TheBob IgervsNelson Peltz(who?)
war is over now and Iger has won.
But some filmmakers and ticket buyers might wonder: Did any of it matter?
(L-R) Bob Iger and Nelson PeltzGetty Images
Would a modest change on theDisneyboard of directors have had any impact on the future of entertainment?
(Peltz himself runs a hedge fund called Trian Partners and has no background in entertainment.)
Its share price has jumped some 35% since the start of the year.
For every adversary, like Marvels Ike Perlmutter, theres been an ally, like George Lucas.
In corporate wars fought by previous generations, Hollywoods ego-driven adversaries battled over issues directly affecting the entertainment landscape.
He brought in a TV executive named Jim Aubrey to spin up the overall company.
The studio never recovered, nor did Aubrey.
He hadnt, and Redstone never found a worthy successor to Freston.
With all their idiosyncrasies, the studio chiefs of early Hollywood remained fixated on their prime product movies.
Perhaps more important, it also prompted Iger to re-focus on Disneys prime product: entertainment.
Old Walt would likely have been pleased about that.
