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Comcast executives count on Disney to purchase remaining stake in Hulu

Bed Bath & Beyond's turnaround isn't enough to fix its ailing business, analysts say

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Hulu’s future remains an open question, as Comcast and Disney have still not agreed on terms governing future ownership of the company.

But Comcast executives plan to have Disney buy them out — even though they’d prefer otherwise.

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CNBC ProBed Bath & Beyond’s turnaround isn’t enough to fix its ailing business, analysts say

Disney owns two-thirds of Hulu and has an option to buy the remaining 33% from Comcast as early as January 2024. Some analysts and industry watchers have speculated that Comcast could be looking to buy Hulu from Disney, rather than the other way around. Comcast Chief Executive Brian Roberts is a long-time believer in Hulu and has pushed in the past to keep the asset rather than sell it, including in 2013 when Roberts paused talks with DirecTV, according to people familiar with the matter .

Comcast raised the idea of ​​buying Hulu outright from Disney after Disney agreed to acquire the majority of Fox’s assets in a $71 billion deal that closed in early 2019, two of the people behind the deal said asked not to be named because the discussions were private. Disney, which was armed after acquiring Fox’s 66% minority stake in Hulu, scrapped the idea, people said.

Comcast was stymied from buying Hulu outright, and Comcast’s continued belief in the deal led to the unusual deal the two companies reached in May 2019. Comcast agreed to sell Disney its minority stake as early as 2024. As part of this transaction, Disney guaranteed a sale price that values ​​Hulu at a minimum of $27.5 billion.

That amount rose sharply early in the pandemic, giving Comcast hope that Disney might choose to offload Hulu rather than pay Comcast a huge check for the remainder, two of the people said. The Hulu spin-off would have allowed Disney to focus its focus and money primarily on Disney+.

“I think if Disney could turn back the clock today, I’m not sure they would make that deal,” said Neil Begley, an analyst at Moody’s Investors Services. “Disney has to pay this huge bill in 2024, at a time when they’re already putting a lot of money into Disney+.”

Disney’s acquisition of Hulu would also accelerate Comcast’s streaming efforts. Hulu would immediately become Comcast’s flagship streaming asset, replacing NBCUniversal’s Peacock, which has added just 13 million paying subscribers in its nearly two years of existence. Hulu has 46.2 million subscribers. Peacock could live on as a free ad-supported option from NBCUniversal. Peacock already has a free tier with millions of users.

Several senior Comcast executives also think that Hulu doesn’t make as much sense in connection with Disney’s assets as it does with NBCUniversal, especially given the recent announcement that Disney+ plans to launch an ad-supported tier in December, according to those familiar with the matter Persons. Hulu has been Disney’s ad-supported service for years. Disney could have positioned Hulu as an advertising medium for the future, but CEO Bob Chapek has chosen to create both commercial and non-commercial versions of Disney+ and Hulu.

Disney and Comcast spokespeople declined to comment.

Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Company and former head of Walt Disney Parks and Experiences, speaks during a media preview of the 2019 D23 Expo in Anaheim, California August 22, 2019.

Patrick T Fallon | Bloomberg via Getty Images

Why Disney wants Hulu

Netflix’s slowing growth this year has led to a broader devaluation of the streaming sector. Comcast executives value Hulu “significantly higher” than $27.5 billion and possibly as high as $50 billion, one of the people said. That’s less than about $60 billion during the pandemic, the person said. If Disney sticks with its plan to buy Comcast by January 2024, there’s still time for significant valuation swings.

Disney’s decision to lower Disney+’s 2024 projections and subsequent move to raise prices signaled to Wall Street that Chapek was no longer focused on adding subscribers at any cost.

It’s sent a signal to Comcast that Hulu is likely in Disney’s long-term plans. Excluding Hulu with Live TV, Hulu’s average revenue per user is $12.92 per month. That’s almost triple Disney+’s global ARPU of $4.35 and more than double Disney+’s ARPU in the US and Canada ($6.27).

Disney has built a streaming strategy around bundling Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. While Disney increased the price of Disney+ by 38% and the price of ESPN+ by 43%, it increased its bundled offering of Disney+, Hulu (with ads) and ESPN+ by just $1, from $13.99 to $14. $99. That suggests Disney’s preferred option is for customers to pay for the entire package, including Hulu.

