<p>The Flywheel is strong with this one. We dive deep into the origins of one of the boldest business strategy decisions of our time: Disney CEO Bob Iger’s attempt to buck the Innovator’s Dilemma - and forego billions of dollars in cashflow from Netflix and pay TV providers - in order to establish a direct distribution relationship with its customers for the first time in the company’s history. Is this the force awakening within the house that Walt built, or a phantom menace that will drag Disney to the dark side of unprofitability? Tune in to find out!</p><p></p><p><strong>Sponsors:</strong></p><ul><li>Legora: <a href="https://bit.ly/acquiredlegora">https://bit.ly/acquiredlegora</a></li><li>Vanta: <a href="https://bit.ly/acquiredvanta">https://bit.ly/acquiredvanta</a></li><li>ServiceNow: <a href="https://bit.ly/acquiredservicenow26">https://bit.ly/acquiredservicenow26</a></li><li>Statsig: <a href="https://bit.ly/acquiredstatsig26">https://bit.ly/acquiredstatsig26</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>More Acquired!</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.acquired.fm/email">Get email updates</a> with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodes</li><li><a href="http://acquired.fm/slack">Join the Slack</a></li><li><a href="https://pod.link/acquiredlp">Subscribe to ACQ2</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acquired.fm/store">Merch Store</a>!</li></ul><p><br>© Copyright 2015-2026 ACQ, LLC</p><br><p>Links:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2018-Annual-Report.pdf"> https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2018-Annual-Report.pdf</a></li><li><a href="https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/wp-content/uploads/q4-fy17-earnings-transcript.pdf"> https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/wp-content/uploads/q4-fy17-earnings-transcript.pdf</a></li><li><a href="https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/q4-fy19-earnings.pdf"> https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/q4-fy19-earnings.pdf</a></li><li>The Disney flywheel: <a href="https://kottke.org/15/06/walt-disneys-corporate-strategy-chart"> https://kottke.org/15/06/walt-disneys-corporate-strategy-chart</a> </li><li><br></li></ul><p>Sources: </p><ul><li>The Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company-ebook/dp/B07PF6XTD8"> https://www.amazon.com/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company-ebook/dp/B07PF6XTD8</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/22/style/disney-bob-iger-book.html"> https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/22/style/disney-bob-iger-book.html</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Iger">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Iger</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/bob-iger-bets-company-hollywood-s-future-streaming-1247663"> https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/bob-iger-bets-company-hollywood-s-future-streaming-1247663</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-kevin-mayer-deliver-the-future-of-disney-11573272027"> https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-kevin-mayer-deliver-the-future-of-disney-11573272027</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-11-07/inside-disney-bob-iger-on-star-wars-pixar-and-more"> https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-11-07/inside-disney-bob-iger-on-star-wars-pixar-and-more</a> </li><li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bob-iger-the-ride-of-a-lifetime/id1264843400?i=1000451721143"> https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bob-iger-the-ride-of-a-lifetime/id1264843400?i=1000451721143</a> </li></ul><p>Carveouts: </p><ul><li>David: The Ride of a Lifetime</li><li>Ben: The Imagineering Story on Disney+: <a href="https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the-imagineering-story/6ryoXv1e1rWW"> https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the-imagineering-story/6ryoXv1e1rWW</a></li></ul>