By Canadian Press

Disney closes $71B deal for Fox entertainment assets

Mar 19, 2019 | 10:27 PM

Disney is closing its $71 billion acquisition of Fox’s entertainment business in a move set to shake up the media landscape.

The deal paves the way for Disney to launch its streaming service, Disney Plus, due out later this year.

By buying the studios behind “The Simpsons” and X-Men, Disney aims to better compete with technology companies such as Amazon and Netflix for viewers’ attention – and dollars.

Disney needs compelling TV shows and movies to persuade viewers to sign up and pay for yet another streaming service. It already has classic Disney cartoons, “Star Wars,” Pixar, the Muppets and some of the Marvel characters.

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With Fox, Disney could add Marvel’s X-Men and Deadpool, along with programs shown on such Fox channels as FX Networks and National Geographic.

Mae Anderson, The Associated Press