Byron Allen's $10B 2025 Bid for Disney's ABC, FX & National Geographic TV Assets
Discover Byron Allen's bold $10 billion offer to acquire Disney's ABC network, FX, National Geographic, and local stations, signaling a potential shift in the TV industry landscape.
Bill McColl brings over 25 years of expertise as a senior producer and writer across TV, radio, and digital platforms, leading teams in delivering impactful news coverage during major events.
In a groundbreaking move, media mogul, television producer, and comedian Byron Allen has proposed a $10 billion acquisition of Walt Disney Co.'s (DIS) ABC network, its local TV stations, and cable channels FX and National Geographic.
Highlights
- Byron Allen has submitted a $10 billion offer to purchase key Disney TV assets including ABC, FX, and National Geographic.
- Disney has yet to finalize any decisions regarding the sale of these properties.
- CEO Bob Iger indicated in July 2024 that Disney is open to divesting linear TV assets amid the rise of streaming platforms.
According to Bloomberg, Allen's bid values the assets at eight times their earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) over the past year, estimating a $1.25 billion EBITDA. This valuation could fluctuate based on final financials.
Allen is the founder and CEO of Entertainment Studios, also known as Allen Media Group, which operates 36 TV stations affiliated with ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox, along with 12 HD networks including The Weather Channel.
Additionally, Disney is reportedly in discussions with Nexstar Media Group regarding a potential sale of ABC.
This development follows Disney CEO Bob Iger's recent statement about considering the sale of linear television assets as streaming services increasingly dominate viewer preferences.
Despite the speculation, Disney released a statement on Thursday affirming that no decisions have been made about divesting ABC or any other properties, calling rumors unfounded.
Disney's stock experienced a modest increase of approximately 1% in early trading on Friday, though shares remain down for the year 2024.
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