(Rumor) New Potter Attraction to Replace Fear Factor Live?

[shiekra38]

Comcast buying Discovery/Warner is something I just don’t see as a viable option, especially mergers are going to be much more highly scrutinized going forward to prevent monopolies (at least in the near term) from what I’ve heard. Disney got lucky and simply had good timing on the Fox merger, as that administration was much more lenient on regulations.

Yes, Comcast would be frighteningly large at that point

But it would be thematically consistent

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Comcast buying Discovery/Warner is something I just don’t see as a viable option, especially mergers are going to be much more highly scrutinized going forward to prevent monopolies (at least in the near term) from what I’ve heard. Disney got lucky and simply had good timing on the Fox merger, as that administration was much more lenient on regulations.

Which is why I think if they even try anything on WB/Disc, it'll be a minority stake and nothing more. It'll still give them a better handle on things, and might even give potential for the future of the theme parks. But I doubt it'll mean much in the long haul for film/TV.

Is it odd that I'm kind of hoping they make a full scale dining option for Universal Florida? London makes so much sense for a high end option.

Small bit: but I actually want to talk about this more. I sincerely hope they consider using the water portion of the lagoon next to MIB and FFL for it. They have the space to do so, and a water based eatery has been done for USF. It'd also fit in perfectly with FFL, and might even allow them to move restrooms into it as part of the venue. Allows them to bulldoze Amity Restrooms finally and in turn, completes London to become something as detailed as Diagon proper.

That's my thoughts though, and likely means diddily squat in the long haul.

 

[Nick]

Which is why I think if they even try anything on WB/Disc, it'll be a minority stake and nothing more. It'll still give them a better handle on things, and might even give potential for the future of the theme parks. But I doubt it'll mean much in the long haul for film/TV.



Small bit: but I actually want to talk about this more. I sincerely hope they consider using the water portion of the lagoon next to MIB and FFL for it. They have the space to do so, and a water based eatery has been done for USF. It'd also fit in perfectly with FFL, and might even allow them to move restrooms into it as part of the venue. Allows them to bulldoze Amity Restrooms finally and in turn, completes London to become something as detailed as Diagon proper.

That's my thoughts though, and likely means diddily squat in the long haul.

I’ll be surprised if the Amity/London restrooms finally get bulldozed. Universal absolutely does NOT like to bulldoze (or build new for that matter) restrooms. The two biggest additions to UOR since 2010 are Hogsmeade and Diagon. In both cases, the old restrooms have been repurposed and the only new restrooms are the one actually in Diagon. Every other guest restroom in USF has been in the park pretty much since 1990 (the MIB restrooms are the only other new ones since 1990 I can think of) and most guest restrooms have been in IOA since 1999 (if not all)

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

or have a minority share of WB/Discovery once things fall into place..

Is it odd that I'm kind of hoping they make a full scale dining option for Universal Florida? London makes so much sense for a high end option.

Couldn’t agree more! USF needs another sit down option anyways. Also, wasn’t there a full service restaurant originally designed for Paris? Maybe they decide to put a full Potter restaurant here instead, although the 2 probably aren’t related. Lots they can do here past the ride itself.

 

[SkiBum]

I’ll be surprised if the Amity/London restrooms finally get bulldozed. Universal absolutely does NOT like to bulldoze (or build new for that matter) restrooms. The two biggest additions to UOR since 2010 are Hogsmeade and Diagon. In both cases, the old restrooms have been repurposed and the only new restrooms are the one actually in Diagon. Every other guest restroom in USF has been in the park pretty much since 1990 (the MIB restrooms are the only other new ones since 1990 I can think of) and most guest restrooms have been there since 1999 (if not all)

Not to turn this into a restroom discussion (those go down the tubes usually) but were the restrooms by Kimmel new or refurbished?

 

[Brian G.]

Not to turn this into a restroom discussion (those go down the tubes usually) but were the restrooms by Kimmel new or refurbished?

Fallon?

Refurb

 

[Parkscope Joe]

In terms of time frame remember they need to strike HNF, remove important infrastructure (cables, speaker, lighting, rigs, etc), remove anything they want to preserve, disassemble backstage, and secure the area before demo can begin. I don’t have a time frame but if they’re serious about this being a 2023 addition and not 2024 they’d start before Christmas.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

Comcast might just buy Warner by then, even if it's a hostile takeover. . Probably would be a cheaper avenue.....Also, there may be renewable options on the rights contract that we're not privy to.

