Digital Media Convergence News - Media King Steve Jobs
Story courtesy of http://www.smartmoney.com/Techsmart/index.cfm?story=20060124
Meet the New King of All Media
By Monica Rivituso Published: January 24, 2006
DON'T SAY I didn't tell you so.
Steve Jobs, the larger-than-life chief executive of Pixar (PIXR: 57.57, -0.70, -1.2%) — and, by the way, a little company called Apple Computer (AAPL: 76.04, -1.63, -2.1%) — just inked a sweetheart deal with Walt Disney (DIS: 25.99, +0.47, +1.8%) that solidifies his place in the elite circle of digital-entertainment movers and shakers. After days of speculation, Disney announced after the close Tuesday that it would acquire animation powerhouse Pixar in an all-stock deal valued at $7.4 billion. Jobs's happy dance reportedly could be seen from miles away.
As well it should have been. If you think Microsoft's (MSFT: 26.28, -0.07, -0.3%) Bill Gates wields undue influence on technology or Sirius Satellite's (SIRI: 5.90, -0.21, -3.4%) radio bad boy Howard Stern rules entertainment, then you haven't spent much time watching Steve Jobs. Last month I pointed out that Jobs was angling for a place on your couch. I was wrong: The guy wants to control the entire world.
Think I'm exaggerating? When you consider the ramifications of a Disney/Pixar linkup, Jobs will be sitting smack in the crossroads of digital convergence between entertainment and technology. And if you've been following developments at all in techland — or are a consumer of, um, anything — you know there's no better place to be sitting. And it's a powerful seat indeed if you happen to be the person most adept at furthering this marriage of technology and content.
Just look at where Jobs has taken his vision thus far: On the tech side of things, Apple has cranked out new and innovative products on a regular basis. I'm not talking about a company that gets it right once in a blue moon. What I'm talking about is a tech leader. (Take that Wintel!) First we got the iMac, the computer that made the average PC look like a big, boring, putty-colored box. Then we were introduced to the iPod for digital music, which was followed by tinier and hipper iPod flavors. After that we got iPods with digital video, and — whaddaya know?! — content deals with Disney and others.
Of course, that's only half of Jobs's vision. The other half is Pixar. This is the animation studio that's arguably the envy of every studio head in Hollywood. It's a company that cranks out reliable hits that make gobs of money. Of course, Disney's partnership, which was about to come to an end with the release of "Cars" this summer, provided some of the marketing heft. But at the end of the day Pixar was the brains behind the animation and the story lines, not to mention the characters that spawned countless millions of dollars in product sales.
Bottom line, Jobs heads two companies: One that's had enormous success with its whiz-bang technology, and another that has wicked content with proven, revenue-generating success. And now, Disney is being thrown into the mix. That's right, Disney. The company best known for dilapidated amusement parks, dismal financials and high-profile executive departures. Yet in an interview on CNBC Tuesday following the Disney/Pixar news, Jobs said with a straight face the deal was about, "Pixar buying into [CEO] Bob Iger's vision of where Disney's going."
Give me a break.
This is about capitalizing on a winning combination of technology and content. It's not only about pushing the digital-convergence envelope, it's about storming into a void where nothing substantial is really being done. Truth be told, the only progress that's been made has been by companies that Jobs has had a hand in.
Think about it, everyone is waiting for this grand convergence of every digitalized bit of content. We're a society that wants our entertainment any time and all the time. We want amazing gadgets and we want to be mobile with our arsenal of content. Oh, and we want to look cool while carrying those gadgets. But for all that consumer desire, name me a company that Jobs isn't involved with that's sold countless multimedia devices and has had significant success in marrying digital content with technology. Name me a non-Jobsian firm that's had as much success at the cinema as it has in retail stores. Exactly.
Now Jobs has a position on Disney's board of directors, and he's the largest individual shareholder, which affords him an enormous amount of influence. On top of all that, he'll still run Apple. Mark my words: Jobs hasn't even gotten started. As far as he's concerned, tech and content haven't gone out on their first date yet, let alone gotten hitched. He hasn't even begun wrapping content and tech together, effectively forging ahead where no one else has been able to. And now he's a gazillionaire (his Disney stake is estimated at $3.7 billion), so really, there's no stopping him.
But this is about the House of Mouse and its vision. Right.
-----
Lots more articles and reviews like this are at http://www.ipods-and-onlinevideo-reviews.com.
