Jeffrey Katzenberg has some deals in the works
We hear Jeffrey Katzenberg, 66, is close to announcing some deals now that he’s running his own private fund.
The former Disney chief, who gave the world movies such as “Shrek,” sold Comcast his DreamWorks Animation business for $3.8 billion last year. Katzenberg earned an almost $400 million payday for his trouble.
Now, his new company, WndrCo, may be entertaining ideas of acquiring a business he just sold.
Katzenberg is eyeing AwesomenessTV, the digital bite-sized children’s programming venture that he created, sources said.
It’s currently owned by Comcast, Verizon and Hearst. WndrCo raised some $600 million for digital investments. Prompting the gossip is the departure of Awesomeness TV CEO Brian Robbins. In a memo on Wednesday, Robbins addressed his departure like this: “[T]he time is right for me to pass the baton and seek new challenges.”
Meanwhile, Katzenberg will be hosting his annual “Night Before” Oscar party on the Fox lot to raise funds for MPTF, a foundation to benefit aging and retired entertainment executives. George Clooney is expected to show up. He’s a director of the MPTF and hosted the event last year.