The BLOG FLUME - Business as Usual
Another Universal bidder drops out. Disneyland appears to really, really hate its cast members. And the national press rediscovers theme park safety.
Posted July 5, 2003 at 12:38 PM
NY Times - July 4
Liberty Media, believed to be the front-runner in the bidding for the Universal Entertainment assets, may have just bowed out. Liberty just bought controlling interest in QVC for $7.9B. It has long been known that Liberty would need to actually own assets rather than being an investor in a bunch of assets, and it was assumed that snatching up Universal was the way to do this.
Although the purchase of QVC doesn't automatically force Liberty out of the race, it does seem that Liberty's John Malone doesn't believe he will win the Universal auction. Or that he was unwilling to overpay for the assets, while it seems at least two others - Edgar Bronfman Jr and MGM - will have no problem upping the ante. In fact, an MGM bid is looking so attractive now that I would dare say the race is neck-and-neck between Bronfman and MGM. MGM will bring the cash, which Vivendi wants, but Bronfman is still part of the decision-making process. If it weren't for Malone's crony, Barry Diller, also being in on the decision, I would say Liberty was a goner.
NO POOH FOR YOU!
LA Times - Jul 4
Citing attorney/client privilege, an LA judge has refused to open sealed documents that held the reasons why Bert Fields stepped down from the big Winnie the Pooh case. The judge also stated that Fields' former clients would be prejudiced by the contents, but I couldn't tell whether that meant prejudiced FOR or AGAINST. The article itself is cleverly written since it took me a couple read-throughs to realize it was the LA Times that tried to unseal the documents. Apparently the writer is more clever than the paper's lawyers. (And what's up with "From a Times Staff Writer" byline? That's some great writing there!)
CURSING "THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL"
MousePlanet - Jul 3
Anyone who is a regular reader of MiceAge or MousePlanet knows that morale is at an all-time low at the Disneyland Resort. Well, it's just gotten lower! Apparently the Hollywood Disney people don't realize that the theme-park Disney people butter the company's bread, and ended up making sure the Cast Members were all treated like peons.
Before it was time for the "Pirates of the Caribbean" film to start, all CMs had to be cleared out of the Rivers of America area. Security even performed sweeps to make sure all CMs were taken to an unlighted Festival Arena to wait for three hours until the premiere was done.
The CMs had been promised a catered meal, but the Studios refused to pay for it, so that money had to come out of the theme park budget. Considering they can barely keep the CM dining going, you can guess how elaborate this "catered" meal turned out. Sandwiches and chips! And enough for only half the assembled CMs. Then, when things were over, many of them had the privilege of working the post-premiere party that ran until 1am.
Even salaried management were treated like dirt. They had their offices, which are located on the second floor of the Frontierland buildings, taken over by the Hollywood snobs and TDA execs. They also had to wear wristbands which allowed them to enter their restaurant or attraction during the party portion, but were not allowed to view the film itself. Windows were actually blacked out and security posted! The movie must really suck!
To make matters worse, the only Disneyland people allowed to watch the flick were Queen Cynthia Harriss, her cronies and their families. While the premiere was seen as a success mostly because guests weren't too inconvenienced, it is doubtful that anyone will ever think that the event may have permanently affected CMs.
REDISCOVERING COASTER SAFETY
CBS Evening News - July 4
One coaster gets stuck outside Washington, D.C., and even though no one gets hurt, that's enough to get the national media to rediscover the issue of theme park safety. CBS picks up the story of one TPI reader who got hurt on a ride, and includes a comment from Robert.
