Good evening, I'm Dylan Byers.

Welcome back to In The Room, my private email on the inner workings of the American media. In the past few weeks, I've reported on Bob Chapek’s vision for Hulu, Joe Scarborough’s pursuit of more MSNBC cash, Bobby Kotick's fate at Activision, and more. Today, I'm opening my notebook to respond to some of the biggest stories of the week: Bob Iger's final chess moves at Disney; what's next for ESPN; the fate of Chris Cuomo at CNN; and the changing of the guard at Twitter.

Thanks again for your interest in Puck. You can read a free preview of my work below. Or, better yet, subscribe now to read all of my reporting in full, online or delivered directly to your inbox. 

Thanks,

Dylan

In the Room… at Iger’s Goodbye Dinner

As Disney’s charismatic leader completes his choreographed exit, the mood inside Burbank approaches a state of dread. Plus: Is Chris Cuomo finito at David Zaslav’s CNN?

Bob Iger likes sailing metaphors, as befits a man who is passionate about his yacht. He also enjoys employing them when discussing his own legacy, or his storied career at Disney, which is about to come to an end next month. Two weeks ago, while hosting a goodbye dinner for friends (Steven Spielberg, Al Michaels), colleagues (Bob Chapek, Peter Rice) and various Disney talents (Jimmy Kimmel, Robin Roberts) in the garden of his stately Brentwood mansion, Iger toasted the “many great sails” that he and the Disney team had been on together, and “all the ports” they’d been in, sources who were there that night told me. Guests dined on swordfish and chicken parmesan and were treated to a mid-dinner medley of Disney songs performed by the famed violinist Caroline Campbell. Then they bid Iger adieu as he sailed off into the sunset.

Back in Burbank, of course, the mood is less sentimental. Some at Disney are in a state of dread about their new boss, and the changing nature of their business. Iger succeeded in casting himself as a charismatic and talent-friendly leader who trusted Disney creatives to run their own show, and go with their gut. Chapek, who was named C.E.O. last February, is seen as a shrewd, data-driven businessman who is laser-focused on the bottom line. 

Under Chapek, creative leaders like John Landgraf (FX) and Dana Walden (Disney TV) have been forced to cede control of their fiefdoms (and P&Ls) to distribution chairman Kareem Daniel. The verdict is still out as to whether or not this will improve Disney’s business, but no one seems to be having quite as much fun. Landgraf has publicly conceded that he’s been reduced from a business leader to a brand manager, a blow softened only by the fact that he is being given more money to spend on content. Disney will spend $33 billion on content next year, up from $25 billion last year, to boost the growth of its streaming business, which has flatlined...

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