This episode of The Town examines Disney's new, more aggressive legal stance against the FCC under CEO Josh D’Amaro, contrasting it with the company's previous deference to the Trump administration. It also analyzes D’Amaro's first earnings call and three-pillar strategy, and discusses the NFL's push to renegotiate media rights deals amid tensions with Fox and the Murdoch family.
Summarized by Podsumo
Disney filed a legal brief pushing back against the FCC's review of ABC's 'The View,' calling it an unprecedented chill on protected speech. This marks a significant departure from Bob Iger's approach, which included settling Trump's lawsuit and suspending Jimmy Kimmel.
Josh D’Amaro's first earnings call as CEO was successful, with streaming profitability up and parks attendance resilient (down only 1%). He outlined a three-pillar strategy: invest in IP, unify the Disney experience, and leverage AI to reduce costs.
The NFL is seeking to renegotiate TV contracts early, believing they are underpriced after the NBA's recent deal. Fox's Lachlan Murdoch publicly downplayed tension but the Wall Street Journal reported that Murdoch is urging political allies to review the NFL's antitrust exemption.
The podcast predicts that government intervention against the NFL is unlikely, and that Fox will eventually have to sell streaming rights to survive as linear TV declines.
"Well, one thing that's different is Disney has a new CEO, Josh Demaro, who took over in March, presided over his first earnings call this past week. Demaro laid out a Jerry McGuire-style mission statement, outlining his three pillars of Disney and how he will manage the company. Pushing back on government pressure wasn't one of those pillars, but maybe this is a new shift."
"I think it has more to do with Trump than Demaro. ... Trump is significantly less popular president than he was a year ago... the case that he has made in these two or it's just weaker."
"The NFL is so powerful. They are going to get what they want to get. And they have strings to pull as well. And the Murdoch's can bitch and moan about it, but they are up against these big global streamers. Those are the future of the NFL. Fox unfortunately is not."
"Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile, the message for everyone paying Big Wireless way too much. Please for the love of everything goodness world stop."