Chip Tarver
Meet the New King of All Media
By Monica Rivituso Published: January 24, 2006
DON'T SAY I didn't tell you so.
Steve Jobs, the larger-than-life chief executive of Pixar (PIXR: 57.57, -0.70, -1.2%) — and, by the way, a little company called Apple Computer (AAPL: 76.04, -1.63, -2.1%) — just inked a sweetheart deal with Walt Disney (DIS: 25.99, +0.47, +1.8%) that solidifies his place in the elite circle of digital-entertainment movers and shakers. After days of speculation, Disney announced after the close Tuesday that it would acquire animation powerhouse Pixar in an all-stock deal valued at $7.4 billion. Jobs's happy dance reportedly could be seen from miles away.
As well it should have been. If you think Microsoft's (MSFT: 26.28, -0.07, -0.3%) Bill Gates wields undue influence on technology or Sirius Satellite's (SIRI: 5.90, -0.21, -3.4%) radio bad boy Howard Stern rules entertainment, then you haven't spent much time watching Steve Jobs. Last month I pointed out that Jobs was angling for a place on your couch. I was wrong: The guy wants to control the entire world.
Think I'm exaggerating? When you consider the ramifications of a Disney/Pixar linkup, Jobs will be sitting smack in the crossroads of digital convergence between entertainment and technology. And if you've been following developments at all in techland — or are a consumer of, um, anything — you know there's no better place to be sitting. And it's a powerful seat indeed if you happen to be the person most adept at furthering this marriage of technology and content.
Just look at where Jobs has taken his vision thus far: On the tech side of things, Apple has cranked out new and innovative products on a regular basis. I'm not talking about a company that gets it right once in a blue moon. What I'm talking about is a tech leader. (Take that Wintel!) First we got the iMac, the computer that made the average PC look like a big, boring, putty-colored box. Then we were introduced to the iPod for digital music, which was followed by tinier and hipper iPod flavors. After that we got iPods with digital video, and — whaddaya know?! — content deals with Disney and others.
Of course, that's only half of Jobs's vision. The other half is Pixar. This is the animation studio that's arguably the envy of every studio head in Hollywood. It's a company that cranks out reliable hits that make gobs of money. Of course, Disney's partnership, which was about to come to an end with the release of "Cars" this summer, provided some of the marketing heft. But at the end of the day Pixar was the brains behind the animation and the story lines, not to mention the characters that spawned countless millions of dollars in product sales.
Bottom line, Jobs heads two companies: One that's had enormous success with its whiz-bang technology, and another that has wicked content with proven, revenue-generating success. And now, Disney is being thrown into the mix. That's right, Disney. The company best known for dilapidated amusement parks, dismal financials and high-profile executive departures. Yet in an interview on CNBC Tuesday following the Disney/Pixar news, Jobs said with a straight face the deal was about, "Pixar buying into [CEO] Bob Iger's vision of where Disney's going."
Give me a break.
This is about capitalizing on a winning combination of technology and content. It's not only about pushing the digital-convergence envelope, it's about storming into a void where nothing substantial is really being done. Truth be told, the only progress that's been made has been by companies that Jobs has had a hand in.
Think about it, everyone is waiting for this grand convergence of every digitalized bit of content. We're a society that wants our entertainment any time and all the time. We want amazing gadgets and we want to be mobile with our arsenal of content. Oh, and we want to look cool while carrying those gadgets. But for all that consumer desire, name me a company that Jobs isn't involved with that's sold countless multimedia devices and has had significant success in marrying digital content with technology. Name me a non-Jobsian firm that's had as much success at the cinema as it has in retail stores. Exactly.
Now Jobs has a position on Disney's board of directors, and he's the largest individual shareholder, which affords him an enormous amount of influence. On top of all that, he'll still run Apple. Mark my words: Jobs hasn't even gotten started. As far as he's concerned, tech and content haven't gone out on their first date yet, let alone gotten hitched. He hasn't even begun wrapping content and tech together, effectively forging ahead where no one else has been able to. And now he's a gazillionaire (his Disney stake is estimated at $3.7 billion), so really, there's no stopping him.
But this is about the House of Mouse and its vision. Right.
-----
Lots more articles and reviews like this are at http://www.ipods-and-onlinevideo-reviews.com.
Chip Tarver
posted by Chip Tarver at
11:45 AM
