Finding Nemo a New Home

January 30, 2004

Steve Jobs, CEO of Pixar and Founder of Apple Computers, announced today that Pixar Studios would no longer negotiate with Disney for distribution rights for their feature films. After ten months of trying to strike a new deal, the two sides were still too far apart for mutually acceptable terms to be found. And while Disney did lead all studios with $1.5 billion in box office receipts for 2003, it's hard not to wonder if their strong-armed negotiating techniques will hurt them in the future. They can hardly lose the $2.5 billion the first Pixar films earned worldwide, adding Finding Nemo's box office would have taken any studio in the top five to first place.

Earlier in the year Disney tried the same heavy handed tactics with Hilary Duff, refusing to pay her more than $35,000 an episode for a show that would generate between $60,000 to $100,000 per 30-second ad. (Based on this season's ABC's Friday night lineup ad rates.) Less than six months later and she lands a sitcom deal with CBS.

It's no big surprise that there may be a shake up in the Disney Boardroom sooner than later.


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Source: CNN.com

Filed under: Finding Nemo