This Los Angeles Times story about Walden Media's packing up and moving in with Fox is interesting in that we're now seeing a true test of Disney's stranglehold on the children's market. I just finished up a New York Times story on "How to Eat Fried Worms" that largely dealt with Walden's practices and spent some time talking to Walden representatives, and it is indeed a part of their business model to branch out into a brand name that parents trust, much like "Disney." Together they were a potential powerhouse, but with Walden at Fox, this might be an interesting development to watch.

Children's programming is still a great way of keeping budgets down and profits high, as kids don't flock to multiplexes for A-list talent more so than easy-to-grasp plot and story. I think in many ways, this is the future of a profit-heavy film industry, and maybe larger productions will begin to take note of what's being aimed at the children's market.

In the meantime, Philip Anschutz's company is making a smart decision, because they are spreading the idea by moving to Fox rather than consolidating it by being at Disney. Disney afterall just cut its production detail down to a miniscule amount of films per year, films that will largely concentrate on the Disney marquee stories that, one can only assume, will be geared toward the children's market. It looks like lines are being drawn in the sand.

Lorenza Muñoz on Walden's move to Fox (LA Times)
Yours truly on Walden and "How To Eat Fried Worms" (NY Times)