Is Apple going to buy Disney?

©Apple

Rumors have been flying for some time now, and Bob Iger addressed this question once again in a recent earnings call.

During the third quarter earnings call of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger was asked whether Disney could be sold to a larger tech company. Although Apple wasn’t specifically mentioned, the question clearly refers to the recent rumors about Apple’s acquisition of Disney.

©Disney

In response, Iger said, “I just am not going to speculate about the potential for Disney to be acquired by any company.” It’s not a hard “no,” but Iger is definitely staying quiet about the potential for future mergers.

He went on to point out that the “global regulatory environment” needs to be considered and stated that the potential acquisition is “not something we obsess about.”

Iger concluded, “I’ll say no more than that.”

©Reuters | Disney CEO Bob Iger

According to The Hollywood Reporter, one veteran Hollywood executive said, “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.”

Iger has already announced that the company may be getting rid of linear networks, which seems to align with that image of divesting parts of the company.

©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters

Does Apple really want Disney, though? The Reporter acknowledged the problem stating that “while it may be very true that Apple doesn’t want to buy a studio, maybe it would want to buy this studio — the one that, despite the challenges of the moment, has a vault full of priceless IP and remains the most valuable brand in entertainment.”

Don’t forget that Apple and Disney have a long history. Iger acquired Pixar from Apple in 2006. Steve Jobs was part of Disney’s Board of Directors for several years, and Bob Iger served on the Apple Board of Directors. In his memoir The Ride of a Lifetime, Iger communicates mutual respect between himself and Jobs, and states that they not only worked together but were also close friends.

©Bloomberg (Obtained via Vanity Fair)

In the same book, Iger wrote, “I believe that if Steve were still alive, we would have combined our companies, or at least discussed the possibility very seriously.”

©PAUL SAKUMA/A.P. PHOTO (Obtained via Vanity Fair)

Needham & Co. analyst Laura Martin predicted that Disney could be purchased as soon as within the next three years (Hollywood Reporter). Martin suggests that “Disney could give Apple the catalyst it needs to drive adoption of its forthcoming Vision Pro augmented reality headset.”

One problem that Disney and Apple would face in any significant merger would be the “global regulatory environment” that Iger mentioned during the earnings call. Analysts have predicted that the acquisition might not be approved at all, and some Disney fans and shareholders might be wary of the merger.

We’ll continue watching for more updates, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news.

Click here to learn about a recent collaboration between Apple and Disney. 

What do you think — should Disney sell to Apple? let us know in the comments.