Media and entertainment companies have begun to focus on building profitable subscribers rather than simply adding subscribers in recent months as industry-wide streaming growth has slowed. If Disney doesn’t bank on Disney+’s growth, Hulu will become a more important part of its long-term strategy.

“People are becoming more sensible about their spending,” Kevin Mayer, Disney’s former streaming boss, said on CNBC last month. “Wall Street is once again emphasizing not only topline subscriber count, but bottom line as well. I think that’s healthy.”

Comcast vs Disney

There is also the problem of competitive dynamics. One of the main reasons Disney stuck with Hulu and acquired other Fox assets was to keep them off Comcast, according to people familiar with the matter. Handing Hulu over to Comcast would shift the balance of power in the media world and weaken Disney, thought then-CEO Bob Iger, People said.

Comcast has already taken steps to weaken Hulu on the assumption Disney will keep it. Earlier this year, Comcast made the decision to remove content like “Saturday Night Live” and “The Voice” from the streaming service and put it on Peacock instead. This change will take place later this month.

Comcast has already earmarked a portion of the proceeds to pay down debt. Comcast executives say they don’t need the money and aren’t independently trying to accelerate a schedule, two of the people said.

And Loeb’s desire

Daniel Loeb

Simon Dawson | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Activist investor Dan Loeb’s Third Point Capital bought a new stake in Disney last month, arguing that Disney should not only finalize its deal for Hulu but also speed up its timing.

“We urge the company to make every attempt to acquire Comcast’s remaining minority interest before the contract expires in early 2024,” Loeb said in a letter to Chapek. “We believe it would be wise for Disney to even pay a modest premium to expedite the integration, however we recognize that the seller may have an inappropriate price expectation at this point (noting that the seller already has the made the decision to prematurely remove its own content from the platform.) We know this is a priority for you and hope to reach an agreement before Comcast is contractually committed to this in approximately 18 months.”

According to people familiar with the matter, Disney has not publicly addressed the specifics of Loeb’s inquiries and has not made a decision on whether it plans to accelerate its timeline to purchase Comcast’s stake in Hulu.

Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which owns CNBC.

WATCH: Disney membership is a work in progress and could offer exclusive content or experiences

Disney membership is working on it and could offer exclusive content or experiences

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Entertainment

Greatest Films For Adults on Disney Plus

Best Movies For Adults on Disney Plus

As POPSUGAR editors, we independently choose and write things that we love and that we believe you will like too. If you buy a product that we recommend, we may receive an affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.

While it is certainly suitable for families, there are plenty of adult films on Disney +! The streaming platform has already built a reputation as a place for families to find titles to watch together, or for adults to relive some of their childhood favorites, but there are some films out there that might be more suited to adult audiences are.

From darker entries in long-standing franchises to teen comedies with a bite to documentaries, Disney + is definitely not just for kids. Check out some of our favorite adult films on Disney + beforehand. There is also plenty of magic to discover in films with an older audience.

Do not miss these films. Sign up for Disney + today ($ 7.99 per month).

– Additional coverage from Kalyn Womack

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Entertainment

How Camila Cabello’s Cinderella Compares to the Disney Film

How Camila Cabello's Cinderella Compares to the Disney Movie

Disney’s Cinderella has been retold many times before, and now Amazon Prime Video is putting its own spin on the narrative. Starring Camila Cabello and Nicholas Galitzine, the new film modernizes the classic fairy tale through a few key differences. Though the story still takes place in an antiquated village, the characters’ motivations are slightly different, which helps move the story along in interesting ways. The film is also jukebox musical, so it includes some of your favorite pop songs throughout.

While the film manages to set itself apart from the original Disney cartoon, there are still certain areas where it falls flat, including the lack of screen time for Billy Porter’s Fab G and Cinderella’s “girlboss” narrative. As a fan of Disney and musicals, a big part of me was left wanting more by the final musical number. The concept of the movie is so interesting, though it never really lives up to its potential. I was expecting more Brandy’s Cinderella meets Disney Channel’s Descendants, and instead I got Another Cinderella Story meets Mirror, Mirror. I wanted flashy musical numbers and over-the-top characters that smartly juxtaposed the classic Disney story, but this felt more like a rom-com Cinderella set in medieval times. Maybe it would’ve been better as a Broadway musical? Read ahead as I break down all the ways this iteration compares to the Disney movie.

