From over-the-air stations in markets ranging from Fresno to Houston and to one of the nation’s “Big Four” networks, the future of The Walt Disney Company‘s television assets became a top gossip topic in September 2023. Why? Disney CEO Bob Iger suggested the company was “open to considering a variety of strategic options” for its linear businesses.
It is now clear that Iger is no longer actively seeking a buyer for its traditional TV properties.
Those comments came in an interview on CNBC, conducted June 10. In the conversation, Iger signaled that any sale of ABC Owned Stations or the company’s cable television networks was off the table. “We like the fact that we’re holding on to our linear assets,” Iger said during the interview.
The comments come as Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) changed its mind about a sale of its Mega TV operation, instead divesting in Puerto Rico while retaining its mainland U.S. television operations.
And, Iger’s comments follow an announcement made Monday from Warner Bros. Discovery that it would separate its linear media channels from its streaming business, following a path taken by NBCUniversal with its creation of forthcoming cable TV network owner Versant.
For stations such as KTRK-13 in Houston, WABC-7 in New York and KFSN-30 in Fresno, among others in the ABC Owned Stations family, it formally puts to an end any discussion that the group of over-the-air stations would become the property of a company such as Nexstar Media Group. Allen Media Group in September 2023 put in a bid; AMG is now selling all but one of its TV stations.
Moving forward into the second half of 2025, Disney will use its linear access as it assumes full ownership of the Hulu OTT platform, buying Comcast’s stake in the growing digital platform. Speaking on CNBC, Iger said, “The combination of both is a winning combination for us. It’s one of the things that has allowed us to turn the streaming operation around and will allow us to grow margins on the streaming side.”
— RBR+TVBR, in New York
