Originally Posted By skinnerbox Here's a copy of a post I wrote today in the Pixar Canada thread from the Disney Business section. I believe it's important enough for its own thread: Well, earlier on CNBC, they broadcast Obama speaking at the Jobs Summit, where he gave a brief synopsis of what the business leaders like Eric Schmidt and Bob Iger suggested for improving the landscape for job creation and growth. Iger's suggestion? Enact tougher laws and enforcement to rein in media piracy. Yeah, that's right. Crackdown on pirates and watch Disney hiring spring back to life! Unbelievable. Media piracy is apparently hurting Disney's bottom line sooooo much, that thousands of Disney jobs had to be toasted or offshored to cheaper labor markets abroad, such as Pixar Canada. Billions of revenue lost because of those stinkin media pirates. Uh huh. Since DisCo stock price is up 30% compared to this same time last year, I don't quite get how video piracy is so adversely affecting their bottom line, that they cannot keep most of the jobs they've eliminated or relocated. Disney stock is worth 30% more now than before the massive meltdown began, and is only 15% off its three-year high from early 2007. Not too shabby, given what other corporations are experiencing. Eliminate media piracy. What a thoroughly ignorant suggestion from Iger. Eliminating piracy does NOT automatically translate into an increase in media sales, since the vast majority of the folks acquiring pirated media will not or cannot afford to purchase the media through legal channels. If that media were dramatically cut in price, then more people would buy it and ditch the lower quality pirated media. Of course, DisCo and other media providers have no intention to offer reasonably priced media to the masses; it's easier to blame the pirates for decreased revenue, instead of a stagnant or shrinking labor market which depresses disposable income, which of course, they're helping to create and maintain with layoffs and offshoring of jobs. Even if media piracy were completely eliminated from the planet tomorrow, DisCo would still be offshoring jobs and forcing senior employees into early retirement, to keep the bottom line artificially pumped up to appease Wall St. Making an issue over media piracy at the Presidential Jobs Summit is a smoke screen. Iger has no intention of slowing down the offshoring of jobs nor forced early retirement of senior staff, and doesn't have the balls to admit this at the White House. Iger will continue this practice as long as the bulk of his compensation is tied to stock options, which is wholly dependent on stock price. Pumping up the bottom line, even artificially, is the only way for Iger to maximize his stake in the company. Killing American jobs is a quick and dirty means to that end.
Originally Posted By fkurucz I've stopped buying new movies, unless they are heavily discounted. I just wait 6 months and can usually get a pristine, gently used copy on Amazon for less than half the original price.
Originally Posted By fkurucz And yes, the bald faced lies from the super rich do make me sick to my stomach.
Originally Posted By dshyates So.... pirated DVDs from China caused 1200 CMs to be laid off in Orlando? In the same year Iger got a $30,600,000 compensation package? Iger is sooo full of shi+.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Memo to Iger...must see Christmas Carol. Or if he has seen it maybe he didn't "get it". In that case maybe he should see it again.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << So.... pirated DVDs from China caused 1200 CMs to be laid off in Orlando? >> I have no sympathy for the Hollywood's crying over pirated DVDs. However, you are incorrect to assume there is no link between home video sales and the theme parks. The home video cash cow paid for Disney theme park expansion in the early 90s. There was so much cash being thrown off by the VHS and later DVD market that Disney had no idea what to do with it all. They built parks, rides, hotels, and cruise ships with VHS/DVD money. The DVD party is now over and the business is headed the same direction as the CD did in the music business. The theme parks still need cash flow and until the next golden goose lays an egg the only way to get there is cost-cutting. They're still spending a $1B a year in capital expenditures for the theme parks -- only DVDs aren't financing it this time.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones Piracy is a great boogeyman for executives in case there are performance problems. Blame it on the nefarious criminals.
Originally Posted By dlkozy Looks like Iger is a Dem. He has made plenty of donations to lots of different Dems. <a href="http://www.newsmeat.com/ceo_political_donations/Robert_Iger.php" target="_blank">http://www.newsmeat.com/ceo_po...Iger.php</a>
Originally Posted By skinnerbox And if you read the chart more closely, you'll notice that Iger has contributed to plenty of Republicans, including the National Republican Congressional Committee. Iger gives to both sides of the aisle. Way to hedge those bets, Bobby.
Originally Posted By Mr X They all do that, it's part of the game. CEO's and other big money types are essentially apolitical, or at least a good lot of them are. They'll work with whoever is in power and do their best to control them. That means donations.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder I'm trying to figure out why it matters whether Iger is a Democrat or Republican.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I'm trying to figure out why it matters whether Iger is a Democrat or Republican. >>> I think it depends if you have an agenda that you're trying to promote even in threads not related to topic of the agenda.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Then why do you post here and assert your point of view? Again, everyone has an agenda.
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"And if you read the chart more closely, you'll notice that Iger has contributed to plenty of Republicans, including the National Republican Congressional Committee."<<< The pie chart at the top is broken down as follows: 65% Dem 10% GOP 25% Other
Originally Posted By skinnerbox 65% -35% ratio, roughly 2 to 1 in favor of Dem contributions. He lives in a blue state, doing business in an industry heavily influenced by Democrats. No mystery why he donates mostly to the Dems. So what? Even if the guy turns out to be a registered Dem, I still hate his business ethics. Or lack thereof, to be more precise.