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Health

Disney World to require Covid-19 vaccinations for unionized staff

Disney World to require Covid-19 vaccinations for unionized employees

Guests wear masks. upon need. to attend Magic Kingdom’s Official Reopening Day at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Saturday, July 11, 2020.

Joe Burbank | Orlando Sentinel | Getty Images

Disney has reached an agreement with its unions that all unionized employees at Walt Disney World in Florida will be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by October 22, 2021.

The move comes almost a month after Disney mandated that all of its salaried and non-union workers in the U.S. be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by the end of September.

No agreement has been reached with unions on the west coast that look after Disneyland Resort employees.

The Service Trades Council Union, which is made up of six member unions representing about 43,000 Disney performers in Florida, said the company will host on-site vaccine events for employees over the next few weeks.

“Vaccines are safe, effective and free,” the union said in a memo to members on Monday. “As of today, the Pfizer vaccine is FDA approved and offered by the company to get rid of this deadly virus.”

On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration fully approved the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech, making it the first in the US to receive the coveted award and giving even more companies, schools and universities more confidence in accepting vaccine mandates gave.

So far, the mRNA vaccine, now marketed as Comirnaty, has been on the US market under emergency approval granted by the FDA in December.

Workers with illnesses or “sincere” religious beliefs are entitled to an exemption, the union said.

Disney considers its employees fully vaccinated if they are at least two weeks after vaccination is complete, whether after the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or after a single vaccination of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Disney has updated its safety guidelines in line with local health regulations since the pandemic began, both domestically and internationally. Most recently, the company required proof of a Covid vaccination or a negative Covid test before entering its Paris amusement park according to French guidelines.

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Entertainment

Simu Liu Slams Disney CEO For Shang-Chi “Experiment” Remark

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, Simu Liu, as Shang-Chi, 2021. ph: Jasin Boland / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Marvel Studios / courtesy Everett Collection

Simu Liu doesn’t want to Shang-Chi and the legend of the ten rings Considered an “interesting experiment” in light of recent comments from Disney CEO Bob Chapek. During a conference call Thursday, Chapek used the phrase to describe the upcoming 45-day theatrical release of the Marvel film for Wall Street investors. Liu vehemently contradicts the opinion.

“On Shang-Chi“We think it’s actually going to be an interesting experiment for us because it only has a 45-day window for us,” Chapek said aloud diversity. “So the prospect of a Marvel title in that [streaming] Post-theatrical service after 45 days will be another data point to inform about our future promotions on our titles. “

On Saturday, Liu apparently reacted on Instagram and Twitter. “We’re not an ‘interesting experiment,'” he captioned a series of BTS photos from the shoot. “We’re the underdog; the underrated. We’re the ceiling breakers. We’re the celebration of the culture and joy that persists after a competitive year. We’re the surprise. I’m fireproof to making history on September 3rd; YOU WILL MEMBER.”

Chapek’s comments were made to address several of Disney’s recent releases, such as Free guy, which was premiered exclusively in cinemas based on a contractual agreement. He admitted that Shang-Chi “Was planned to be in a much healthier theater environment,” but COVID-19 restrictions have changed the theater experience, as through Black widow, Jungle cruise, and Cruella. But that doesn’t excuse the message behind Chapek’s words. His belief that Shang-Chi‘s release will simply be a “data point” reduced to the film and fans, especially APIA viewers eager to see their community on screen.

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World News

Disney World Will Require Masks Indoors Once more

Disney World Will Require Masks Indoors Again

Starting Friday, Disney World in Florida will require guests over the age of 2 to wear masks indoors, reversing the policy that allows fully vaccinated guests to walk without them.

The change was announced after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday recommended Americans wear face masks in public indoor spaces in areas with high transmission rates, regardless of vaccination status.

It also came when Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings signed an executive order on Wednesday declaring a local state of emergency as cases soared in the county where Disney World is located.

“I urge residents and visitors – vaccinated and unvaccinated – to wear a mask indoors and follow updated CDC guidelines,” Mr Demings wrote on Twitter.

In the past two weeks, Orange County’s coronavirus infections have increased 184 percent and hospital admissions increased 116 percent, according to the New York Times.

Disney World’s new policy could spark a backlash from Governor Ron DeSantis, who said it was up to parents to decide whether their children should wear masks after the CDC’s announcement.

