“Bob Iger Urges Swift Action on SAG-AFTRA Strike Talks: Time Running Out to Rescue Summer Film Lineup”
In July, Bob Iger SAG-AFTRA called for its members to strike against Hollywood’s major studios. On the same day, Bob Iger, speaking at a billionaire’s retreat, dismissed union demands as unrealistic. However, over 100 days later, Iger provided an update on the impact of the work stoppage on Disney. He expressed optimism about the ongoing talks with SAG-AFTRA, hinting at potential progress towards a resolution.
During a CNBC interview coinciding with the company’s earnings report, Iger emphasized his respect for actors and indicated a positive outlook on resolving the issue soon. He acknowledged the strike’s minimal current impact on Disney’s business, but cautioned that a prolonged strike could have significant consequences, particularly for the summer film lineup. Stressing the industry’s urgency to maintain a vibrant cinematic season, Iger highlighted the need for swift resolution.
Bob Iger
In Disney’s fiscal fourth-quarter report, the company announced a $387 million loss for its direct-to-consumer unit, an improvement from the previous quarter’s $512 million loss. Disney+ saw an increase of 7 million subscribers, reaching a total of 112.6 million, with a slight uptick in average monthly revenue per user.
Implementing cost-cutting measures since his surprise return as CEO in November, Iger reaffirmed the company’s progress towards a $7.5 billion reduction in costs. Despite these efforts, Disney faced challenges from a sluggish advertising market and production slowdowns resulting from the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Despite the challenges, Disney’s estimated free cash flow for the year stood at $4.89 billion, a significant increase from $1.05 billion in the previous fiscal year. The company adjusted its content spend projection for the upcoming year to $25 billion, down from $27 billion in 2023.
The company’s stock has experienced a 5 percent decline year-to-date. Meanwhile, other entertainment giants like Netflix and Paramount also grappled with financial implications from the ongoing strikes, revealing lower-than-expected cash content spend and idle production costs. Warner Bros. Discovery cited the strikes as a contributing factor to stagnant global streaming subscribers, although it highlighted a significant increase in streaming profits and free cash flow.
Bob Iger Overall, the industry continues to navigate the challenges posed by the prolonged strikes, emphasizing the need for a resolution to alleviate financial strains and enable the resumption of full-scale content production.
