I haven't found anyplace doing live commentary online right now while the live webcast is going on about the Disney shareholder meeting.

Anybody know of a chat area doing this now?

I've started a topic with a "chat" about it (replying to messages) on the Disney Echo at http://DisneyEcho.emuck.com for those who wish to participate with their own comments while the live webcast is going on now.

-Rich Koster

Anybody else, if you're listening to the live webcast of the Disney Annual Shareholders' Meeting, getting long periods of musical interruptions while the video presentations are going on? Michael Eisner as CEO will lead into a "Here's how this or that part of the Disney Company is doing..." with obviously some sort of slide or video presentation, then suddenly music pops up and an announcer (pre-recorded) says "You're listening to a live presentation of the Disney Shareholders' Meeting." (Something like that.) Then you catch Eisner making further comments and moving on. It sounds as if Disney doesn't want these presentations, even the audio of them, going outside the meeting venue.

Last year, at the now famous 2004 Disney Shareholder's Meeting, you could listen to live audio of the presentations as well as the live speakers present.

Rich and I are shareholders. Are we missing something we should be hearing, some password to be able to listen to all of the meeting, presentations and all? Or is anyone else getting these musical interruptions as well?

If others are hearing the interruptions, it sounds like Disney wants this meeting to be very tightly controlled so even the presentations cannot be heard or possibly misconstrued 'til the meeting is officially adjourned.

But as it's webcasting audio-only now it's quite annoying to hear these abrupt musical interlude interruptions. Some of the music chosen is highly ironic, such as "Be our guest, be our guest, put our service to the test..." yet the listener is deliberately prevented from truly being an audio-webcast full guest at this gathering of Disney shareholders.

It sure is, Carol. At least there's a discussion about it all going on at the Disney Echo now.

I am listening, and yes, they are blocking out the audio during the pre-recorded video presentations. Interesting to note that they did not do this during the Investor's Conference last week.... It might be a legal issue with copyrights and union use of TV commericals, etc...

But I was happy to hear George Mitchell's speech, where he stressed the Independence of the Board, and the need to look outside the company for the replacement CEO...

Also during Rasullo's speech there was online slides to see -- and are still there. Not for this presentation, though...

Arggggh!!!!

The Video sound has been fixed.. maybe somebody made a goof in the webcast center...

The Video sound has been fixed.. maybe somebody made a goof in the webcast center...

The goof seems to be that someone allowed a couple of the presentations to be heard online.

They are consistantly cutting in again now...

I beleive Disney is permitting selected presentations' audio to go out. Notice some of the movie promotion audio is going out, but not all. Either that or it was an error, or as Darkbeer suggests a legal issue with copyrights or unions.

But I also am paranoid enough to think, rationally or not, that perhaps there is "controlling" going on beyond just legal and copyright issues.

Anyone else annoyed with the webcast can vent by joining the following website, get a bumper sticker, and monitor Disney news ongoing. Sign up for free E-mail news updates from this website, too. Here's the URL:

http://www.savedisney.com

About all Roy Disney and Stanley Gold can do in 2005 is keep speaking out as Disney shareholder watchdogs, as they've been doing the past year and a half. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

It's quite difficult to endure the frequent abrupt interruptions. Although I notice the irony of some of the Disney music and music lyrics chosen for the interruptions, such as "Be our guest, be our guest, put our service to the test..." and so forth. ;) These interruptions disturb the continuity of trying to learn the information Disney is presenting.

Remember last year during shareholder questions and answers this lady got up to the microphone, she sounded (in the audio-only webcast) like she was some kind of nut. It was a lady who makes a habit of going to lots and lots of shareholder meetings, not just Disney's. CNBC interviewed her last year, too. Anyone remember her from last year, and if so do you think she's there this year?

Guess who is talking right now ;)

The minute I heard her voice, I started to crack up :fez:

Love her comment about Bob Iger not deserving the CEO job...