On Wednesday, Governor DeSantis doubled his comments, saying that wearing masks for children was “bad policy”.

“Parents can best decide whether their children should wear a mask in school,” wrote the governor on Twitter. “Neither Washington bureaucrats nor local authorities should be able to override a parent’s decision.”

Disney World wasn’t the only company to respond to CDC advice. Apple also announced that employees and customers in certain stores across the country will be required to wear masks regardless of their vaccination status under the new CDC guidelines.

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Business

John Malone sees WarnerMedia-Discovery as No. three streamer behind Netflix, Disney+

John Malone sees WarnerMedia-Discovery as No. 3 streamer behind Netflix, Disney+

The blockbuster deal with WarnerMedia-Discovery is particularly good news for HBO Max, billionaire media mogul John Malone told CNBC’s David Faber.

In an interview that aired Monday, Malone said his previous reservations about HBO Max’s ability to be a dominant player in the crowded digital streaming landscape will be addressed once AT&T becomes its own service is under the same roof as Discovery.

“I thought they would have a hard time getting the growth in subscribers they were hoping for in the US, and I think they are,” said Malone, a Discovery board member who has more than 25% of the voting rights in the company.

Malone believes the new company could join Netflix and Disney + as a true global powerhouse.

“I think we will not only be the third platform of its kind, but I think we will be very competitive with the other two when it comes to meeting the world’s entertainment, curiosity and information needs, basically worldwide Platform, “said Malone.

John Malone

Matthew Staver | Bloomberg | Getty Images

According to the company, Disney + ended the second quarter of the fiscal year with 103.6 million subscribers. Netflix announced last month that it had nearly 208 million subscribers worldwide.

AT&T announced in April that HBO and HBO Max combined had 44.2 million subscribers in the US and nearly 64 million worldwide.

WarnerMedia’s flagship streaming flagship HBO Max debuted in the US last May and plans to expand internationally. Malone believes that Discovery’s global expertise will support this advance.

“For me, the problem with HBO Max is that at that point it wasn’t possible to go international. Combining it with Discovery, given Discovery’s existing presence, was a huge presence in 200 countries around the world with a great brand,. .. for me, that’s the big plus, “said the cable television pioneer and longtime chairman of Liberty Media.

Malone opened up in a comprehensive interview with CNBC about AT & T’s deal announced last week with Discovery and WarnerMedia, which the telecommunications giant acquired less than three years ago.

If the transaction receives regulatory approval, WarnerMedia’s various media and entertainment properties, including CNN, HBO and the Warner Bros. studio, will be spun off from AT&T and combined with Discovery’s brands such as HGTV, Food Network and Discovery Channel .

It would position the new company – which hasn’t been renamed yet – as a stronger competitor in the highly competitive streaming video wars. In addition to WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, the Discovery Signature direct-to-consumer platform Discovery + was launched in January.

Malone trusted in David Zaslav’s leadership

David Zaslav, CEO of Discovery, told CNBC last week that the combined company could ultimately attract 400 million subscribers to streaming video worldwide – significantly more than any other competitor.

“Netflix is ​​a great company, Disney is a great company, but we have a portfolio of content that is very diverse and generally engaging,” said Zaslav, who will lead the new company.

Malone said he has confidence in Zaslav’s management skills and generally believes the connection between Discovery and WarnerMedia is beneficial. He also said he had no qualms about giving up his Discovery shares with super-voting as part of the deal.

David Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery Inc.

Anjali Sundaram | CNBC

According to FactSet, Malone owns more than 93% of the Class B shares of Discovery, which equates to 10 votes per share compared to one vote per share for Class A. His ownership of these shares enables his significant voting rights in the company. Discovery also has a third class of stocks known as Series C.

The combined WarnerMedia Discovery will only have one type of warehouse.

“My reaction was okay that I thought the alphabet soup we had served its purpose had protected the company and given it a long term for several years. It was time when its usefulness ran out, I agreed “said Malone, whose Liberty Media spun off its stake in Discovery Communications in 2005 into a separate entity.

Malone on the “brave decision” made by John Stankey, CEO of AT&T

AT & T’s decision to outsource WarnerMedia marked the end of any attempt to link a content producing asset to a wireless company.

Malone praised John Stankey, CEO of AT&T, for pulling the plug on this built-in experiment, which some observers questioned from the time the deal was first announced in 2016. AT&T completed the acquisition of Time Warner in 2018 following a regulatory and judicial dispute.

