Here's How Steve Jobs' Legacy Is Still Affecting Disney Today

Disney CEO Bob Iger is still taking management lessons from former Apple CEO Steve Jobs, even four years after his death.
By Chris Ciaccia ,

It's no secret that Disney (DIS) - Get Report CEO Bob Iger and former Apple (AAPL) - Get Report CEO Steve Jobs were close, with Jobs ultimately becoming the largest Disney shareholder after the entertainment giant purchased Jobs' Pixar.

What is interesting, given Jobs' legacy as a management wizard, is that Iger still refers back to lessons learned from his good friend.

When asked Thursday during Disney's quarterly investor conference call about the intersection of technology and media, specifically as to how it relates to the consumer experience, Iger pulled out a quote from Jobs:

"I'm struck with something that Steve Jobs once said, when he was asked about technology and how he developed it. And he said that he starts with the consumer and he works backward to technology. And we're actually doing that, too. We're thinking about the consumer and the consumer today is a different consumer than before. They don't just want to sit in the living room on a couch and watch our product on a fixed screen on the wall with a remote control in their hand. They want to do it in many more ways, and they have the authority thanks to technology to make those decisions."

Disney, similar to many other media companies, is going through a transition as it relates to the intersection of content and technology. The Burbank, Calif.-based company has had to deal with some subscriber losses at certain of its networks, including the sports network powerhouse, ESPN, due in part to consumers not wanting to deal with high cable bills.

Iger said he was still "bullish" on the prospects of ESPN in an interview with CNBC's Julia Boorstin, and on the call.

Traditional media companies have had to speed up investment, and in some cases, increase investment on expanding the ways consumers watch and consume content as well. Time Warner (TWX) shares sank sharply earlier this week after the company cut its 2016 earnings forecast due in part to increased technology investment, in addition to foreign currency headwinds.

Disney's quarterly results were mixed, with adjusted earnings coming in at $1.20 a share, topping analysts' forecasts, but revenue of $13.51 billion fell short of the $13.55 billion expected.

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