ViacomCBS Selling Simon & Schuster

[CaptainXaviOfEarth]

We've made the determination that Simon & Schuster is not a core asset of the company. It is not video based; it doesn't have significant connectivity to our broader business. At the same time, there's no question it's a marquee asset that's highly valuable. I've had multiple, unsolicited inbound calls about that asset. So as this market stabilizes, we'll engage in a process and look at strategic alternatives for Simon & Schuster.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/viacomcbs-ceo-says-simon-schuster-set-be-sold-1281748

Exactly as I said a few weeks ago. Literally used the same wording and all.

I can actually go one-step further: Simon & Schuster no longer have exclusive license for Star Trek novels. It was one of the first decisions made by the Nickelodeon team. They have something amazing (oh, and canon) planned.

 

[XCV330]

It was one of the first decisions made by the Nickelodeon team. They have something amazing (oh, and canon) planned.

Makes sense. Nickelodeon knows how to merchandise in a way Paramount never figured out.

 

[King Bob!]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/viacomcbs-ceo-says-simon-schuster-set-be-sold-1281748

Exactly as I said a few weeks ago. Literally used the same wording and all.

I can actually go one-step further: Simon & Schuster no longer have exclusive license for Star Trek novels. It was one of the first decisions made by the Nickelodeon team. They have something amazing (oh, and canon) planned.

Oh, how little I give a fuck. Especially where the canon non-sense is mentioned.

 

[CaptainXaviOfEarth]

They have something amazing (oh, and canon) planned.

Okay I roll this back a little. It looks and sounds exactly the same as Star Wars: The High Republic, except it involves the TV shows. Still, pretty cool.

 

[David Weller]

I can actually go one-step further: Simon & Schuster no longer have exclusive license for Star Trek novels. It was one of the first decisions made by the Nickelodeon team. They have something amazing (oh, and canon) planned.

What’s your source for this?

 

[CaptainXaviOfEarth]

What’s your source for this?

Me.

 

[David Weller]

Me.

So, you’re speculating. I assume that there has been no official announcement then.

 

[Thrawn]

So, one of two things is true, here. One - CaptainXaviOfEarth isn't as knowledgeable as he claims and is extrapolating from some incomplete info and blowing it up. Two - CaptainXaviOfEarth knows exactly what's going on, and is telling us about things that haven't been officially announced yet, which is almost always explicitly against the rules on any kind of franchise property like this (note how little we knew about The High Republic before it was announced, for instance). Either way, I'm not inclined to trust his motives; in either of those scenarios, it seems to me like talking about this stuff is something he probably shouldn't be doing.

I'll wait until we get official word on any of this to form any opinions.

 

[CaptainXaviOfEarth]

CaptainXaviOfEarth knows exactly what's going on, and is telling us about things that haven't been officially announced yet, which is almost always explicitly against the rules on any kind of franchise property like this

I know exactly what I can and can’t say.

 

[Thrawn]

Cool cool. So find me one other person who has posted or announced Star Trek's massive new initiative that "looks and sounds exactly the same as Star Wars: The High Republic" then?

 

[CaptainXaviOfEarth]

Cool cool. So find me one other person who has posted or announced Star Trek's massive new initiative that "looks and sounds exactly the same as Star Wars: The High Republic" then?

It’s a case that nobody’s bothered to do it, not that it’s secret.

 

[ryan123450]

For the record my instinct on this is that I have little reason to doubt anything @CaptainXaviOfEarth has been saying, and especially based on today, every reason to take what he’s saying at face value.

 

[Thrawn]

Cool. In that case I'll be delighted to hear about it when/if it's actually announced and or anyone "bothers" to share any actual details!

I don't mean to come off as a jerk - I also think it's reasonably likely this is true - but something in me is rubbed the wrong way when the only person talking about massive unprecedented Star Trek happenings is one anonymous poster on a messageboard. I find that questionable. Someone somewhere - perhaps Xavi here, perhaps someone else - should either have better judgment or better control over messaging.

