B2 – Upper Intermediate
In a world where cinema sales are falling, pay TV subscribers are cancelling their subscriptions, and online streaming are making film companies lose revenues, Disney bases its hopes on their loyal fans who would watch just anything they produce and release.
Read the article about Disney’s struggles to boost its share price.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64632514
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does ”give something a leg up” mean, “Jessica Reif Ehrlich, an analyst at Bank of America, says the resonance of Disney’s brands give it a leg up on its competitors, but investors have yet to be convinced.”? Use this idiom in your own sentence.
- What does “to bank on” mean, “That’s the kind of commitment that Disney is banking on as it tries to forge a profitable path in a world of falling cinema sales, pay TV cancellations and money-losing online streaming.“? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
- What does “playbook” mean, “Will the traditional playbook be enough?”? Use this word in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What are your reasons Disney’s magic is wearing off?
- Will the traditional business playbook be enough for Disney to stay afloat?
- How has your cinema habits changed after the pandemic?
- What do you think about film franchises and spin-offs?
- Give your opinion on this: “The rise of streaming has fractured audiences, making it difficult to generate the kind of buzz that propels people to pay for entertainment.”