What if Walt Disney Productions acquired Henson Associates, Inc. in 1983?

In August 1989, Henson and Disney CEO Michael Eisner began merger discussions reportedly valued at $150 million, which also included a fifteen-year contract for Henson's personal "creative services." On May 16, 1990, as negotiations continued, Jim Henson died of toxic shock syndrome. Following Henson’s death, neither Disney nor Jim Henson Productions could come to an accord. Negotiations officially ended in December 1990, and Henson remained an independent company in real life. But in the alternate universe, what if Walt Disney Productions acquired Henson Associates, Inc. in 1983 instead of 1990.

This theory is interconnected to What if DreamWorks Pictures was founded in 1980 as The Geffen Film Company?

## Changes

* The acquisition completed in January 29, 1983.
* The Jim Henson Company would've been owned by Independent (1958-1983), Walt Disney Productions (1983-1986), The Walt Disney Company (1986-1993) and Disney-ABC Enterprises (1993-present)
* Jim Henson would've been accepted Michael Eisner owning *Sesame Street* as Children's Television Workshop would've allow Disney to own their assets by forming CTW Partners, giving Walt Disney a majority of the rights.
	+ After CTW was rebranded to Sesame Workshop in 2000, the brand is now known as Sesame Workshop Partners.
* The pre-1983 Jim Henson library would've now been owned by Walt Disney Pictures.
	+ The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper and The Dark Crystal would've been sold from Associated Film Distribution and Universal Pictures to Walt Disney Pictures in 1983.
* Kermit the Frog would've still been mascot of The Jim Henson Company.
* The *Sesame Street* home media starting with *Sesame Songs Home Video: Monster Hits!* are now distributed by Disney-ABC Home Entertainment Group "formerly Buena Vista Home Video/Buena Vista Home Entertainment"/Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
* The company would've never been involved in *The Star*, *The High Fructose Adventures of the Annoying Orange* (both due to not everyone liking them) and *Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio* (since Disney already made an animated film adaptation of *Pinocchio*).
* Jim Henson Pictures would've still been open.

* *Buddy*, *Muppets from Space*, *The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland* would've been released by Disney-ABC Releasing Corporation "formerly Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc." via Walt Disney Pictures instead of Sony Pictures Releasing "formerly Columbia TriStar Pictures" via Columbia Pictures, *The Muppets Take Manhattan* would've been released by Disney-ABC Releasing Corporation "formerly Buena Vista Distribution Company, Inc." via Walt Disney Pictures instead of TriStar Pictures, *Follow That Bird* would've been released by Disney-ABC Releasing Corporation "formerly Buena Vista Distribution Company, Inc. via Walt Disney Pictures instead of Warner Bros. Pictures, *Labyrinth* would've been released by Disney-ABC Releasing Corporation "formerly Buena Vista Distribution Company, Inc." via Walt Disney Pictures instead of TriStar Pictures and Columbia–EMI–Warner Distributors and *The Witches* would've been released by Disney-ABC Releasing Corporation "formerly Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc." via Hollywood Pictures instead of Warner Bros. Pictures.
	+ *Kermit's Swamp Years* would've been released by Disney-ABC Home Entertainment Group via Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment "formerly Walt Disney Home Entertainment" instead of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment "formerly Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment".
	+ Even after the financial failure of *The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland*, Walt Disney would've been make more *Sesame Street* films.
	+ The 2020 *Witches* remake film would've never existed.
* Disney would've give Jim Henson's library a lot of promotion at the Disney Parks.
	+ The Muppets, the Fraggles and the *Sesame Street* gang would've appear as meet and greet characters in the Disney parks.
* *The Happytime Murders* would've been changed into a family-oriented television series on Disney Channel titled: *The Happytime Gang*.
* *Muppet Babies* (2018) would've feature additional Muppets that weren't featured in the original series.
	+ After the series ended, Walt Disney opted to add Summer as a new member of The Muppets.
* In 1997, Jim Henson Productions was rebranded to Jim Henson Enterprises.
	+ The Muppets Studio would've never existed, with its projects being fully owned and produced by Jim Henson Enterprises.
	+ Jim Henson Home Entertainment would've still existed, although now as a sub-label of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
* Sony Pictures Television and Adelaide Productions would've never involvement in *Dragon Tales*, being instead produced by Disney Television Animation for Playhouse Disney and PBS.
* Sesame Workshop would've changes:
	+ They would've never try too hard to stay hip and relevant.
	+ They would've never work with Autism Speaks.
	+ *Sesame Street* would've never been that overfocused as it is nowadays in order to give other IPs more recognition.
	+ Kevin Clash would've never resign from *Sesame Street* due to his false sexual allegations later being cleared out.
	+ They would've never fire the actors who played Gordon, Bob, Susan, Maria, Luis, and Gina from *Sesame Street*.
	+ Shows that were neglected by Sesame Workshop such as *Dragon Tales*, *Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat*, *The Electric Company*, etc. would've still been ongoing.
	+ They would've gone against corporate sponsors to raise funds for *Sesame Street* and other projects on PBS airings.
	+ They would've never attract younger audiences.
	+ Elmo would've never been as overused as he is nowadays in order to give other characters more attention.
	+ *Mecha Builders* would've been feature additional Sesame Street Muppets as members of the *Mecha Builders*.
	+ While still been aired on PBS, *Sesame Street* would've been aired on ABC since 1996, Playhouse Disney from 1997 until 2011 and Disney Junior since 2011.
* HIT Entertainment would've been founded in 1976 as Henson International Television instead of 1982.
	+ Henson International Television was spun-off independently in 1982 instead of 1989, being rebranded to HIT Communications PLC.
	+ HIT Entertainment would've never been transferred into Mattel Television in 2016.
	+ HIT Entertainment would've been known as Henson International Television (1976-1982), HIT Communications PLC (1982-1992) and HIT Entertainment PLC (1992-2005), before it was renamed HIT Entertainment (2005-present).
* Jim Henson would've been died in 1982 instead of 1990 due to bring acquired by Walt Disney Productions in 1983.
* The 2015 *Muppets* series would've lasted for two additional seasons.
	+ Walter would've been a larger role in the series.
* The second season of *The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss* gets tweaked to tell new plots.
* *Sid the Science Kid* and *Word Party* would've been made with puppets in live-action instead of CGI, and they would've been several changes to make them better.