Disney buys Pixar

Disney has bought Pixar in a deal priced at over £4 billion.

The move brings Pixar back into the Disney fold, after failing to renew a distribution contract together - an act that helped accelerate the removal of Michael Eisner as Disney chairman.

The move puts Pixar’s major shareholder - Steve Jobs - on the Disney board of directors, and tasks Pixar producer John Lasseter with overseeing creative production at Disney.

While it would be too easy to pigeonhole the news as simply one about companies or share pricing, the most important aspect of the deal remains under-commented.

Robert Igor, who replaced Eisner as chairman, is known to be keen to use technology to further Disney. He also came to the board via the acquisition of ABC TV by Disney in 1996.

What the deal creates is a media company with extensive assets already in media production, distribution and media technology - but adds to it a greater drive for innovation, creativity, and a technology-focused mindset.

With the advent of IPTV and free movie downloads already as developing business models, you can expect the newly invigorated Disney to prepare for both of these eagerly as the markets open up.