[MouseMan]

Walt Disney Co. President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Iger on Thursday said he would welcome a shot to succeed Michael Eisner as chief executive, but has not actively campaigned for the job.

Iger, the No. 2 executive, spoke as Disney unveiled a Mickey Mouse-style personal computer for kids, featuring a monitor with ears and a program to block adult material.

Iger is considered a top candidate for the post, analysts said. Eisner's contract ends in 2006, and he has been under pressure from some shareholders to resign, although recent strong results have quelled much of the dissent.

"Obviously if I was offered the job, it's a job I would love to have," Iger told Reuters in an interview, reiterating earlier sentiments. But he added, "I'm not suggesting that I have a campaign trail of any kind."



"Ultimately these are decisions to be made by the board of directors," he said. "They should be based on one thing, and one thing only, and it's the performance in the current job I have. I'm concentrating on the job I have in hand."


Eisner was stripped of the job of chairman following a March 3 annual shareholder meeting. But persistent calls for his ouster as chief executive eased after Disney posted a 71 percent rise in first-quarter profits from strong theme park ticket sales and results at its ESPN cable sports television network.


Analysts said Iger's ascension is far from assured. Iger, who oversees the ABC television network, has been under fire for the network's ratings, which lag those of rivals CBS and NBC.


Last year the company set a goal for ABC to return to profitability in fiscal 2005, although Iger and others have said the network may not reach the goal if advertising remains weak or ABC's fall schedule does not perform as well as hoped.


Iger was in New York, where Disney unveiled its entry into the cutthroat personal computer market -- a mouse-like computer for preteens, an extension of the company's successful launch of themed televisions and DVDs.


The "Disney Dream Desk PC," designed to fit in small spaces, includes an Intel Celeron D processor, Microsoft XP operating system and e-mail, as well as a ContentWatch program to prevent young Web surfers from viewing adult material.


Disney has also included its own software that lets kids edit videos, pictures and music.


"It's a big market, and there isn't a product out there built specifically for kids," Iger said.


The Dream Desk will cost $599. A separate 14-inch LCD display with built-in Mickey Mouse ear speakers will cost an additional $299. The PC will be sold at CompUSA stores and Disney's online store.
========================================

(Additional reporting by Peter Henderson in Los Angeles)
NEW YORK, Aug 5 (Reuters) -

08/05/2004 19:56
RTR

Attached Images

 

__________________

Lanyards are hidden hidden. Turn them on in your options

~°o°~ MouseMan ~°o°~ TD Admin ~°o°~

Become a TalkDisney Premium member

[MouseMan]

It was just a matter of time before stories on Iger taking Eisner's place got officially out. I'm glad. If it were to happen, it might help the company tremendously.

[MouseMan]

FOX's Your World sub host Varney obsessed with 'Gay Days'

In an exchange with Disney president Robert Iger on the August 5 edition of FOX News Channel's Your World w/ Neil Cavuto, substitute host Stuart Varney managed to transform a conversation about Disney's new children's Dream Desk computer into a derisive attack on "Gay Days," an annual gathering at Disney World organized by private groups.

"You got any 'Gay Days' on the Mickey computer?" Varney asked Iger, adding, "You don't protect the kids from 'Gay Days' at the theme parks, do you?" Varney's criticism echoed attacks from right-wing groups on what they describe as Disney's "welcoming" of "Gay Days" participants, despite the fact that Disney plays no role in organizing or sponsoring the event.

From the August 5 edition of Your World w/ Neil Cavuto:

IGER: It's easy to set up, easy to use, compact, it doesn't take much room, and most importantly it has what's called ContentWatch built in.

VARNEY: Well, you know, I -- exactly. I mean, in June you have "Gay Days" at your theme parks. You got any 'Gay Days' on the Mickey computer?

IGER: Well, this has built into it all kinds of protective devices that protects the kid, or the child from internet sites that a parent wouldn't deem appropriate. Also, the fact --

VARNEY: Well, you don't protect the kids from "Gay Days" at the theme parks, do you? Why do you have to protect them in the computer?

IGER: No, we don't sponsor -- we don't sponsor "Gay Days." You know, we are a company that lets anyone who is willing to pay through our gates.

Varney's accusation that Iger and Disney "don't protect the kids from 'Gay Days' at the theme parks" is consistent with right-wing attacks that have targeted "Gay and Lesbian Day at Walt Disney World" since it began in 1991. The American Family Association, a group that "exists to motivate and equip citizens to change the culture to reflect Biblical truth and traditional family values," has called for a boycott (pdf) of Disney for "exploit[ing] their gay connection by welcoming 'Gay and Lesbian Day at the Magical Kingdom.'" After Orlando city officials voted to fly rainbow flags from city lampposts during the 1998 event, religious broadcaster and Christian Coalition of America founder Pat Robertson issued the city a warning: "I don't think I'd be waving those flags in God's face if I were you. ... [A] condition like this will bring about the destruction of your nation. It'll bring about terrorist bombs, it'll bring earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly a meteor."

Varney's effort to link the "Gay Days" event to Disney's release of a computer designed for children, however, is a new twist on the attacks.

"The Official Website of Gay and Lesbian Day at Walt Disney World," explains Disney's relationship with the event:

Does Disney sponsor Gay Day? No. Disney is an "innocent victim" of circumstance. They managed to create an excellent vacation resort that appeals to almost everybody in the world, and gay and lesbian folks are no different. ... Disney actually goes out of their way not to do things that are perceived as catering towards Gay Day.

— J.C.

Posted to the web on Friday August 6, 2004 at 6:08 PM EST

MediaMatters

[Mickey Crazy]

If certain members of society feel there is a need for the "Disney police" to decide who can enter the parks or not based on who they believe are the proper people, then I feel they need to look at their own souls, and not at others.
Disney is a magic place for all to enjoy at all times !
Who has been injured by these gay days?
You may not agree with the lifestyle , but its not going to go away , so learn to deal with it.
Lets keep the Disney Magic in place.