stories (Cinderella, etc).
To the external public, Disney is the ultimate family company. The ability for Disney to remain a reconginized name in family entertainment is crucial to its continued success. What does Comcast bring to that image? A merger could potentially dilute the image that Disney has worked decades to develop. (In accounting terms: Disney has a LOT of Goowill).
What's ironic about all of this is that Disney's external image and internal culture are so different. Many former employees have complained about it being a glue factory (i.e. hire people and use them up). Benefits, especially family benefits, are not as competitive as other companies in the industry. And most importantly--Disney no longer creates most of its content--almost all of it is outsourced to other organizations (i.e. Pixar) or just re-telling of old Disney stories (Cinderella, etc).
