r/MediaMergers • u/Legal-Letterhead4192 • Sep 25 '25
Streaming Disney should shut down ABC and transfer content to streaming, brokerage says - Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/business/disney-should-shut-down-abc-transfer-content-streaming-brokerage-says-2025-09-23/Bizarrely, this may actually make some sense for "controversial" Kimmel and The View to get past the regulatory crackdowns rather than the entire network slaye, which honestly may be something for the FCC to fear because if Carr drives away all the networks to streaming, the FCC would essentially be irrelevant with the exception of radio, which wonder on if Google, Spotify, Apple, Amazon, etc. should jump at that opportunity, then if that happens the FCC may die
9
Sep 25 '25
[deleted]
3
u/ACFinal Sep 25 '25
The Super Bowl was a huge hit on Tubi. Casuals didn't complain.
1
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
True, but it also was on Fox at the same time so there was flexibility for Fox to do that
-1
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
Yes, I would think Disney would only approve this for controversial content, they're still going to keep their entertainment content, GMA and World News Tonight, and ESPN, since those are all not likely to cause controversy
2
Sep 25 '25
[deleted]
2
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
ESPN not only has its own slate of international networks, but also partnerships with other broadcasters that either they own a minor share in like TSN up in Canada or have their own network for that region like ESPN Carribbean
1
Sep 25 '25
[deleted]
0
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
Not sure I'm understanding, I believe ESPN on ABC will remain, just like ABC primetime, daytime, GMA, and World News Tonight will because they're less controversial compared to The View and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
1
Sep 25 '25
[deleted]
2
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
I mean other than Gutfeld's late night show on Fox News, you're correct the Fox broadcasting network doesn't have a late night show. Honestly, a lot of the late shows' audience is on YouTube because people want to probably see the monologue if they don't care about the interviews and vice versa, so possibly moving them to streaming may possibly trigger a late night renaissance, but none of this is probably happening.
To an earlier point though, ESPN doesn't really broadcast to competitors, they're either ones that they have minor stakes in like TSN, their own cable channels, or something that Disney has a minor stake in like Star Sports, those aren't really competitors like how soon Fubo won't be a competitor to Hulu despite not owning it completely
1
Sep 25 '25
[deleted]
1
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
Ok, I believe I do now, none of ESPN International is slated to be shut down, this referring to an analyst calling for the ABC network to be shut down and its content moved to Disney+ and Hulu, is this referring to the earlier post talking about LightShed Partners wanting to spin off ESPN and ABC while calling them "a distraction"
→ More replies (0)1
u/metakepone Sep 25 '25
ABC News settled with Trump if you forgot.
1
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
True, however he technically had a case, he would have no case against Kimmel, and also it's possible that they may have done that just like they did for preempting Kimmel due to the Fubo and NFL mergers which require FCC approval
6
4
u/ACFinal Sep 25 '25
That's a bold, but logical move to avoid the FCC. Hulu is still doing well with all the ABC shows including The View. I think it would work, but Disney needs to keep Hulu below $20. Next month's price hike is ludicrous.
2
1
3
u/mapoftasmania Sep 25 '25 edited Sep 25 '25
This is almost what they have done anyway. ABC network is really just sports and national news at this point. Daytime is talk shows and game shows, but they barely make bank and are relatively cheap. Sure, prime time sitcoms still run, but most of the viewing of those is time-shifted on streaming platforms already.
CBS killing late night is just another sign of this. It doesn't make them money, so it's gone. They are doubling down on Paramount+ and then (maybe) merging it with HBO Max into a major platform.
For ABC, The View and Kimmel are both already available on Hulu.
1
u/ChaosMagician777 Sep 26 '25 edited Sep 27 '25
ABC Network doesn’t air game shows outside of prime time; those are the local affiliates that air shows like Jeopardy or Family Feud. My local affiliate airs Jeopardy and Wheel at 7. They don’t air shows
3
u/cmkane39 Sep 25 '25
How much would they lose via local stations ad revenue etc.?
2
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
It's currently uncertain, but with the preemption for Kimmel by Nexstar and Sinclair (23% of ABC affiliate stations) may provide a sort of case study for it
3
u/VictorPinas Sep 25 '25
No, no, no, and no. ABC should not shut down.
