Comcast purchases Dreamworks for 3.5B

[Rodney]

I recently saw the rumor but it apparently is a done deal...

 

http://deadline.com/2016/04/jeffrey-katzenberg-reaction-dreamworks-animation-sale-comcast-1201746411/

 

 

[robcat2075]

That deal will get it just about back up to its IPO price and the power players who have held on all these years will finally get their money back, but without interest.

 

 

...We wanted to build place that created laughter and inspired children to dream bigger than ever before. Our imprint on the hearts of children everywhere...

 

 

Acknowledging that it's just children's entertainment.

[Rodney]

Acknowledging that it's just children's entertainment.

 

This seems to be more of an acknowledgement that their efforts to move into more mature markets hasn't worked so their focus is now on children's entertainment. This relates to why Dreamworks targeted the purchase Awesomeness TV and the young teenager and preteen market it represents. This places them more into the market than Disney as Disney slants toward a slightly more mature market these days (although trying to be all-ages). This is even more true with the recent addition of Marvel and Star Wars franchises. Dreamworks was struggling to compete in this arena.

 

Most of Dreamworks efforts to hit that same all-ages market fell very short of being profitable (especially in terms of short term profits) and its those short term profits they seek to be able to build their empire. This is underscored by other players getting into the game and making that same mature field online difficult as well. I think we'll see the occasional foray into the more mature arena (ala Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and the Dragons franchises) but although enjoyed by the masses those are very franchises that are increasingly showing their age. As such even the Netflix reincarnations/continuations of those stories skews toward a slightly younger audience.

 

This use of specifically targeted words might be included more in answer to and to please shareholders (or the suitors that were seeking to purchase Dreamworks) than to suggest actual content produced by Dreamworks but from the time of 'Home' onward decisions being made do appear to target young children and pre-teen audiences consistently. These decisions (such as choosing the age of a protagonist in a film) are made very intentionally so they are certainly targeting that younger age and the parents whose purchasing power pays their way.