Aus für Pixar-Disney Zusammenarbeit (Update)

Thestreet.com berichtet:

"Pixar, the animated movie studio led by top Apple exec Steve Jobs, said Thursday it ended talks over extending its collaboration with Burbank, Calif.-based Disney. Pixar said it will instead retain full ownership of movies made after 2005.[...]
"After 10 months of trying to strike a deal with Disney, we're moving on," Jobs said. "We've had a great run together -- one of the most successful in Hollywood history -- and it's a shame that Disney won't be participating in Pixar's future successes."

Mehr auch von Reuters:
"Analysts and investors said Pixar could be using its announcement as a negotiating tactic and observers did not rule out a resumption of talks."

Update:
CNN Money spekuliert zaghaft über einen Pixaraufkauf durch Apple und verwirft den Gedanken sofort wieder:

"Still, as fun as it is to speculate about an Apple and Pixar merger, the odds of it actually happening are fairly remote.
In an age when investors take corporate governance issues seriously, an Apple takeover of Pixar could be viewed as just a tad self-serving. Steve Jobs owns approximately 55 percent of Pixar's shares, according to the company's latest proxy statement, so he'd be basically paying himself if there's a big premium in a deal.
"It might make sense for Jobs to run one company under the same roof, but it's probably easier to keep them separate," said Barry Ritholtz, market strategist with Maxim Group, a New York-based asset management firm."

Zugleich ist Pixar natürlich höchst umworben:

"Every other studio will be falling all over themselves to cut a deal with Pixar," said John Tinker, research analyst with Blaylock & Partners.
Industry executives and analysts said Warner Bros., a division of Time Warner Inc., has the best shot at cinching the film distribution deal, given its vast experience with family-oriented fare from its "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and the "Harry Potter" series.News Corp.'s Fox studio, which was behind the animated hit "Ice Age," is considered a strong contender.
"They are probably the two most likely candidates," said independent analyst Christopher Dixon."

Die NYT liefert erneut Gerüchtematerial für die 'Steve leitet Disney' Geschichte, die bereits seit Anfang Dezember 2003 kursiert:

"Several theories emerged rapidly about why Mr. Jobs, who did not return three phone calls seeking comment, sought to terminate the partnership now. Perhaps, said one of the people involved, Mr. Jobs "made the announcement thinking Disney would come back on its knees."
Wall Street analysts are set to meet with Disney executives in Florida in two weeks, when Mr. Eisner will face tough questions about Disney's future in animation. Its own films have not had nearly the success of those produced by Pixar and Disney has effectively closed its Florida film animation operations.
One film executive suggested that Mr. Jobs could now be considered a candidate to run Disney if indeed Mr. Eisner ever left."