It's to be understood that there will be a varying amount opinions concerning the recent Fox-Disney deal, with some organizations being willing to vocalize their discontent more than others.
Earlier today, the Writers Guild of America West released a scathing attack on the unprecendented merging of both companies by issuing the following statement:
“In the relentless drive to eliminate competition, big business has an insatiable appetite for consolidation. Disney and Fox have spent decades profiting from the oligopolistic control that the six major media conglomerates have exercised over the entertainment industry, often at the expense of the creators who power their television and film operations. Now, this proposed merger of direct competitors will make matters even worse by substantially increasing the market power of a combined Disney-Fox corporation. The antitrust concerns raised by this deal are obvious and significant. The Writers Guild of America West strongly opposes this merger and will work to ensure our nation’s antitrust laws are enforced.”
With the WGA West repping over 10,000 writers, it should come as no surprise that select members of the group are vehemently opposed to the deal. I think the statement raises some genuine concerns that will need clarification before the dust can settle on this momentous event. As I'd stated in a separate article, I have mixed emotions about the merger. On one hand, I want to see Disney take a chance on some of the lesser-known properties they've recently acquired. However, the idea of them owning so much of the industry strikes me as a frightening notion. For the moment, I'll remain optimistic, and hope that we see some truly inspired material come from the deal.
What are your thoughts on the merger? Is there a particular Fox property you'd like to see Disney get a whack at? Let us know in the comments section below.