Mickey Mouse buys the Muppets

By: Patrick Sauriol
Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Source: The Jim Henson Company

As The Walt Disney Company faces pressure from a $66 billion dollar buyout attempt from media giant Comcast, today the company announced that it is in final negotiations to close a deal between itself and The Jim Henson Company. Under the arrangement Disney will purchase all the characters of Henson's MUPPETS and BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE properties, making Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the Bear new players on Mickey Mouse's team. The deal encompasses all copyrights of the two properties including past TV and films and products.

In a press release issued to the media, Lisa Henson, daughter of company founder Jim Henson, welcomed the new arragement between entertainment firms. "In the months before his death in 1990, my father Jim Henson pursued extensive discussions with the Walt Disney Co. based on his strong belief that Disney would be the perfect home for the Muppets. As such, the deal we announced today is the realization of my father's dream."

Henson will still retain complete ownership of its other properties which include SESAME STREET, FARSCAPE, FRAGGLE ROCK and other shows. Disney has already stated that it wants to bring the Muppets back to network television for a series of specials.

Precisely how much Disney is paying the Hensons remains unknown. The deal is expected to be finalized within two months.


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