Recent rumors that Disney might be planning to sell to Apple were dismissed as nonsense, but a new report from THR now suggests that Bob Iger may actually be considering it.
Though the notion of a massive, insanely-profitable studio like Disney selling off its assets may seem unbelievable, analysts feel that Iger could now be "contemplating a once-unthinkable option," and wouldn't be surprised if a deal went through "within the next three years."
According to the trade's sources, Iger has "never faced more stress," and even though Apple doesn't seem particularly interested in purchasing a studio right now, that could change very quickly.
“I don’t think [Apple] would buy the company as it presently exists. But if you see Bob start to divest things … that feels like he’s prepping for a sale. And there’s clearly no buyer like Apple.”
Apple is currently worth $62 billion in cash and cash equivalents, and has a $2.8 trillion market cap. Even if they never gave much thought to owning a studio before, the prospect of having access to a vault full of priceless IP and the most valuable brand in entertainment may prove too tempting to resist.
Some Hollywood execs believe the studio herd will inevitably "continue to thin."
“There will end up being three or four platforms and everybody else gets hollowed out and acquired,” says one industry veteran. “There will be Apple, Amazon, Netflix and one other. If you could put NBCUniversal, Warners and Paramount together, you probably have enough to survive.”
If Iger sees the same writing on the wall, he might well decide that finding a new home for Disney is a viable option.
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