external monologue

Pixar + Disney = ?

Bob Cringley is an information technology analyst and self-proclaimed tech know-it-all: "When it comes to information technology, I know what I am talking about... The best and brightest in Silicon Valley talk to me all the time." He does a weekly column called I, Cringley in which he comments on current happenings in the IT world and usually makes predictions about the future. Most of the time he's right. This from his latest piece on the Pixar/Disney merger:

So the sale to Disney gives Jobs a smaller piece of a bigger pie and therefore much easier liquidity. But it also gives him the chance to nag Disney into the 21st century, as I am sure he will. Strong minority shareholders tend to clash with management (look at Ross Perot with General Motors and Ted Turner with Time-Warner), and Jobs will do the same with Disney. He'll push to end Disney's partnership with Microsoft, to bring Disney into the Apple-Intel alliance, and potentially try for some partnership with Sony, too. It's the start of a grand amalgamation based around a combination of content, technology, and networking, and I wouldn't at all be surprised to see it end as a single huge company five years from now with Jobs at the helm.

I, for one, am a little disappointed to hear about the merger. I was somewhat looking forward to new Pixar films freed from the contentious relationship with Disney. I'm afraid now we'll just end up with really slick versions of Pocahantas and the Lion King. Then again, if Disney gets on the Apple bandwagon, that could be good for everyone. We'll see. Let's just hope Jobs can stay healthy...