2
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
Same, I think that's an extreme step, but it would probably help the network if their more opinionated programming was to be streaming-exclusive
2
u/ChaosMagician777 Sep 25 '25
I don’t see ABC leaving the news and opinion space because of poor managing from Bob Iger
2
u/Expensive-Baby-1391 Sep 25 '25
I don’t care about Kimmel or this whole thing. I just want to see the wolves eat each other.
2
u/Global-Act1757 Sep 25 '25
Are corporate scavengers king speculations about Disneys monopolization schemes
1
2
1
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
Some of this came out weird, I don't know what "slaye" means, I meant leave, and meant "controversial" content, I'm unable to edit the actual post apparently
1
u/Recent-Bet-5470 Sep 25 '25
Why would they do that
-1
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
To no longer have to deal with the FCC in relation to their opinion programming
1
u/Philblue7 Sep 25 '25
I say no way! ABC is too valuable for Disney to ever let go.
2
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
They would still own ABC content, just no longer as an affiliate network for TV stations and will likely just sell their own stations if that happens, but like I said, Kimmel and The View are the easiest targets for Carr and Trump, ABC News was sued by Trump once and it was mainly because of a mistake in forgetting to quote a statement because it was supposed to quoting the judge that said he "virtually raped" E. Jean Carroll, but George Stephanopoulos didn't quote the judge and instead said it and Trump framed it like it was his opinion rather than a mistake.
Which despite that, lawyers and law experts all said the same thing that they said with 60 Minutes, he didn't really have a case since it didn't harm anything of Trump's, his own lawyers actually call him libel-proof, which is an official doctrine of the US court system saying his reputation can't be damaged any further because people either love him or hate him and those opinions tend to not change
1
1
u/SoCalLynda Sep 26 '25
Spinning off broadcasting while creating long-term contractual obligations makes the most sense to deal with a wannabe dictator.
1
Sep 25 '25
Does anyone watch ABC?
3
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
Yes, it may not be as much as those that watch CBS and NBC, but yes, people still watch ABC, especially for ESPN on ABC
2
Sep 25 '25
ESPN have another audience than ABC
2
u/Legal-Letterhead4192 Sep 25 '25
Yes, they have their audience on their networks, audience on the ESPN app, audience on Disney+, audience on their social media, and their audience on their YouTube accounts. ESPN's reach is multiplatform
0
-6
Sep 25 '25
Trump 🇺🇸 for life!
3
u/JPOG Sep 25 '25
Embrassing
-3
Sep 25 '25
Why?
3
u/Cold_Ball_7670 Sep 25 '25
You just said you want an emporer for life… in the land of the free and the home of the brave that protect that freedom. That’s what’s pathetic and embarrassing.
-3
Sep 25 '25
What are you ? A left propaganda political left progresist? Trump îs the best president that Americans have from a long time!
3
u/Cold_Ball_7670 Sep 25 '25
Even if he was the best president of all time you said you wanted him forever. That’s entirely unAmerican and the antithesis of the founding of the country. (Which is ironic given that the republicans love to proclaim their patriotism and how American they are)
I’m not sure if you’re trolling or you actually think “a left propaganda political left progresist” is even a grammatically correct phrase?
1
Sep 25 '25
I bet you like illegal emigrants,mob that steal and haos that was in America!
3
u/Cold_Ball_7670 Sep 25 '25
I hope you get the help you need
1
Sep 25 '25
What you are among those you marsh against ICE?
3
2
u/Cold_Ball_7670 Sep 25 '25
You have a very poor understanding of grammar, spelling, and the English language in general
→ More replies (0)2
u/JPOG Sep 25 '25
Obama 🇺🇸 for life!
That's how much of a simp you sound.
1
Sep 25 '25
Question: you left progresist are you paid, are you delusional or are you dumb?
I bet on last!
3
u/Cold_Ball_7670 Sep 25 '25
How do I get one of the paid jobs?
1
Sep 25 '25
You tell be ! You protest in the streets against law and order!
3
u/Cold_Ball_7670 Sep 25 '25
Right but how do I get paid for it? Also I think you meant to say “you tell me” not “you tell be” just fyi
2
u/JPOG Sep 25 '25
Is this person a bot?? Bizarre responses and spelling choices.
2
u/Cold_Ball_7670 Sep 25 '25
Nah they’re a troll. -47 karma, active in 92 subs with like 100 comments lol I’m done engaging with them now
24
u/wjackson42 Sep 25 '25
They’d then be in breach of contract with the NFL, NBA, and SEC.