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[Saucycarpdog]

I also don't get why Comcast want DWA when they have Illumination Entertainment. I mean, minions alone makes more money than anything made by DreamWorks.

Plus, it seems like DWA is trying to chase that Illumination Entertainment money with some of their upcoming films(Trolls, Captain Underpants, Croods 2)

 

[TheYoungHeroRises]

Comcast unveil their quarterly reports tomorrow.

So if the deal is gonna happen it would likely be announced tomorrow.

The talks are very serious and it's been reported that Jeffrey Katzenberg will remain in charge of DWA although it's unclear if he'll take on a bigger role at Comcast.

The move would also bolster Universal's theme park division with popular franchises including Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, & How To Train Your Dragon.

 

[Jailer of Hope]

3 billion seems like an awful lot.

 

[EdReedFan20]

In a way, this sort of makes sense. It's a convoluted series of acquisitions/split-offs/distribution deals, but in the early years, DreamWorks was heavily associated with Universal (a Comcast property). However it was purchased by Paramount. Years later, DWA was split off as its own company, becoming independent. DreamWorks eventually ended its relationship with Paramount. A new iteration of DreamWorks, called DreamWorks II was created and eventually signed a multi-year deal with Disney, which just ended. They ended up signing with Universal (just for distribution). So, DWA is acquired, there's a chance both DreamWorks companies will be reunited. The thing is DreamWorks was co-founded by Steven Spielberg, and despite not releasing a movie for Universal in years, he's still based there. So, it's a homecoming of sorts for him. I wonder if Comcast will want to acquire the rest of DreamWorks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DreamWorks

 

[3N16MA]

Illumination hits it out of the park with their low budgets and solid BO performances. Stick with that.

 

[Koyuga]

In ten years, Comcast will be the only company to exist.

 

[3N16MA]

In ten years, Comcast will be the only company to exist.

DisneyCast.

 

[RDreamer]

For those bashing on Dreamworks, their first 2D in-house animation since Sinbad is absolutely amazing, and my favorite Netflix original Series to date...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb2qaaFpNN8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D265TmPUnWo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LTpyg9f7so

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhb_JPGVPro

Seriously, it's totally bunga...

Whoa, why didn't I know about this until now. The animation looks fucking awesome.

 

[radios shipping overview]

Remember when the big movie studios owned their own means of distribution, all the way to the consumer? And they faced antitrust action brought by the FTC, which ended up forcing studios to spin off their theater businesses, breaking their vertical integration? And now the biggest studios own their own means of distribution to the consumer again - theaters excepted.

Too bad studio lobbyists would make sure that kind of antitrust action would never happen again.

 

[Soapbox Killer]

I can dream that they'll relocate them and NBC to Philly, right? One of these days... Comcast pls...

Gotta fill the new Twin Towers with something right?

Also, Dreamworks has been pretty much equal to Pixar for some time now. Disney Animation Studios...is a completely different story and is killing the game for 5 movies in a row.

 

[neurosisxeno]

Remember when the big movie studios owned their own means of distribution, all the way to the consumer? And they faced antitrust action brought by the FTC, which ended up forcing studios to spin off their theater businesses, breaking their vertical integration? And now the biggest studios own their own means of distribution to the consumer again - theaters excepted.

Too bad studio lobbyists would make sure that kind of antitrust action would never happen again.

Just about every industry that has previously had issues with Anti-Trust Suits is in a worse position now than they were when those suits were originally brought up.

 

[HUELEN10]

Whoa, why didn't I know about this until now. The animation looks fucking awesome.

It's an amazing show. It's part animated late night show for kids, part variety hour, all fun. So good I want to do a season 3/production season 2 OT. This fall when it gets released.

 

[Domino Theory]

Return of the Dreamcast?

 

[MHWilliams]

3 billion seems like an awful lot.

In contrast, Disney bought Marvel and Lucasfilm for $4 billion each.

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

This would be a great acquisition for Comcast. They could leverage those properties in their parks as well and stop paying fees to IPs they don't own. The price might be a little low, but hey, if they can get it for that, more power to them.

I mean the only ones that haven't been bought yet are Aardman & Laika.

IMO Ghibli is the next big animation prize if this turns out to be true. I'm surprised Sony hasn't made a movie for Aardman, they did good work for them, arguably better than SPA's own movies.

I really don't see how this will benefit either party, especially Comcast.

Dreamworks Films are locked up with Fox until late 2017.

Dreamworks TV properties are locked up with Netflix until 2020.

Dreamworks TV properties prior to Netflix deal are held by Nickelodeon.

Dreamworks Consumer Products segment barely registered $90M in revenue.

Their films are barely profitable and declining in gross.

I mean, it's $3B spent on nothing.... unless they want to bring in the Dreamworks characters to Universal Parks (they've done so, but were replaced or shut down), there really is no benefit.

The deal is not bad at all, and 3B would be a steal, not Star Wars level of steal, but it would be a steal and of course Universal would leverage those properties in their parks and resorts. The ties you are talking about are peanuts and will work itself out in the long term. It's less complicated than when Disney bought Marvel or LucasFilm.