Has this really been proposed? I dont doubt it from a financial perspective but I feel like the Herfindahl-Hirschman score would be prohibitively high.

 

[Brian G.]

Has this really been proposed? I dont doubt it from a financial perspective but I feel like the Herfindahl-Hirschman score would be prohibitively high.

I had heard that AT&T was more interested in the tech side of things than media assets when they merged with WB. So it's possible if Comcast tried, something could be worked out for something.

 

[Nick]

I had heard that AT&T was more interested in the tech side of things than media assets when they merged with WB. So it's possible if Comcast tried, something could be worked out for something.

Yeah, if they tried, Comcast would only want the WB library and maybe a few other things I assume. The questions then goes to, in the theoretical situation that this were to happen, and say they buy out the DC theme park rights (or just let them expire)... can they have both DC and Marvel in their parks, or would that violate the Marvel contract? My interpretation is as long as they kept DC away from IOA, they'd be fine, right? Like if they had MSHI at IOA and Gotham City at Epic Universe, there'd be no contractual issues I would think.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Yeah, if they tried, Comcast would only want the WB library and maybe a few other things I assume. The questions then goes to, in the theoretical situation that this were to happen, and say they buy out the DC theme park rights (or just let them expire)... can they have both DC and Marvel in their parks, or would that violate the Marvel contract? My interpretation is as long as they kept DC away from IOA, they'd be fine, right? Like if they had MSHI at IOA and Gotham City at Epic Universe, there'd be no contractual issues I would think.

That would be just huge for the future of their business if they had DC available to them. Just wild how much potential there is here.

 

[Mad Dog]

Has this really been proposed? I dont doubt it from a financial perspective but I feel like the Herfindahl-Hirschman score would be prohibitively high.

Just my own personal speculation, business sense wise. I haven't seen any business rumors about it.

 

[Nick]

Just my own personal speculation, business sense wise. I haven't seen any business rumors about it.

I don't see it happening simply because I don't think a deal would pass regulatory approval right now as I mentioned earlier. Plus, if Comcast really wants to do it, might as well wait until it's Discovery/Warner, so then if they can take over the media aspects, they'll get more than they will now.

 

[Mad Dog]

I don't see it happening simply because I don't think a deal would pass regulatory approval right now as I mentioned earlier. Plus, if Comcast really wants to do it, might as well wait until it's Discovery/Warner, so then if they can take over the media aspects, they'll get more than they will now.

Possibly, though Comcast would probably have more difficulty doing a cable/internet system acquisition than a film studio, since even with Warner they'd be far from
some other media empires' dominance. You can't be a monopoly if you're not the top player even with an acquisition. But also, this isn't something that has to happen in
the next couple of years It could happen further in the future, and who knows what the regulatory power/stance will be then.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

I had heard that AT&T was more interested in the tech side of things than media assets when they merged with WB. So it's possible if Comcast tried, something could be worked out for something.

I could be mistaken but I think your HHI score is specific to your industry. So even just having a piece of the overall pie could be in violation if the assets you acquire make you a too-dominant player in that space.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Maybe it's taking a while so they can attempt to exorcise Fear Factor Live so the Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show can ascend to the heavens in peace.

 

[Alicia]

Everyone speculating about Comcast swallowing up WB… keep in mind the contract is with WB AND JKR. She has her own separate company, so, they still wouldn’t have full control.

 

[Mad Dog]

Everyone speculating about Comcast swallowing up WB… keep in mind the contract is with WB AND JKR. She has her own separate company, so, they still wouldn’t have full control.

A positive to that is it takes away Warner's carte blanche to refuse to negotiate rights. If JKR is happy with what Universal is doing with Potter, than Warner can't just unilaterally shut
Universal's Potter stuff down and give the rights to some other entity....Kind of like a three headed dragon in effect.

 

[JoeCamel]

A positive to that is it takes away Warner's carte blanche to refuse to negotiate rights. If JKR is happy with what Universal is doing with Potter, than Warner can't just unilaterally shut
Universal's Potter stuff down and give the rights to some other entity....Kind of like a three headed dragon in effect.

I think the Fluffy partnership has worked very well and all parties are more than happy with how it turned out.

 

[Mad Dog]

I think the Fluffy partnership has worked very well and all parties are more than happy with how it turned out.

Yes, everyone is making 'lots of money'. Ka Ching, Ka Ching...