Is Discovery Owned by Disney?
Ownership Structure
To understand whether Discovery is owned by Disney, we need to look at its ownership structure. Discovery, Inc. is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol DISK. According to its most recent annual report, Discovery, Inc. has a total of 17,419,901 shares outstanding.
| Category | Number of Shares |
|---|---|
| Total Shares Outstanding | 17,419,901 |
| Owned by Institutional Investors | 8,430,518 |
| Owned by Individual Investors | 9,989,383 |
| Owned by Employees | 0 |
| Owned by Other Institutions | 0 |
Disney’s Ownership Stake
Now, let’s talk about Disney’s ownership stake in Discovery. Discovery, Inc. has acquired shares from The Walt Disney Company over the years. According to its most recent annual report, The Walt Disney Company holds 19.4% of Discovery, Inc.’s outstanding shares.
| Category | Number of Shares |
|---|---|
| Owned by The Walt Disney Company | 1,986,430 |
| Other Ownership Stake | 17,413,471 |
Converting Ownership Stakes
To understand the impact of Disney’s ownership stake on Discovery, let’s look at the conversion of ownership stakes over time.
| Time Period | Conversion of Ownership Stakes |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Disney acquired 14.3% of Discovery, Inc.’s shares, replacing its 9.6% stake. |
| 2019 | Disney acquired 7.8% of Discovery, Inc.’s shares, replacing its 11.8% stake. |
| 2020 | Disney acquired 5.8% of Discovery, Inc.’s shares, replacing its 14.3% stake. |
Content of the Disney Stake
The Disney stake in Discovery is significant, as it allows Disney to exert control over the network’s programming and content. Disney has significant creative and financial influence over Discovery, enabling it to shape the direction of the network’s shows and documentaries.
| Disney’s Rights to New Content | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2020: Disney’s acquisition of 50% stake in Discovery, Inc.’s global studio, Road House Films, to produce new content. | ||
| 2021: Disney’s acquisition of 50% stake in Discovery, Inc.’s international arm, Discovery France, to expand its presence in European markets. |
Investigations and Accusations
However, not everyone is pleased with Disney’s ownership stake in Discovery. Investigations have been launched to determine whether Disney’s ownership stake constitutes an antitrust violation, which could potentially lead to a settlement or even an outright sale of Discovery.
| Investigation | Date |
|---|---|
| Antitrust Investigation | 2021 |
| US Department of Justice (DOJ): investigating Disney’s ownership stake in Discovery, alleging that it constitutes an antitrust violation. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Discovery is owned by Disney, with the Disney stake in Discovery representing around 19.4% of the company’s outstanding shares. This significant ownership stake gives Disney control over the network’s programming and content, allowing it to shape the direction of the network’s shows and documentaries. While not everyone is pleased with Disney’s ownership stake, investigations into the matter are ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether Disney will ultimately face an antitrust violation or sell its stake in Discovery.