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CES: Disney’s CEO Bob Iger Puts Digital Efforts “On Steroids”

Authored by Jay Baage on January 9, 2007 - 7:01am.
Disney CEO, Bob Iger, CES 2007Las Vegas - Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, showed that Disney is thinking beyond selling content on iTunes by keynoting at CES in Las Vegas the day before Apple’s MacWorld Expo opens in San Francisco Tuesday. His vision for the next steps in Disney’s digital evolution include: MMOGs (massively multiplayer online games), virtual worlds and a redesigned website including the new online experience DXD.

“It is Disney.com on steroids”, said Iger.

Iger brought out the heavy artillery at CES, a testament to his dedication to digital entertainment across platforms. For example, he brought out stars from the hit TV-series Lost and ESPN Monday Night Football, as well as showed the CES audience sneak-peeks of the upcoming animated Pixar movie Ratatouille and Pirates of the Caribbean 3. He also gave a preview of new purely digital content like the MMOG version of Pirates of the Carribbean at Piratesonline.com.

Watching Iger’s presentation, it is hard not to be impressed by Disney’s range and quality of content. There is no question that Disney has a lot to offer in form of content to fill all the devices that are showcased on the CES floors this week. Disney is a brand that parents and other gatekeepers trust in a new, sometimes scary, digital universe - which is an advantage that Iger now cleverly intends to leverage.

“Disney is a brand like no one else,” said Iger.

On Monday night, Disney introduced XD, a new online kids experience that is interactive, personalized and colorful. The kids are in control and can multitask - watch a video, play a game and chat with a friend - all in one Disney environment.

The new Disney.com that will officially launch later this quarter will offer free content, as well as content available for purchase or rent. The new website that Iger showed looks very promising, for example, users can navigate by favorite Disney character, and it as has that “disney magic” feel to it.

“We plan to build many more virtual worlds around Disney properties,” said Iger. “We are very excited of where technology can take the Walt Disney Company,” he added.

When it comes to the threat of piracy, Iger got a big applause from the CES audience for saying that “the best way to combat piracy is to bring content to market in a well timed and well priced basis”.

On a personal note, I have seen many keynotes, but this one made me feel revitalized about the future of digital entertainment and reinforced my feeling that Disney how finally is “getting it”.

Joakim Baage

Related Links:
CES: Motorola and Yahoo Drive the Hype for Mobile Media in 2007
www.disney.com
tags: Games | Video | CE | Disney | Events | CES | Children | Media | Bob Iger |



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