Look at when Disney bought Marvel:

Live movie rights for (all could be held in perpetuity if the licensee so desires):

- Xmen, FF, Daredevil, Elektra (and possibly more) with Fox
- Spiderman, Ghost Rider (and possibly more) with Sony
- Punisher, Man Thing (and possibly more) with Lionsgate
- The Incredible Hulk and Namor (and possibly more) with Universal
- Blade (and possibly more with New Line
- Avengers, Ironman, Captain America, Thor (and possibly more) with Paramount

Theme park rights to 95% of Marvel properties were held by Universal East of the Mississippi (where Disney most important park and resort is) in perpetuity if they want.

Videogame rights tied with Activision and some other parties.

Sony owned 25% (IIRC) of all Spiderman merchandise rights and profits

Marvel has to pay a fee of all merchandise they sell based on the movies above to the third parties.

When Disney bought LucasFilm:

- Fox holds theatrical, digital, and video distribution rights to Episode IV in perpetuity
- Fox holds theatrical and video distribution rights to Episodes V-VI and I-III until 2020
- Paramount holds distribution rights to all indy films and had rights of first refusal for all future indy films
- Lucas Arts was a mess and losing money
- The last 3 Star Wars movies received a mixed reaction and no major star wars movie had come out in 7 years


It's easy to see how $4B for each of those companies are a steal now, but back then people were saying that was a horrible deal for Disney.

 

[vinnygambini]

The difference is both entities (Marvel & Lucas) are considered legacy companies with IP's that speak to many generations, have been continuously monetized and in the public consciousness. I can't say the same for Dreamworks Animation. Their films are lovely, but their consumer products revenue is paltry.

For Disney, films are a marketing vehicle for their consumer products segment. When Lucasfilm was purchased, Star Wars still generated $1B in merchandise - Dreamworks has nothing close to that caliber in terms of merchandise revenue.

In relation to Marvel film rights, if I'm not mistaken, all have a clause that if nothing is produced within 7 years, the rights revert to the parent company (Ghost Rider is no longer part of Sony for example, the rights reverted back to Marvel, and so did Elektra & Daredevil from FOX) - so it's not really in perpetuity but I get what you are saying.

I personally do not see the value in bringing Dreamworks into Comcast, especially at $3B. Nothing is gained, except maybe for their Theme Parks segment, but even so they have Illumination & Nintendo to fall on, so really I see nothing here that screams cheap.

Edit: Side note, speaking of picking a brand on the cheap: one only has to look at Viacom with the purchase of TMNT at $45M lol What a fucking steal ahahahah

 

[LaNaranja]

For those bashing on Dreamworks, their first 2D in-house animation since Sinbad is absolutely amazing, and my favorite Netflix original Series to date...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb2qaaFpNN8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D265TmPUnWo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LTpyg9f7so

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhb_JPGVPro

Seriously, it's totally bunga...

Why didn't Nickelodeon pick this up? They don't have shit and after picking up that shitty Monsters vs Aliens and Penguins show how did they not lock down this gem? Did Netflix outbid them or did they not even go after it?

Also I am sure I am not alone in feeling that Dreamworks > Pixar. I don't think I have liked any of their post-Cars movies, which was 10 years ago now. That said I have not seen Good Dinosaur or Inside Out.

Spoiler

Walt Disney Animation Studios is still GOAT.

 

[Dan]

I'm surprised Sony hasn't made a movie for Aardman, they did good work for them, arguably better than SPA's own movies.

I don't think Aardman has any interest in being acquired. They had a rocky relationship just producing movies for DWA and taking their creative notes, and while Sony was more happy to give them freedom, they would surely be very reluctant to have direct corporate overlords. StudioCanal should prove to be a good partner going forward.

Also I am sure I am not alone in feeling that Dreamworks > Pixar. I don't think I have liked any of their post-Cars movies, which was 10 years ago now. That said I have not seen Good Dinosaur or Inside Out.

Spoiler

Walt Disney Animation Studios is still GOAT.

You didn't like Ratatouille, WALL-E, Up or Toy Story 3? That's ridiculous.

 

[Timbuktu]

Kung Fu Panda 3 must have been a major disappointment for them. It was completely outdone by Zootopia, even in the Chinese boxfoffice that they were obviously going for and pandering to.

 

[LaNaranja]

You didn't like Ratatouille, WALL-E, Up or Toy Story 3? That's ridiculous.

Nope. I didn't really like Toy Story 2 either, but I did think it was better than 3.

 

[JimmySlippers]

They should also give DreamWorks a shitty data cap as well.

Spoiler

Salt

fuck Comcast

 

[MattKeil]

Also I am sure I am not alone in feeling that Dreamworks > Pixar. I don't think I have liked any of their post-Cars movies, which was 10 years ago now. That said I have not seen Good Dinosaur or Inside Out.

Spoiler

Walt Disney Animation Studios is still GOAT.

Dreamworks Animation is pretty underrated, I think, and a lot of people just dismiss their films based on the repulsive marketing campaigns (The Croods is actually really good, but you'd never know it from the trailers and ads), but they are not better than Pixar in this reality. My condolences on living in the Bad Timeline.