“John Stankey showed a hell of a lot of courage in making this decision at this point because he was really chasing two capital-intensive, very competitive rabbits,” said Malone.

Stankey replaced Randall Stephenson as AT&T CEO in July 2020. He was President and Chief Operating Officer.

“”[Stankey’s] The idea of ​​focusing AT&T on its primary, traditional business and allowing other managers to pursue direct consumer opportunity with a different balance sheet was a bold move, “said Malone.

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Business

Column on ‘Wokeness’ Ruining Disney World Expertise Attracts Backlash

Column on ‘Wokeness’ Ruining Disney World Experience Draws Backlash

A column complaining that Disney World’s “vigilance” is ruining the fun “because Disney cares more about politics than happy guests,” sparked a sharp backlash online this week.

The guest column, “I love Disney World, but wakefulness ruins the experience,” was written by Jonathan VanBoskerck and appeared online on the Orlando Sentinel on Friday.

In the column, Mr. VanBoskerck of north Las Vegas wrote that he had “seriously reconsidered” his commitment to the amusement park and the city of Orlando, Florida, home of Disney World.

“The more Disney moves away from the values ​​and visions of Walt Disney, the less Disney World means to me,” wrote VanBoskerck. “Disney forgets that guest immersion is at the core of its business model.”

Disney has made changes to its parks in recent years to make them more “inclusive” and to provide an experience that “all of our guests can connect and be inspired by,” it wrote in a blog post.

Among the changes, Disney announced a “rethink” of Splash Mountain last year, previously based on the 1946 Disney film “Song of the South,” in which a former slave tells African folk tales.

Changes have expanded beyond Disney’s parks, including the decision not to stream “Song of the South” on Disney +.

Disney World reopened its Pirates of the Caribbean ride in 2018, replacing a scene where pirates were selling women at auction. The scene now shows the sale of “city dwellers’ most valuable possessions and goods,” according to a blog post on the Disney Parks website.

Recognition…via Twitter

Among other things, the company announced that it is building “on the story” of the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland and Disney World to “take on new adventures that stay true to the experience we know and love – more humor, wildlife and skipper hearts – and also reflect and appreciate the diversity of the world around us. “

The Jungle Cruise ride includes one Indigenous character named Trader Sam who sells shrunken heads. The character was recently removed from the ride.

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Updated

April 23, 2021 at 1:31 p.m. ET

“We’re addressing negative portrayals of locals at the attraction,” Disney told Attractions Magazine.

In his column, Mr VanBoskerck said Disney brought “a woken scalpel” to the jungle cruise.

“Every adult in the room realizes that Trader Sam is not a representation of reality and is intended to be a funny and silly cartoon,” wrote VanBoskerck. “It’s no more racist-based than any Disney caricature of a touchless white American father.”

Mr. VanBoskerck, who referred to himself as a “Christian and Conservative Republican,” said he and his family have been Disney customers for decades and that in addition to annual visits to Disney World, the family goes on a Disney cruise or two every year. “

The Las Vegas Review journal and court documents identified Mr. VanBoskerck as an assistant district attorney for Clark County. The prosecutor and Mr VanBoskerck did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday.

“The parks are less fun because the immersion and thus the joy of politics takes a back seat,” wrote VanBoskerck. “Immersion shouldn’t be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness and appeasing the Twitter mob.”

Then came a Twitter mob for Mr VanBoskerck, whose comments online generated a strong response, including from some politicians.

Val Demings, who represents Florida’s 10th Congressional District, where Disney World is located, said on Twitter that she supports Disney’s work to be more inclusive.

“I take pride in representing a community that is welcoming, tolerant, and constantly evolving to deliver the best experience possible,” said Ms. Demings.

Florida State Legislator Anna V. Eskamani took a different approach on Twitter.

“So this grown-up Las Vegas man is crazy about Disney removing racist characters and animatronic rapists from their rides?” Ms. Eskamani said. “Have I understood that correctly?”

Mr. VanBoskerck criticized other changes Disney made, such as one announced this month to allow Disney employees “greater flexibility” with “forms of personal expression” such as nail and hairstyles and visible tattoos.