That Evelyn lady. I liked her comment about how she doesn't want a "Carly Fiorina" type person as CEO. LOL

I Love Evelyn......:fez: :cool: :~D

According to Fool.com, shareholder crusader Evelyn Davis once MOONED the Disney Board of Directors at a Shareholder meeting!! LOL

Sigh, Evelyn is finished, but anyone want to take bets that she will return later.... ;)

OK, so the actual proxy vote for the directors...

They had votes cast by at least 87.9%, that means that the other 12.1% automatically get voted "for"...

7.8% of the votes casts decided to withheld their vote for one or more directors...

And Evelyn is back....

No... Evelyn is back, talking about Disney's legal fees. She wants an accounting and she's one hot lady right now.

Guess Mark, Jim and Chuck will be late picking up their books ;)

They just asked if Evelyn or anyone had further comments or questions. Asking that of Evelyn... Heh-heh!

For those who do not know Ms. Davis...

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2003-04-27-shareholders-davis_x.htm



Davis, long regarded as a grandstanding crackpot, is emerging as a formidable advocate for shareholder rights during the annual meeting season now in full bloom. She has already won several long-fought battles, currying widening support from shareholders ticked off over corporate scandals, exorbitant CEO pay and widespread stock losses.

"My new title is queen of the corporate jungle," says Davis, a diminutive, Dutch-born Holocaust survivor who speaks with a thick accent. "I operate on my own, but my work benefits a lot of shareholders. Nobody knows Corporate America like Evelyn Y. Davis."



She is now talking about greenmail, I think......:p

Is this the Disney Annual Meeting, or the Evelyn Davis Annual Meeting.....:fez:

Hey Evelyn's proposal regarding Greenmail passed with a 56.4% vote. But it just a recommendation tot he board, not a binding resolution.

So what did anyone who listened to the meeting, or read/heard news reports about the meeting think?

I noticed the whole meeting seemed to move right along. Lack of significant sharehollder dissent or dissatisfaction with issues such as from a year ago and more shareholder concern about various social issues (Chinese human rights issues around working on Disney-products, smoking prevention among children and how Disney entertainment may portray that habit, etc.). I appreciated the first person who got up who asked that the proxy votes be read for each Board Director, rather than as a group. During the parts of the meeting I was able to listen (tending to household matters called me away sometimes) it didn't seem that the audience was enthusiastic in what applause I was able to hear. It was annoying to have the constant interruptions of various presentations (mentioned earlier in this thread) but once the proxy voting and questions and answers began those interruptions ceased, to our listening family's great relief!

CNBC early this morning, before the meeting began, said the meeting would lack fireworks but still have drama. I don't think it even had drama.

I guess we watch and wait 'til June 2005. That is when, approximately, the search for a CEO to replace Michael Eisner will conclude and the outside independent consulting firm will make its recommendations who should be approached about that position.

My summary should be up on the front page in the morning. (Including a photo of Evelyn Davis with Mickey and Minnie.) Jim, Chuck and I picked up our books around 2:00, about 2 hours earlier than Borders said that they'd be available.

I'll try to listen to the webcast replay if I have time, and I'll let you know what kind of stuff got cut.

I appreciated the first person who got up who asked that the proxy votes be read for each Board Director, rather than as a group.I believe that question was asked by Chuck Oberleitner, who is with Jim Hill's site.

I believe that question was asked by Chuck Oberleitner, who is with Jim Hill's site.
That was indeed Chuck, but he's got his own site (http://www.o-meon.com) now.

Chuck's article about the event is now up...

http://www.o-meon.com/pages/columns/col_02-15-05.html

And he even give MousePlanet a plug...



Thursday, I joined colleagues Jim Hill, of JimHillMedia.com (http://jimhillmedia.com/), and Mark Goldhaber, of MousePlanet.com (http://www.mouseplanet.com/), for a special screening of Dan Lund and Tony West's documentary about the end of Walt Disney Feature Animation as you and I know it, Dream On Silly Dreamer (www.dreamonsillydreamer.com (http://www.dreamonsillydreamer.com/)).