 

[Busty]

Meh. Everyone has kicked the tires on DWA in one form or another. Katzenberg tried to get Fox and Time Warner to buy the company but everyone turned them down. Remember all those rumours about Hasbro buying the company? Hell, even a Japanese bank took a look at them.

I'd be surprised if this deal happens and especially surprised if it happens at such a premium. Given that Katzenberg continuing to run DWA is apparently part of the deal that has the real potential to destabilise Universal as a studio as Katzenberg is known to want to head up another major studio..., at some point.

I have a feeling that this deal may go the way of flesh and we'll see someone else pick up the company for a more reasonable price at some point down the line. Hell, I'm surprised that Wanda haven't put a bid in seeing as they like over paying for self financing Hollywood production companies aka Legendary.

Even at $3B+, I'd argue that Comcast buying Dreamworks Animation is like throwing money in the air. There's like no benefit in doing so.

Many of their brands are diluted or non-existent any more, especially in licensing.

I'd be better to grow Illumination Entertainment organically.

Agreed. If Universal were to absorb DWA and run them as a separate animation 'silo' at the studio they would potentially have four animated films a year with each one competing for the best slots.

And balance that against studios like Warners who are coming into the animation game in a big way (one 'original' animation and a LEGO film a year moving forward?) why are they paying a premium for the likes of Shrek when their own Despicable Me brand is so much stronger?!

 

[vinnygambini]

DreamWorks Animation’s sale talks with Comcast slowed today, we’re told, following last night’s disclosure of the cable giant’s interest. After a period of fast-track conversations, negotiators now taking a step back to weigh details including the deal terms and how DWA would fit into Comcast’s NBCUniversal. For example, they still haven’t worked out who would run the animation studio.

A damn circus show.

http://deadline.com/2016/04/dreamworks-animation-comcast-slow-deal-negotiations-1201745201/

 

[Arthr2ShdsJcksn]

When did we start liking Dreamworks?

When the Millenials became the majority, more and more strange opinions have been occuring everywhere in life. I think it started a couple of days ago.


Comcast and Dreamworks seem like a match made in heaven.

 

[Sesha]

I will be surprised if anything came out of this. Do we know how far Hasbro and SoftBank got before things fell through?

Meh. Everyone has kicked the tires on DWA in one form or another. Katzenberg tried to get Fox and Time Warner to buy the company but everyone turned them down. Remember all those rumours about Hasbro buying the company? Hell, even a Japanese bank took a look at them

SoftBank is an internet and telecommunications company, not a bank despite the name. Unless you're joking.

 

[BodiesWithoutOrgans]

When did we start liking Dreamworks?

Dreamworlds is pretty meh!

 

[Septimus Prime]

Yay for vertical integration!

Wait.

 

[Pein]

Rise of the guardians
spirit
Road to eldorado
httyd
kung fu panda
shrek

Those were all good movies.

 

[FloppyDelux]

Rise of the guardians
spirit
Road to eldorado
httyd
kung fu panda
shrek

Those were all good movies.

Megamind and Chicken Run are also good movies IMO

 

[Caddywompus]

When did we start liking Dreamworks?

When Kung Fu Panda came out

Yeah I would say that's probably pretty close, if not then, the year 2010 when How to Train Your Dragon, Mega Mind and Kung Fu Panda 2 came out in close to a year.

That's when they were finally more than just Shrek and realized to move on from the multiple sequels and spin offs formula the following year.

 

[Busty]

SoftBank is an internet and telecommunications company, not a bank despite the name. Unless you're joking.

Thank you for generously describing that as a 'joke'.

 

[vinnygambini]

It is done. $3.8B. Ridiculous.

http://deadline.com/2016/04/comcast-buys-dreamworks-animation-1201745816/

 

[Dishwalla]

So I guess all those old cartoon characters, like Felix the Cat and Casper, are now owned by NBC Universal?

 

[shink]

Didn't think it'd be worth that much.

 

[Scorpion Soldier]

It is done. $3.8B. Ridiculous.

http://deadline.com/2016/04/comcast-buys-dreamworks-animation-1201745816/

This really puts into perspective how cheap Disney's deals for Lucasfilm and Marvel were in comparison...

 

[mrmickfran]

that pixar image was fine until cars 2. dreamworks has been better than pixar since then.

Naaahh.

Inside out redeemed Pixar.

 

[Rootbeer]

This really puts into perspective how cheap Disney's deals for Lucasfilm and Marvel were in comparison...

FOR REAL

Star Wars only cost Disney 4 Billion.

Seriously, 3.8 Billion for Dreamworks? What are they going to do, make more Shrek movies? Please. Kung Fu Panda is played out as well.

 

[zeemumu]

When did we start liking Dreamworks?

When Prince of Egypt came out.

 

[DeathoftheEndless]

I'm fine with this as long as we get How to Train Your Dragon 3.

 

[TheYoungHeroRises]

So does this mean we'll see Shrek Is Love, Shrek Is Life, on NBC?

 

[ExVicis]

I have never liked this dumb picture. It boils down all the Pixar movies but does not even try to hide it's bias for Dreamworks and bases its judgement of them solely to their promotional art.