Comcast Buys Dreamworks Animation for $3.8bn

[Viator]

In a BIG piece of news, it seems that Comcast; the parent company that has control of Universal Studios (IE, the parks and Resorts) is seeming to be making talks on acquiring the animation company of DreamWorks Animation.



DreamWorks Animation has been responsible with multiple franchises, including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon and more. The deal is set to be over Three Billion dollars. This could pose in a manner of ways; extreme changes to the movie studio of Universal Studios, and the Theme Parks division all to its own.

Thoughts on the possible move? What do you think will be taken into affect for the Movie Studio, and more important for the forums. What would the effect of this be if it happens, for the Theme Parks? Sound off below.

 

[Mad Dog]

Lots of IP choices for the third park. Some really good and some too old and not so good. ....3 Billion for the acquisition. That's also probably in the neighborhood of what a new park would cost.

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

Ohhh the possibilities. Wow.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I'm mixed...

 

[captainmoch]

Considering the only DWA attraction we have at UOR now is Shrek 4D, the only way to go is up.

Except, please no more Shrek or Madagascar. I'm so fatigued on those series.

 

[GadgetGuru]

Beat to it by 15 minutes!

I'm extremely conflicted by this news. Universal/Comcast has been steadily building their own animation studio for the past several years. While the movies can be meh (Despicable Me was great, the others have been poorly received by critics), they all make a ton of money. All of them are ridiculously underutilized by the parks. Concast could definitely provide some financial security for DWA, but I don't know if they could creatively help it out

For us theme park fans, I really question if this gets us anything. DWA is as bad as Nickelodeon when it comes to licensing. They've had theme park / travel deals with everyone. They have several theme park deals, a cruise line deal, hotel deal, plus who-knows-what else. It makes Marvel look tame.

I'd love for DWA to get some financial cover so it could make riskier / better movies. I don't think this will get to the parks in a big way.

 

[Viator]

Something to keep in mind is this, tomorrow is the Comcast First Quarter earnings call. If push comes to show, we could get official confirmation tomorrow and that this was a leak that wasn't supposed to come out.

 

[JungleSkip]

Something to keep in mind is this, tomorrow is the Comcast First Quarter earnings call. If push comes to show, we could get official confirmation tomorrow and that this was a leak that wasn't supposed to come out.

I would not be surprised if this is the case.

Universal lacks a lot of bankable children's IP. The Minions are strong, and Seuss is respectable, but Dreamworks gives them a treasure chest of IP. A lot of it is a bit overexposed, but all it takes is some care to get that back in line.

 

[quinnmac000]

Actually makes sense due to the fact the rest of Dreamworks is already working with Universal and HQ is at Universal. It was only a matter of time they moved to have it all under one umbrella again.

 

[WAJAS]

I think Illuminations and DreamWorjs will continue to operate separately to some extent if this goes through. I'm thinking a situation similar to Disney Animation and Pixar.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

Maybe Universal will be able to get DWA out of the drought it's been in.

 

[Viator]

Something else..that may be BIG.

 

[quinnmac000]

Something else..that may be BIG.

 

[captainmoch]

Something else..that may be BIG.

Doesn't SeaWorld have the Rudolph-type characters, though?

 

[Viator]

Doesn't SeaWorld have the Rudolph-type characters, though?

Why do I have a slight feeling that Comcast could try to buy those rights back from SeaWorld (which, I could see actually..)

 

[JungleSkip]

Why do I have a slight feeling that Comcast could try to buy those rights back from SeaWorld (which, I could see actually..)

Comcast could probably get them back for a sandwich, considering SeaWorld's financial situation

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Comcast could probably get them back for a sandwich, considering SeaWorld's financial situation

Haven't read the contract, willing to bet it doesn't involve the "in perpetuity" language that the Marvel/MCA one did.

 

[quinnmac000]

Well if this goes through Dudley will be back at Universal as they will officially own the rights through the classic media library

 

[Viator]

Thinking more, this is becoming a BIG acquistion deal if its true. In a way, I don't think we may of seen a deal this big, since Disney bought the company of Lucasfilm.

 

[Bobharlem]

Next thing you know Comcast/Uni will acquire Royal Caribbean