Monday, October 05, 2009

Dick's Successor

So the boss of Diz Channel ascends to Mr. Cook's catbird seat.

... [Disney Channels Worldwide chief Rich] Ross earned his promotion by proving to be a master brand builder at the Disney Channel and its myriad worldwide offshoots. His appointment signals the Mouse House plans to focus heavily, though not exclusively, on franchises that not only drive B.O. but can also generate biz for other divisions like TV, licensing and merchandising, homevid and online ...

Ross will oversee all production, distribution and marketing for the company's live-action and animated feature labels, including Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone, Miramax and Disney/Pixar. He'll also oversee its music group and theatrical productions ...

... Ross is now the second high-ranking Disney exec to come from the Disney Channel fold, as his boss Anne Sweeney was elevated from Disney Channel prexy in 2004 to head all of Disney-ABC's TV operations, other than ESPN. Ross has been closely aligned with Sweeney for much of his career, having worked with her at Nickelodeon and FX in the 1980s and '90s before they both moved to the Mouse in 1996 ...

I don't know Mr. Ross, but he's had fine success turning some of Disney's t.v. units away from animation to the glories of Miley Cyrus and similar teenaged girls. (Thanks, Rich!)

No doubt one of his upcoming assignments will be to assist John Lasseter getting the Walt Disney Animation Studio back into orbit. With luck, The Princess and the Frog will be a barn burner, and Rapunzel will tear through some records during its release window.

The only constant in the universe (and movie business) is change, and I wish for Rich Ross change that will make all things Disney that much better.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Teah! The man behind Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff and other great Disney shows will now be in charge of everything Disney! Great choice Disney! The future looks bright for great things to come!!

Sammy's Got Shades said...

" With luck, The Princess and the Frog will be a barn burner, and Rapunzel will tear through some records during its release window."

From your lips to God's ears Steve!

Anonymous said...

Rich Ross has no more to do with the success of individual shows than a president has to do with the success of any government or economic program. HE GOT LUCKY, PEOPLE, AND HE RODE THE WAVE.

Stop treating CEO's like rock stars and perhaps they might act more like human beings - ya think? Jeezus.

Anonymous said...

" With luck, The Princess and the Frog will be a barn burner, and Rapunzel will tear through some records during its release window."

I agree. I'm really pulling for Disney!! And I hope it means more stability for the company so they can finally stop the per-production hire strategy, which is EVIL

Anonymous said...

What makes Ross qualified to run a movie studio, may I ask? His, um, tastes appeal to tweeny girls, but what else can he bring to the table? Sheesh, and people think princesses rule the House Of Mouse now...!

Anonymous said...

This is a guy with no apparent vision other than what the market research tells him. This is a guy who will always be chasing a popular "trend," making demographic decisions rather than smart, visionary ones.

From this choice, it is apparent Disney will be making strictly safe, overly-familiar films, and will ultimately see its revenues, its appeal, and its audience shrink.

Prove me wrong, Rich!

Anonymous said...

Then again, between 'Bedtime Stories' and 'Race to Witch Mountain', maybe they can't do worse.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more.

r said...

When people describe "Hannah Montana" and Miley Cyrus as great shows, well...

r

Steve Hulett said...

Sorry, but I had to remove the Chinese above.

We just can't allow that kind of filthy language on an ANIMATION blog.

Anonymous said...

"From this choice, it is apparent Disney will be making strictly safe, overly-familiar films, and will ultimately see its revenues, its appeal, and its audience shrink."

Sorry. Won't happen for quite some time:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-moviebiz6-2009oct06,0,702751.story?track=rss

Floyd Norman said...

True. This won't happen for a while.

The choice of Ross was a no brainer. I saw that one coming a mile away.

All this is consistent with the "new Disney," whatever that is.

Site Meter