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Comcast acquires DreamWorks as theme park giants battle for top IPs
By Tom Anstey
How To Train Your Dragon is among the DreamWorks IPs that would be acquired by Comcast in the US$3bn deal Credit: DreamWorks
With Comcast confirming the US$3.8bn (€3.4bn, £2.6bn) acquisition of DreamWorks, sources close to the deal say the move isn’t about acquiring its famous IPs to produce movies, rather to boost its
theme park businesses and accelerate consumer products.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the takeover of DreamWorks will see the departure of chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, who has been part of the company since its foundation in 1994.
The move by Comcast is similar to that of Disney, which in the past decade has acquired companies including Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm, both of which have been roaring successes for the entertainment giant.
Following the acquisition, the DreamWorks portfolio will be mined for IPs such as Shrek, Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon, which will be used as attractions at its theme parks, opening up a host of new characters for Universal to play with. In addition to acquiring DreamWorks IPs, the move also gives Comcast access to the likes of Casper the Friendly Ghost, Lassie and Where’s Wally after DreamWorks acquired Classic Media for US$155mm (€136.5m, £106.5m) in 2012.
Comcast subsidiary NBCUniversal has more than doubled investment in its parks, promising at least one great new attraction for each Universal theme park every year.
With Comcast confirming the US$3.8bn (€3.4bn, £2.6bn) acquisition of DreamWorks, sources close
to the deal say the move isn’t about acquiring its famous IPs to produce movies, rather to boost its
theme park businesses and accelerate consumer products.
TAW,VAT
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