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on the margin(s) (phr) 邊緣地帶，非關鍵主體，因此影響

微薄 the outer edge of something; existing outside the main

part of something, such as a situation or group, therefore

having very little influence on it

ramification (n) [;r,m/fI:ke{/n] 可能讓事情更加棘手的

後果 a consequence of an action, which could make an

issue more difficult to deal with

Specialized Terms

megamerger (n) [:mEg/:m=d}-] 超級併購

franchise (n) [:fr,n;t{aIz] 系列電影

Mouse House (n) 迪士尼公司

CFRA (Center for Financial Research and Analysis) (abbr)

金融研究與分析中心，他為其訂戶提供獨立的分析研究，以

期提升其投資與商業決策

cord-cutting (n) [kOrd:k<tI?] 剪線；取消訂閱有線電視服務

© Shutterstock.com (X3)

“Obviously, it’s an industry-changing

event,” said Adam Aron, CEO of AMC

Entertainment. “But we think it’s an event

that will be good for consumers, good for theaters

and good for movie makers.”

Privately, industry executives caution against

wishful thinking. Some theaters worry that the number

of movies released theatrically will shrink dramatically.

Disney focuses almost exclusively on expensive

productions that draw huge global audiences, and

Fox’s more midlevel films may be scrapped.

Then there’s the looming specter of Disney+,

which will feature original Disney content that

bypasses theaters.

A blow for Netflix?

Disney is about to mount a serious challenge to

Netflix’s streaming dominance with the launch of

Disney+. The service will include movies and shows

from five brands: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars

and Fox’s National Geographic.

Analysts say Disney’s entry into the streaming

wars could slow Netflix’s growth. Disney is also

pulling its movies from Netflix.

But Netflix executives insist they’re not worried.

“We compete so broadly with all of these different

providers that any one provider entering only makes

a difference on the margin,” said Netflix CEO

Reed Hastings.

Making agencies sweat

The consolidation of the studios will also have

ramifications for talent agencies. Having five

major film companies instead of six—and fewer

theatrical films in the industry—means Disney will

be able to extract better deal terms from talent

agencies trying to get their filmmaker and actor

clients jobs in its shows and movies, industry

executives said.

But agencies are taking solace that overall job

opportunities for talent

are increasing because

of growing players such

as Netflix, Amazon and

Apple looking to buy

shows and movies for

their platforms.

Cord-cutters rejoice

The likely long-term effect [of the Disney-

Fox merger] will be a quickening of the pace of

cord-cutting in the U.S., analysts say. The

growth of Netflix and the arrival of Disney+ and

WarnerMedia’s streaming service will give

consumers more ways to avoid traditional TV

packages, which are already in decline.

Vocabulary Focus

© Cambridge University

Press 2008

grapple with (something) (phr v) to try to deal with or

understand a difficult problem or subject

unprecedented (adj) [<n:prEsI;dEntId] never having

happened or existed in the past

fork over/up (something) (phr v) to give something,

especially money to someone, especially when you do not

want to

specter (n) [:spEkt-] the idea of something unpleasant that

might happen in the future

make (somebody) sweat (idiom) (informal) to make

someone wait nervously

solace (n) [:sAlIs] help and comfort when you are feeling sad

or worried

A MEGAMERGER FOR THE MOUSE AND THE FOX

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