BYE FELICIA! (they got sold)

[Nameless]

Verizon buys stake in AwesomenessTV.

So I guess DWA is resorting to selling their subsidiaries to make ends meet.

They already sold a piece of it to the Hearst Corporation in 2014.

[Daikun]

Comcast may acquire DWA for $3 billion.

[Lord Dalek]

If this is legit, DWA's assets will be merged into Illumitoon with Meladandri running the company. A marriage made in hell if you ask me.

[Nameless]

I admit, it does feel kind of vindicating to see the Classic Media properties brought up as examples of things Comcast might want to buy. They get ragged on a lot, and while most of it isn't exactly top-tier stuff, it does feel like older animation has fallen on hard times lately.

[Commode]

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

It's a done deal.  Got your ass saved there didn't ya Dreamworks?

[Lord Dalek]

Well they've lost their self-autonomity, Katzenberg got kicked up stairs, The Meladandri announcement is probably imminent, yeah welcome to DWAINO.

[Peanutbutter]

Katzenberg calls NBCU "the perfect home for our company." The $41 a share price represents a 27% premium over yesterday's closing price for DWA and "delivers significant value for our shareholders."

Because the most incompetent cable/media corporation in the world is the perfect place for an animation studio like DreamWorks. I guess for an idiot like him it makes perfect sense.

[Nameless]

NBCUniversal is actually pretty decently run. It's not the dumpster fire it was under Jeff Zucker for sure.

I'm worried that the Illumination leadership will suck whatever ambition DWA has out of it, but I hope Universal is good to the DreamWorks Classics characters. They have a history with some of them anyway (e.g. Casper, Dudley Do-Right, Rocky & Bullwinkle - their adaptations of those last two set them back years, but Universal has a chance to redeem themselves now)

[Peanutbutter]

NBCUniversal is actually pretty decently run. It's not the dumpster fire it was under Jeff Zucker for sure.

I'm worried that the Illumination leadership will suck whatever ambition DWA has out of it, but I hope Universal is good to the DreamWorks Classics characters. They have a history with some of them anyway (e.g. Casper, Dudley Do-Right, Rocky & Bullwinkle - their adaptations of those last two set them back years, but Universal has a chance to redeem themselves now)

Not as bad as then, but seems like Blacklist is the only non-Hannibal show anyone gives a crap about.

[Daikun]

Katzenberg should've just gone back to Spielberg. The other DreamWorks (the non-animation one) is owned by Amblin. They would've done wonders back together under the same roof, and Steven would've kept the company financially stable. Jeff, ya dun fucked up.

Oh, well. It's all in the past now. DWA is now Illumination's bitch. Minions Marketing Madness, here we come!

[Daxdiv]

Katzenberg should've just gone back to Spielberg. The other DreamWorks (the non-animation one) is owned by Amblin. They would've done wonders back together under the same roof, and Steven would've kept the company financially stable. Jeff, ya dun fucked up.

Oh, well. It's all in the past now. DWA is now Illumination's bitch. Minions Marketing Madness, here we come!

Minions meet Shrek movie... when?

[Daikun]

This acquisition could face an anti-trust lawsuit in China.

[Peanutbutter]

Rising YouTube Animation critic SaberSpark did an episode partly laying out the troubled history of DreamWorks.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od-tQN8C48s



I agree DreamWorks has suffered quite a bit over the years by not having a full brand identity like Disney and Pixar, thanks in large part to them not having a consistent line of hits. I think the better point he makes though, is that DreamsWorks was almost cursed from the start since their foundation was revenge towards Disney. Thus they didn't have the right focus when they started gaining momentum.

[Daikun]

NBCUniversal will be rebranding Sprout in September, and DWA will make up the backbone for its programming.

http://www.nickandmore.com/2017/05/01/sprout-rebranding-to-universal-kids

Good to know they finally have an outlet without having to resort to Netflix.

[Daikun]

Katzenberg is starting a new web video firm called WndrCo.

Well, bye, Jeff. It's been fun.