http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...PG8&refer=home (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a0MG17nO.PG8&refer=home)

QuikQuote: Walt Disney Co., the second-largest U.S. media company, will change the name of its Buena Vista entertainment divisions to Disney within weeks, people involved in the plans said.
Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger is seeking to simplify the company's marketing and reduce costs by narrowing most brand names to Disney, ABC and ESPN. In February, Iger changed Touchstone Television production company to ABC Television Studio and Buena Vista Games became Disney Interactive Studios.

While I can see why they are doing it, it still makes me sad. :(
Goodbye Buena Vista.

That'll be interesting. Isn't one of the values of Buena Vista Pictures Company that it allows Disney to distribute non-Disney type movies without attaching the word Disney? (Not originally, obviously, but an unintended benefit?).

But beyond that it doesn't seem a big deal as Buena Vista brands aren't really prominent at the consumer level that I can think (nobody cares what the television production company is called when picking a show to watch or the name of the company doing the distribution on Miramax's films).

That'll be interesting. Isn't one of the values of Buena Vista Pictures Company that it allows Disney to distribute non-Disney type movies without attaching the word Disney? (Not originally, obviously, but an unintended benefit?).

Iger, it seems, never has worried about that. His motto has been go ahead and put the brand name they want on the front - because it's more important that they get the name right, even if it's negative (a good ol' TV and paprazzi motto).

But beyond that it doesn't seem a big deal as Buena Vista brands aren't really prominent at the consumer level that I can think (nobody cares what the television production company is called when picking a show to watch or the name of the company doing the distribution on Miramax's films).

I agree. Nothing major has come out of that "line" for a while to make it known to folks outside of the die-hard Disneyana fans. However - now more than ever it's apparent that the Television/broadcast portion of the empire is the true driver of this corporation and nothing else will get in the way...

So, with everything Disney, will they be making R-rated Disney movies? There was a reason they created Touchstone and Miramax. There was a reason they made Buena Vista. Seems the suits forgot that. I wonder how long Pixar will survive as a brand.

That'll be interesting. Isn't one of the values of Buena Vista Pictures Company that it allows Disney to distribute non-Disney type movies without attaching the word Disney? (Not originally, obviously, but an unintended benefit?).

E.g. POTC: Curse of the Black Pearl;)

So, with everything Disney, will they be making R-rated Disney movies? There was a reason they created Touchstone and Miramax. There was a reason they made Buena Vista. Seems the suits forgot that. I wonder how long Pixar will survive as a brand.

So far as I know the Touchstone and Miramax (and Hollywood Pictures) labels will remain unchanged in name.

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution was just the company that handled all of the marketing and distribution issues for all studio labels. For the most part most people don't even know this but for a quick logo at the front or back of the movie.

Miramax may have done some of its own distribution (or at least done a more thorough job of white labeling it) but if so I don't think that is the case since the Weinsteins left.

I thought they got rid of Touchstone, and Mirimax was going away because of the exit of Weinstein. I always thoght of Buena Vista as the television distribution company, but I guess that also covers VCR and DVD distribution. I guess I am too old, and just equate it with TV in my mind, and not videos, because I remember the days prior to VCRs.

Buena Vista is a name that is (or was) on several different sub companies. Buena Vista Television Production. Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, etc.

But Touchstone still exists as a label as does Miramax (that was part of the deal when the Weinsteins left, that Disney kept the name) and Hollywood Pictures (Disney's recently revived label to get the bad horror movie slate off the Touchstone label -- Stay Alive, Primeval, and The Invisible).

Interesting.

Disney should think long and hard about all this "branding" talk, and putting everything (nearly everything) under the "Disney" name.

The idea of "Disney" as a "brand", to me as a Baby Boomer generation person that grew up while Walt Disney was alive, means "family-oriented". Might mean differently to others, but to me, just one person, that is what it means.

Consequently since the "Disney brand" to me means "family-oriented" (or "family suitable") I expect that anything with "Disney" as an originating studio, network, entertainment source, place, hotel, restaurant, park, film, TV show, etc. to more or less "fit the brand" and fit the expectation of "family-oriented".

And in today's world with how Disney branches off into this and that, ABC News might cover a story or an event, not all films "Disney" makes are suitable for "family-oriented" viewing... They might find a clash between those who expect "Disney" to be a certain way but it delivers something else entirely.

Which is why to keep some of it's existing monikers "Buena Vista" or "Touchstone" or "Miramax" might be the better idea in the long run. In other words, I'm trying to say as a fan and as a stockholder I don't think there's anything broken that needs fixing or changing regarding to names, "brands", or having to go through the rigamarole to reidentify companies and studios that have existed and done just fine for decades.

Just one opinion, other's mileages might vary, and that's OK. :)