“The problem is, I don’t travel around the country paying thousands of dollars to see someone I don’t know express themselves,” he wrote. “I’m there for the immersion and the imagination, not the reality of a stranger’s self-expression. I do not allow these people their individuality and wish them all the best for their personal life, but I cannot express my individuality at my place of business. “

In a blog post by Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Disney announced that the change would allow cast members to “express their cultures and individualities at work,” and that the company “remains relevant today remains a job. “

Disney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.

The decision among many is that the park “put a stronger focus on inclusivity and belonging for our cast,” after listening to cast members about their ideas for change, D’Amaro wrote.

Mr VanBoskerck wrote that the next time he goes on the Jungle Cruise or visits Splash Mountain, he will be thinking about Disney’s political agenda.

“This is a mood killer,” he wrote.

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Business

Disney to debut ‘Black Widow,’ ‘Cruella’ in theaters and Disney+

Disney to debut 'Black Widow,' 'Cruella' in theaters and Disney+

Scarlett Johansson plays Natasha Romanoff, AKA Black Widow, in Marvel’s “Black Widow”.

Disney wonder

Disney made some key changes to its summer movie on Tuesday.

The studio announced that “Cruella” and “Black Widow” will be released in theaters and on Disney + with world-class access, and its Pixar film “Luca” will go direct to Disney +.

“Today’s announcement reflects our focus on providing consumers with choice and meeting the changing preferences of audiences,” said Kareem Daniel, chairman of Disney’s media and entertainment distribution.

“By leveraging a flexible sales strategy in a dynamic market that is gradually starting to recover from the global pandemic, we will continue to leverage the best of options to bring the Walt Disney Company’s unparalleled storytelling to fans and families around the world,” he said.

“Cruella” will debut as scheduled on May 28th and “Black Widow”, which was originally scheduled for May 7th, will now debut on July 9th. Both titles will also be available on Disney + for an additional $ 30 rental fee.

Originally slated for theatrical release, Luca will be streamed direct on Disney + as part of the traditional subscription. In markets where Disney + is not available, “Luca” will be released in theaters.

Other changes to the theatrical release date are:

  • “Free Guy” moves to August 13, 2021
  • “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” from September 3, 2021
  • “The King’s Man” arrives on December 22, 2021
  • “Deep Water” has been postponed to January 14, 2022
  • “Death on the Nile” for February 11, 2022
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Business

Pay Discrimination Go well with In opposition to Disney Provides Pay Secrecy Declare

Pay Discrimination Suit Against Disney Adds Pay Secrecy Claim

The Disney case is still in the discovery phase, with the two sides exchanging information about the witnesses and evidence they want to use. There were early wins and early losses for both sides.

For example, Judge Daniel J. Buckley granted a motion by the plaintiff to expand the case to include claims under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. However, a more recent decision was in Disney’s favor: citing attorney and client privilege, the judge rejected an attempt by Ms. Andrus to gain access to an analysis commissioned by Disney attorneys in 2017 to assess the company’s equity to pay.

The decisive issue of the class action has yet to be decided. Certification of the case as such would allow plaintiffs to represent women employed by Disney in California in full-time positions (excluding those represented by a union) as of April 1, 2015 – tens of thousands of women.

Felicia A. Davis, the attorney who leads Disney’s defense, has argued that the plaintiffs’ “anecdotal” allegations cannot form the basis of a class action lawsuit, partly because women who work (or worked) in “markedly different professions” do so, would wrongly summarize This requires significantly different skills, efforts and responsibilities “in” significantly different business areas “.

In a previous statement, Disney said, “We look forward to presenting our response to each claim in court in due course.”

The 10 women are suing for additional payments, lost benefits and other compensation. They also want a judge to force Disney to create in-house programs to “eliminate the effects of Disney’s past and current illegal employment policies,” including adjusting salaries and benefits for other women and establishing a task force to oversee those Progress reported.

In addition to Ms. Rasmussen, Ms. Moore and Ms. Hanke, the women are Ginia Eady-Marshall, Senior Manager at Disney Music Publishing; Enny Joo, director of marketing at Hollywood Records; Becky Train, media producer at Disney Imagineering; Amy Hutchins, a former production manager in a division that is now Direct-to-Consumer & International; Anabel Pareja Sinn, a former Hollywood Records art designer; Dawn Wisner-Johnson, a former music coordinator at ABC; and Nancy Dolan, senior manager, creative music marketing.