 

[King Bob!]

Someone wake me when they announce what the project is and who is the creative force behind it.

Until then, it is a nothing burger in my book.

 

[King Bob!]

As far as exclusivity is concerned, it seems Simon and Schuster hasn't had an "exclusive" license for a while, what with Titan Books doing various "autobiographies".

 

[ryan123450]

Someone somewhere - perhaps Xavi here, perhaps someone else - should either have better judgment or better control over messaging.

Oh I absolutely agree. I’ve felt there’s been a HUGE lack of good fan relations with regard to Trek, and especially Trek Lit, for quite a while. Admittedly this story isn’t specifically about Trek.

But IF it really is cool for Xavi to be saying all these things, that’s evidence that we aren’t kept in the loop about things very well at all.

 

[JoeZhang]

So, you’re speculating. I assume that there has been no official announcement then.

Well going off his posts from a couple of weeks ago - he seems to be bang on the money...

Even without inside knowledge, there is no chance that they sell S&S and let it keep the Star Trek rights.

 

[Christopher]

Even without inside knowledge, there is no chance that they sell S&S and let it keep the Star Trek rights.

I don't think that follows. For one thing, I don't think you could break a licensing contract just like that; if S&S's current contract gives them the license for a certain amount of time, presumably it wouldn't change hands until it came up for renegotiation. Case in point: Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, but the Star Wars comics license didn't change hands from Dark Horse to Marvel until 2015. And the only way Disney was able to get the Star Wars film distribution rights away from 20th Century Fox was to buy Fox.

For another thing, this business isn't supposed to be monopolistic. Publishers are supposed to have the right to compete for a license, even though it's become common for studios to try to keep everything in-house and license their properties to the publishers they own. If ViacomCBS no longer has an in-house publishing company, then presumably S&S would simply be on an even footing with every other publisher and have a fair chance to bid for the license. It wouldn't be as much of a sure thing that they'd keep it, but I doubt there'd be any way to forbid them from making an offer. And given their 40 years of experience doing Trek tie-ins, I think they could make a pretty solid case.

 

[JoeZhang]

For one thing, I don't think you could break a licensing contract just like that;

Think for a minute why S&S might agree to cancel that contract or rather have no choice.

Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, but the Star Wars comics license didn't change hands from Dark Horse to Marvel until 2015

A contract with a third party is not the same with a subsidiary.

For another thing, this business isn't supposed to be monopolistic. Publishers are supposed to have the right to compete for a license,

Maybe this is some weird quirk of US law I am unware of - American companies are *forced* to license their IP ?

Now my PhD in management is from the UK and I tend to concentrate on UK IP but I find that hard to believe.


Yes I agree it is possible once it is not a SBU - it could be allowed to *bid* but walk out of the door with the IP? No - I doubt it.

 

[Unionized Elf]

As far as exclusivity is concerned, it seems Simon and Schuster hasn't had an "exclusive" license for a while, what with Titan Books doing various "autobiographies".

And the English translations of the Prometheus novels.

And the only way Disney was able to get the Star Wars film distribution rights away from 20th Century Fox was to buy Fox.

Actually, that happened before the buy-out. I remember catching some movies from the Original Trilogy and Prequel Trilogy on TV around the time of The Last Jedi's theatrical release in 2017, and they had the Fox logo removed from the opening.

Think for a minute why S&S might agree to cancel that contract or rather have no choice.



Maybe this is some weird quirk of US law I am unware of -

American companies are *forced* to license their IP ? Now my PhD in management is from the UK and I tend to concentrate on UK IP but I find that hard to beleive.

If the lose the Star Trek license, I find it more likely it will be after the current contract expires rather than having it pulled prior to that. At the very least, this latest contract was more complicated than usual, Trek novels were essentially suspended for an entire year while the contract was negotiated. It'd be a very terrible situation if they spent all that work on the contract just to have the license pulsed before the contract was up.