Michael Eisner takes a free shot at Walt Disney…
May 21st, 2008Michael Eisner is quoted by Todd Bishop from his opening speech at Microsoft’s advance08 digital advertising conference to say:
“The salacious and the stupid have been traditionally the avant garde and the advance guard of the more high-minded and definitely more profitable fare. The Internet will be no different.”
I understand the urge for Mr. Eisner to make such a statement, speaking on Microsoft’s turf (not exactly an early adopter of the internet new market dynamics), while trying to convey the idea that there is still room for innovation for video startups such as his, Vuguru studio, coming to market at the eleven’s hour.
I take issue though with the fact that the voluntary inflammatory, controversial, and, yes, moronic framing of the issue he raises undermines a very reasonable point.
Let me try to interpret (freely) what I understand to be the idea here. Eisner is telling us that there is still a room for business model innovations on the internet in general, and for online videos in particular.
I don’t think that presented this way any of us would object to this statement, especially coming from Michael Eisner as he belongs in the category of highly talented evolutionary innovators who make things better; leaders who grow businesses instead of starting them, refine concepts rather than invent them. Without such talent, most ideas would never go mainstream.
I believe that Mr. Eisner has something to contribute to the future of entertainment, just like he did during his days at Disney. But why undermine the very people who started it all? Inventors and “enhancers” can’t do without each other, so let’s celebrate this indispensable partnership. Doesn’t he remember that the man who made his career possible was among “the salacious and the stupid”, crazy genius in his own right, a certain Walt Disney?