THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 5, 1995 TAG: 9508040027
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
The merger of Disney and Capital Cities/ABC got the kind of headlines usually reserved for the ends of World Wars. Maybe this business deal is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Or, in deference to Mickey, sliced cheese. But it looks a lot like a rerun.
When Time and Warner got together it was supposed to signal a new era in mega-media companies, but the results have been underwhelming. Viacom and Paramount, News Corp. and Fox, same heavy breathing, same mixed results.
In fact, Disney and ABC are great companies run by smart fellows, and putting them together will enrich the folks at the top. But the combination may not provide equally enriching entertainment. Not so many years ago, Disney was a mismanaged shadow of its former self and ABC was the laughingstock network. Maybe together they will progress from pinnacle to higher pinnacle, but don't count on it.
Theme parks are a nice cash-cow business, but Euro Disney offers a reminder that there are no sure things. Broadcast stations are only as good as their last rating period. They face competitive delivery systems and rely on content to attract viewers and advertisers.
Both Disney and ABC have been on a roll so far as content is concerned, but so were CBS, NBC, Universal and MGM once. Time and chance happeneth to them all. Producing entertainment or information isn't like cranking out widgets from an assembly line. Each new product, no matter how formulaic you try to make it, is a shot in the dark, an attempt to connect with audiences. Some hit the mark. Some miss badly.
Those inclined to think they can beat the odds forever would be well-advised to remember Goldman's Law. Successful screenwriter William Goldman summed up Hollywood in this axiom: ``Nobody knows anything.'' So, the Mouse has gobbled up ABC. Good luck to him. The world can use more shows like ``The Little Mermaid'' and ``Home Improvement,'' but these are also the folks responsible for ``Lois and Clark'' and ``The Love Bug.'' Bottom line: This is not an earth shattering event. It's just show biz. Let the ticket buyer beware. by CNB