The Comprehensive Breakdown of Disney-Fox Acquisition and Its Impact on Movies, Shows, and Channels

Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox marks a significant shift in the entertainment industry, expanding Disney's portfolio with a range of properties and media assets. However, it's important to understand that not all intellectual properties (IPs) are included in this acquisition. This article will delve into the details of what Disney is getting and the implications of these changes.

IP Ownership and Rights Distribution

Unlike many acquisitions, Disney is not simply gaining the rights to the entire intellectual property (IP) of 21st Century Fox's media assets. Instead, the distribution and ownership of various IPs, both traditional and modern, are divided across different companies. This means that while Disney may now own the movie and TV rights to films like X-Men, Aliens, and Deadpool, the character merchandising and theme park rights remain with other entities. For instance, the TV and movie rights to The Simpsons are with Walt Disney Company, while Universal owns the theme park rights. Similarly, Fox retains ownership of the theatrical distribution rights of the original Star Wars trilogy and the live-action Batman series from the 1960s, despite selling the rights to Warner Bros. for other Batman content.

The Acquisition's Focus: Entertainment Production Capabilities

The acquisition of 21st Century Fox is primarily focused on acquiring their entertainment production capabilities, which include a range of notable studios, networks, and entertainment production capacities. Some key acquisitions include:

20th Century Fox Film X-Men franchises Planet of the Apes 20th Century Fox Television Modern Family This Is Us Fox Animation (including properties like The Simpsons and Family Guy) Blue Sky Animation (known for films like Ice Age and Rio) Searchlight Pictures (famous for films like The Shape of Water and Slumdog Millionaire) 20th Century Fox 21 Television Studios (which produced Homeland and American Crime Story) 50% ownership stake in the Endemol Shine Group (which includes MasterChef and Black Mirror)

Additionally, Disney will acquire several of 21st Century Fox's cable networks, including:

FX Networks FXX FXM (produces shows like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The Americans) Star India (over 60 channels in 8 languages) Fox Deportes (a Spanish-language sports network) National Geographic and its sub-brands (Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo People, and Nat Geo MUNDO)

Disney will also resell the Regional Sports Networks (including YES Network and Big Ten Network) to secure approval from the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust division.

Strategic Move: Hulu Ownership

A key part of the acquisition is Disney's expansion of its stake in Hulu, a major on-demand streaming service. Disney will gain a 60% controlling stake, making it a significant player in the streaming market. This move aligns with Disney's strategy to expand its streaming offerings under the Disney banner, complementing the existing Hulu service.

The Major List of Intellectual Properties

Disney's acquisition also includes a vast array of movie franchises, including:

X-Men/Wolverine/Deadpool Aliens/Predator Avatar Fantastic Four Planet of the Apes Kingsman Die Hard Maze Runner Ice Age Rio Home Alone Alvin the Chipmunks Diary of a Wimpy Kid Night at the Museum

Alongside these movie franchises, Disney also acquires the rights to several classic films such as The Sound of Music, Cleopatra, and Titanic. Furthermore, Fox holds rights to sequels of book adaptations, such as Gone Girl, The Martian, and Murder at the Orient Express.

For TV shows, Disney adds a huge list of properties including:

The Simpsons Futurama Family Guy American Dad Bobs Burgers King of the Hill Modern Family Empire This Is Us Glee American Horror Story American Crime Story Homeland X-Files 24 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Angel It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia MASH Mary Tyler Moore show Genesis MasterChef Big Brother Deal or No Deal

This acquisition significantly strengthens Disney's position in the entertainment industry and opens up new opportunities for distribution, production, and branding across various media platforms.