Richard Plepler

created a viral sensation with Orange is the New Black. And yes, it began production on a series of Disney Marvel originals, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and more. With Disney's help, Netflix had torn down the wall between content companies and tech companies.

created a viral sensation with Orange is the New Black. And yes, it began production on a series of Disney Marvel originals, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and more. With Disney's help, Netflix had torn down the wall between content companies and tech companies.

Which, in retrospect, might look like an absolutely bonkers business strategy on the part of Disney. But John Skipper says it's more complicated than that. The Wall Street beast needed to be fed.

Which, in retrospect, might look like an absolutely bonkers business strategy on the part of Disney. But John Skipper says it's more complicated than that. The Wall Street beast needed to be fed.

Which, in retrospect, might look like an absolutely bonkers business strategy on the part of Disney. But John Skipper says it's more complicated than that. The Wall Street beast needed to be fed.

And just because you know something's out there doesn't mean you can avoid crashing into it, even if you're the CEO.

And just because you know something's out there doesn't mean you can avoid crashing into it, even if you're the CEO.

And just because you know something's out there doesn't mean you can avoid crashing into it, even if you're the CEO.

By 2015, Iger had caught on. He was watching Game of Thrones on HBO's shiny new streaming platform. And ESPN's cable subscribers had started to make a big enough dip for him to feel like he had to tell investors about it.

By 2015, Iger had caught on. He was watching Game of Thrones on HBO's shiny new streaming platform. And ESPN's cable subscribers had started to make a big enough dip for him to feel like he had to tell investors about it.

By 2015, Iger had caught on. He was watching Game of Thrones on HBO's shiny new streaming platform. And ESPN's cable subscribers had started to make a big enough dip for him to feel like he had to tell investors about it.

Meanwhile, Netflix wasn't the only tech company that had made the leap into entertainment. Amazon was starting to produce zeitgeist shows like Transparent. And studios that made premium content were sprouting up in previously unlikely places. So now it was time for Disney to make a pivot, for the entertainment company to act like a tech company, for Disney to become a streamer itself.

Meanwhile, Netflix wasn't the only tech company that had made the leap into entertainment. Amazon was starting to produce zeitgeist shows like Transparent. And studios that made premium content were sprouting up in previously unlikely places. So now it was time for Disney to make a pivot, for the entertainment company to act like a tech company, for Disney to become a streamer itself.

Meanwhile, Netflix wasn't the only tech company that had made the leap into entertainment. Amazon was starting to produce zeitgeist shows like Transparent. And studios that made premium content were sprouting up in previously unlikely places. So now it was time for Disney to make a pivot, for the entertainment company to act like a tech company, for Disney to become a streamer itself.

Step one, it made its first big investment in BAM tech in 2016, and eventually bought the whole company for more than $3.5 billion.

Step one, it made its first big investment in BAM tech in 2016, and eventually bought the whole company for more than $3.5 billion.

Step one, it made its first big investment in BAM tech in 2016, and eventually bought the whole company for more than $3.5 billion.

But Skipper, along with Kevin Mayer, who would go on to lead Disney's streaming reconfiguration, didn't think there was too high a price for this technology. BamTech was the best in class, and Disney needed a quick way to speed to the top.

But Skipper, along with Kevin Mayer, who would go on to lead Disney's streaming reconfiguration, didn't think there was too high a price for this technology. BamTech was the best in class, and Disney needed a quick way to speed to the top.

But Skipper, along with Kevin Mayer, who would go on to lead Disney's streaming reconfiguration, didn't think there was too high a price for this technology. BamTech was the best in class, and Disney needed a quick way to speed to the top.