MarketWatch.com’s Jon Friedman comments on the rumor that if Disney is looking to sell ABC, that the ABC News division might fit well with Bloomberg:
Disney might be persuaded to deal with ABC News separately. Who knows? A company such as Bloomberg L.P. might want to share ABC’s on-air and digital content. Bloomberg, which acquired BusinessWeek magazine, is trying to enhance the value of its respected news product.
If ABC News did a deal with Bloomberg, it would expect the data-and-news shop to provide financial news, of course. The question is whether Bloomberg’s news output, geared to reach Wall Street traders and bankers, could appeal to a mainstream audience.
AdvertisementUltimately, one key consideration could wind up being whether ABC could utilize Bloomberg as well as NBC News uses its CNBC holding when a story the magnitude of the tension surrounding Goldman Sachs breaks, as it did this week.
Disney, CNN, CBS, and Bloomberg did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
But top ABC News executive did respond to Friedman — and to us. “We have great respect for Bloomberg and work with them, as we do with many other news organizations around the globe on a daily basis, but there is absolutely nothing to the rumor or speculation about any talks.”