Will Mickey Mouse Scream Yahoo!?

Todd Harrison  Aug 20, 2008 7:30 am

Will Mickey Mouse Scream Yahoo!?
 
The next generation of digital media is upon us.
 

 
The thought process on both Yahoo trading tries was the same—in the digital media landscape, eyeballs are the new audience. In a few short years, plasma TV’s, computer monitors and phone screens will serve customized content to end users as networks morph into channels in the next-generation digital experience.

Through that lens, Yahoo has the largest television audience in the world with upwards of 500 million viewers. It simply needs to program those pipes with content and monetize its massive captive eyeball base. Either it’ll do it—and it very well could—or someone else will step in to do it for Yahoo.

I view our Minyanville Media model as a wagon wheel—a central hub with “spokes” that extend outwards in several ancillary directions such as professional financial products, animated television shows, an immersive children’s community, advertising, licensing, merchandising, books and so forth.

When our management team meets, we discuss potential wagons to which Minyanville might one day affix itself. None of these situations are imminent—we enjoy the “Switzerland status” that allows us to stay true to the roots with which we have grown—but those discussions allowed us to identify the “wagons” in the marketplace.

There are five: News Corp (NWS), NBC-Universal (GE), Viacom (VIA), Time Warner (TWX) and Disney (DIS).

When I arrived at work this week following recent knee surgery, my first order of business was to buy some April Yahoo calls. I didn’t bet the ranch—it’s a starter position with no discernable catalyst and considerable market risk—but directionally, that’s how I want to be positioned.

Yahoo has tremendous franchise value with global reach and the potential to reshape the digital media landscape. It must reinvent itself from a portal to a platform that is a primary destination for content consumption and customization.

If you put a water pistol to my head and asked me whether Yahoo will be a standalone entity this spring, I would offer that Disney could emerge as the most likely suitor

The House of Mouse buying Yahoo makes strategic sense for both organizations as they prepare for the next phase of the digital age.

One has digital distribution pipes throughout the world while the other has a massive library of content and an evolving medium in animation. I’ve got no edge or insight that this transaction takes place, just instinct and intuition that it’s an intuitive fit.

Walt Disney once said that all our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.

Yahoo shareholders around the world would be wise to wish upon this star.
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Comments (2) See All Comments »
08-20-2008, 9:26 am
I may be late to the party but this partnership would seem to make incredible sense. Very interesting.
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08-20-2008, 11:43 am
There is presidence in this model and that would be AOL buying "who ever those guy were".

Me thinks you're on to something . . . only this time we are working with a mature board of directors.

This is somet
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Todd Harrison is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Minyanville. Prior to his current role, Mr. Harrison was President and head trader at a $400 million dollar New York-based hedge fund. Todd welcomes your comments and/or feedback at todd@minyanville.com.

The information on this website solely reflects the analysis of or opinion about the performance of securities and financial markets by the writers whose articles appear on the site. The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily the views of Minyanville Media, Inc. or members of its management. Nothing contained on the website is intended to constitute a recommendation or advice addressed to an individual investor or category of investors to purchase, sell or hold any security, or to take any action with respect to the prospective movement of the securities markets or to solicit the purchase or sale of any security. Any investment decisions must be made by the reader either individually or in consultation with his or her investment professional. Minyanville writers and staff may trade or hold positions in securities that are discussed in articles appearing on the website. Writers of articles are required to disclose whether they have a position in any stock or fund discussed in an article, but are not permitted to disclose the size or direction of the position. Nothing on this website is intended to solicit business of any kind for a writer's business or fund. Minyanville management and staff as well as contributing writers will not respond to emails or other communications requesting investment advice.

Copyright 2009 Minyanville Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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