Comcast-Disney: Putting The Parts Together

  • Cable Programming
    --COMCAST This cable operator owns a modest amount of television programming, including E! Entertainment Television, the Style Network, the Golf Channel, Outdoor Life Network, Comcast SportsNet and CN8--Comcast Network.

    --DISNEY Moneymaker ESPN airs big-time sports but is battling cable operators over rate hikes. Disney also owns the Disney Channel, ABC Family, Toon Disney, and SOAPnet.

    Broadcast Television
    --COMCAST NO PRESENCE.

    --DISNEY ABC has languished in recent years, losing money and falling to fourth place in prime-time ratings. Still, company execs predict a turnaround by next year. Disney remains a broadcast and production power-house with ABC Entertainment, Touchstone Television, ABC News, ABC Sports, ABC Daytime, ABC Kids, 10 TV stations and Buena Vista Television.

    Movie Studios
    --COMCAST No presence.

    --DISNEY Long the gold standard in family films, Disney runs Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Walt Disney Features Animation, Miramax Films and Dimension Films, though it recently lost hitmaker Pixar.

    Broadband and Cable
    --COMCAST The largest U.S. cable-TV operator, it reaches customers in 35 states. It has 21.5 million cable subscribers. 5.3 million customers pay for high-speed Internet access; 1.3 million pay for telephone service.

    --DISNEY No presence.

    Theme Parks, Sports Teams, Other Ventures
    --COMCAST Has a two-thirds stake in Comcast-Spectator, a venture that owns the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers in addition to two Philadelphia indoor-sports teams.

    --DISNEY Owns the most popular theme parks in North America, Walt Disney World (Fla.) and Disneyland (Calif.); has investments in Disneyland Resort (Paris); Tokyo Disney Resort; also owns Hyperion Books, Walt Disney Internet Group, ABC Radio and Radio Disney.

    How Big Is the Deal?
    If Comcast wins Disney, the acquisition will rank among the largest in media and entertainment.

    Acquirer (Target) -- VALUE
    1. AOL (Time Warner) -- $182 billion
    2. AT&T; (TCI Inc.) -- $70 billion
    3. Comcast (Walt Disney) -- $66 billion
    *4. AT&T; (MediaOne) -- $52 billion
    5. Comcast (AT&T; Broadband) -- $51 billion
    6. Viacom (CBS) -- $40 billion
    7. Clear Channel (AMFM Inc.) -- $23 billion

    Sources: Company reports; Thomson Financial

    --BRAND VALUE Disney is worth $28 billion and ranks seventh out of Interbrand's top 100. Comcast isn't ranked.

    --CEO PAY Eisner and Roberts each earned about $7.25 million in salary, bonuses and stock. Disney's Eisner, paid $1 million plus a $6.25 million stock bonus, has stock and options worth $630 million. Comcast's Roberts collected $1.24 million in salary and a $6 million bonus in 2002. His worth is about $625 million.