Disney is reopening to out of state guests in California and Universal Orlando Resort is raising wages to compete on staffing. Companies are betting on the future of in-person experiences, but meanwhile media companies are trying to consolidate to combat Disney +. But what’s the big deal? IP is critical because it has extendibility. This week we summarize the state of media consolidation and discuss how attractions are using IP to extend experiences.
Listen Now
Watch Now
Quick Hits
Disneyland will allow the entry of out-of-state guests beginning June 15. All guests will be required to wear a face covering throughout their visit.
SeaWorld Orlando employees can be mask-free with vaccination card; this is the first chain in Orlando to allow this, and we’ll be watching for the response.
We discussed previously how attractions are combating staffing shortages, and now Universal Orlando Resort is increasing their base pay rate to $15 per hour.
The Content Wars Escalate
All this is to say that companies are betting on the future of experiences, and increasingly looking to IP. We’ve discussed the content wars previously, but it seems the loosening of pandemic restrictions is throwing the war into overdrive.
Two Enormous Updates:
Amazon is Buying MGM for $8.45 Billion AND less than three years after AT&T spent over $85 billion to buy Time Warner, AT&T is in advanced talks to create a new company that would merge its media business, including CNN, with Discovery Inc.,
The NY Times reports “The plan would incorporate all of AT&T’s WarnerMedia assets, which include HBO and Warner Bros., AT&T’s WarnerMedia group includes the sports-heavy cable networks TNT and TBS. Discovery has a strong lineup of reality-based cable channels, including Oprah Winfrey’s OWN, HGTV, the Food Network and Animal Planet.”
More than $80 billion in media takeovers have been announced so far this year, according to data collected by Bloomberg.
Why is this important? Because of extendibility. A major extension opportunity is for in person experiences. Speaking of those experiences…
RWS Entertainment Group (RWS), announced the launch of new leased license character experiences. Including: Peanuts at Play, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Dino Don, and BRICKLIVE. “Our new Leased Experiences allow virtually any venue to add the power of an iconic brand to their marketing campaigns and guest experience,” commented the CEO
More importantly: “RWS handles everything from design and installation to staffing and guest interaction. Then, beyond trained staff, integrations include food, beverage and retail offerings.”
And Philip’s favorite from the week – Marvel Entertainment and SiriusXM are launching their first original scripted podcast series — “Marvel’s Wastelanders: Old Man Star-Lord” — with the first two episodes available starting June 1.
Attractions Magazine reported “The 10-episode series will be released weekly, kicking off the first season of Marvel and SiriusXM’s multi-part Marvel’s Wastelanders podcast series that will also feature other Marvel heroes, including Old Man Wolverine, Old Man Hawkeye, and Grey Widow… The storyline takes place in an alternate future of the Marvel Universe where the villains have won. Peter Quill and Rocket are a little slower and a lot saltier than they were during their glory days with the Guardians of the Galaxy.”
