Jen Yamato is a Deadline contributor.
Disney‘s Bob Iger said he’s taking measures to monitor violence in his company’s video game interests following the Newtown school shooting and President Obama’s subsequent gun initiatives, which include a study of the impact of violent video games. The chairman and CEO said at a Q&A with Brian Grazer today during a HRTS Newsmakers Luncheon that he met yesterday within the company’s ranks “to take stock in everything we’ve got that can be considered near the line or over the line”. Iger refused to speak with press before and after the hour-long chat, which was moderated by longtime pal Grazer, although a rep tells Deadline any official plans to review the titles have not been solidified. “Fortunately at Disney there’s very little [violent content], but I still want to make sure we’re asking ourselves the right questions in terms of that standard,” Iger said, “and also [ensure] we’re willing to be a part of a dialogue in today’s world that I think is pretty necessary in terms of what our role is and what our role should be”.
Iger also took time to promote his new MyMagic+MagicBands digital venture, a Disney theme park initiative set to launch this spring at Disney World that enables park visitors to upload personal information into digitally enhanced wristbands designed to enhance their experience. The so-called “MagicBands” store information in a “cloud” that will allow patrons to reserve time on rides and in restaurants, upload birthday information, and track guest interaction and purchasing behavior — trading privacy for convenience. Iger says the future of MagicBands can include even more meticulously collected interactive data that one day will allow guests to go cash- and credit card-free and “order food in advance, sit at table… we’ll know because of GPS positioning where you’re sitting and we’ll know what you ordered”.
Acknowledging the challenges of the age of DVR, competing platforms, increased competition and advertiser demands that face television content programmers, Iger advocated taking chances and pointed to his fruitful 2005 iTunes partnership with late Apple founder Steve Jobs that put ABC shows like Desperate Housewives and Lost on the emerging platform before the rise of digital distribution. With Disney stock hitting a record high today Iger’s chat with Grazer had a jovial tone; between celebrations of his Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm acquisitions, Iger dropped quotables from his personal “risk-taking manifesto”, like “Be accessible, treat people fairly, take chances”.


Disney has a very very violent pilot on abc family , they should really check that out ??(socio) very violent !!
I agree , socio is extremely violent, not good for our teenagers, I sure bob will not allow the pick up !!
Speaking as a teenager myself, you are completely wrong. Violence isn’t good for teenagers? Are you kidding? What is this, the 60s? What, is saying “what the heck” going to become taboo or something?
I’m sorry, but please, really? Violence in the media has not once affected a teenager’s attitude. (Well, maybe every now and then, but those are just kids being stupid, ’cause, well, we are.)
Two white male multli-millionaires talking about their greatness. Just what the world needs.
How many people of color do they have on abc family ?? ( new pilots) I’m sure not many !
Their new pilot “The Fosters” actually has 4 people of color in a main cast of 8 so half the cast.
I hope they wont mess with Star Wars 1313 or TOR
What is tiger talking about ?? Maybe he has not seen the the abc pilot SOCIO. , not good foe kids , I read the script, very violent !
So Iger is now going to check for content?
Of course he should check content, I am a CEO of a major co. The buck stops with us, I’m sure bob iger will be on top of this, what on earth do you do, that you could make a statement like that .
Dear Anonymous,
He should have checked the content BEFORE it was made not AFTER if he was a CEO who actually cared about such things. Bob Iger just wants to run for public office in the near future and so he’s being very careful.
Let’s see if they pick up abc families project that jenifer Lopez is producing ?? There are 3 or 4 people of color, and very family friendly ???
People really do need to READ the article; it states he’s monitoring the violent content in Disney’s VIDEO GAME INTERESTS. Does that sound like shows on ABC and ABC Family? What do people of color have to do with toning down video game content?
How dumb are you ?? Abc family is owned by disney , which iger is the boss, tv shows come under the same category , as games, abc family has a non violent pilot produced by j Lopez,that just happens to have a few people of color. ( non violent )
AGAIN…video games and movies are not responsible for gun violence. Enough already.
You have to be ignorant to think video, movies, music and all media don’t have a part in our violent society.,there are many pieces that, when put together, result in what is happening
Looking forward to playing that Lone Ranger game without guns in it
It’s not about content, it’s about parents, you idiots!
Parents who want to treat their kids as “best friends.”
I’m sick of this morality police bullshit. And I’m sick of hysterical reactionary jackass idiots.
DO NOT screw with Star Wars because Joe Biden came knocking on your door saying he’s “concerned” about violent content.
Any rational debate on “violence” and “gun control” isn’t going to be taken seriously as long as “Mr Fast and Furious Holder” still has a job at the White House.
Exactly, the problem is the parents who don’t monitor and the politicians who refuse to blame the voting public for not being involved in their decisions. Yet no one will address this issue because it will only bring more outlash.
As I said above^^^
Are you a parent?
It’s IMPOSSIBLE in this day and age to monitor Everything out there on phones, tablets, computers, video games, TV, music etc.
How about being responsible with the content you put out.
People want to credit media for positive effects but Never for the negative. It goes both ways
That’s a load of bull. It is not “impossible” to take 10 minutes out of your oh-so-busy schedule to monitor what your children watch or play and judge whether it’s appropriate for them or not.
By the way, what negative impact? Violent crime rates are down to their lowest levels since the so-called golden age of television. The studies into “violent” media’s “impact” on behavior have been inconclusive at best and have never shown a causal link between “violent” media and violent behavior.
Yet another “parent” who’d rather have electronic babysitters than actually watching, playing, and discussing the media in question with their child.
You are right on the money. Parents are lazy today and want to point the finger at everything else, just like people in this country do about every issue out there today. The problem is these parents today cannot unglue themselves from their own phones and tablets, even while they are driving with their own kids in the car. What do you think is going to happen when you give kids a device that gives them access to the internet and you are not watching them? Almost everything out there today has a age rating. If you are buying your kids “violent” video games, you are to blame, not the people that made the game. Just because a kid wants something because everyone else has it, doesnt mean you have to buy it for them. Grow a pair. Tell your kid no and that is that. Parents need to start being parents again and quit worrying about being popular with your kids. You are not in school anymore. We must be the only country that goes through this crap because nobody wants to be held accountable for their own fuck ups. “It’s IMPOSSIBLE in this day and age to monitor Everything out there on phones, tablets, computers, video games, TV, music etc.” Please. That is lame.
Two rich white men sitting around talking about all the tough decisions they make. I’m sure they hugged and back slapped really well. What a show.
Huh. So the CEO of the company that has always had an extremely hard time making money in the Video Game sector of his company is going to look at the violence in his video games? Excellent. Way to keep shuffling, Bob. You are a master.