DISNEY - IGER NO PLANS TO REVIVE TALKS WITH SAG

IGER NO PLANS TO REVIVE TALKS WITH SAG

Disney chief Robert Iger, who is often credited with having found common ground between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and thereby ending the writers' strike, has suggested that a similar accord with the Screen Actors Guild is unlikely to come about. Speaking during a conference call to discuss Disney's latest quarterly results, Iger said that producers are unlikely to "offer to SAG terms that are different than what the other guilds agreed to." Iger insisted that the standoff is not likely to have "a damaging impact" on Disney's film business and that the company is moving forward with its TV and movie productions. Of greater concern, he suggested, was the deteriorating economy. However, he insisted, "We hold a strong hand in a very tough game." Disney's net income for its third quarter rose 9 percent from a year ago to $1.3 billion on revenue of $9.2 billion, beating analysts' estimates. Although results for its film division were down significantly from a year ago when Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End was breaking box-office records, Iger says that the division will likely show strength in the next quarter when the effects of WALL-E are felt.

31/07/2008