During these days in mid-to-late August, Simon traveled frequently between the east and west coasts.
Mainly after lengthy merger preparations and lobbying operations around federal regulations, AOL finally launched the operation of cable TV business, announcing that AOL has another core business with huge growth potential in addition to network services.
Stimulated by this positive news, in the few trading days after the news was officially announced on August 13, the cumulative increase in AOL's stock price exceeded 17% compared to the day the news was announced, and the highest market value once again reached a high of more than 260 billion US dollars.
Simon understands that AOL's long journey in the cable TV business may have just begun.
Speaking of which, the two giants of the Westeros system in the field of operators, AOL and Verizon, have not achieved outstanding development in the past two years.
On the one hand, this is due to the constraints at the policy level. On the other hand, it is also due to the interest tendency of the Westeros system platform channels to tilt towards service content.
At the policy level, AOL and Verizon, one is the largest ISP provider in North America and the world, and the other is the largest mobile communication service provider in North America. They both have considerable leading advantages in their respective fields, even though the US telecommunications industry has been regulated. They are all being relaxed, but due to regulatory inertia, it will not be easy for the two companies to expand into other areas.
Simon and its executives have considered merging the two companies more than once.
As a result, after many evaluations, if the two companies really merge into a larger industry giant, they will only be more constrained by then.
Then there is the interest tendency.
AOL's recent market value is around US$250 billion, and Verizon's is around US$130 billion.
Put there alone, both are undoubtedly Big Mac-level.
However, adding the two together, the market value of about US$380 billion is still not as good as 70% of the current market value of Igret, which has reached US$560 billion.
After this pattern, it is actually Simon’s preference for the content service field.
Whether it is AOL or Verizon, if you want to pursue higher profits and thereby achieve a higher market value, there are many ways. However, in order to develop content service businesses in the Internet field such as Igret, Simon took the initiative to ask platform channel manufacturers such as America Online and Verizon to make sacrifices, including continuing to invest in infrastructure on a large scale regardless of costs and actively engaging in cooperation with other ISP manufacturers. The interface is compatible with measures such as enhanced data exchange.
To put it more simply, AOL voluntarily gave up the various monopoly advantages it had as the world's largest ISP service provider, and selflessly provided an efficient and equal network platform for countless enterprises and users.
Of course this was not an initiative, but a forced request from Simon.
Similarly, Verizon is also following in the footsteps of AOL, such as the iBerry mobile phone released by Tinker Bayer this year. Because the initial business prospects are uncertain and other mobile communication manufacturers are unwilling to invest funds and resources in technical adaptation, Or is Verizon 'stepping up to the plate'.
Let’s talk about America Online’s entry into the cable TV business this time.
The industry generally sees it as a good thing, but if you are familiar with Simon's inner thoughts, you probably won't think so anymore. Because of AOL's cable TV business, it will inevitably have to adapt to the layout of the Westeros system in the field of television content.
New York.
The time is Wednesday, August 19th.
As the autumn TV season is approaching, Simon has been mainly involved in reviewing major TV programs that will be launched in September these two days.
Compared with movies, the TV department's programs, especially popular programs, are still slow to update.
The core ABC TV network is still focusing on "American Idol" this year. "American Idol", which was launched in 1995, is in its fourth season this year. Even though its popularity will inevitably decline compared to the first three quarters, "American Idol" is still One of the most anticipated TV shows this fall, the show is expected to average around 30 million viewers.
On the other hand, in the fourth season, this year's "American Idol" has also made certain adjustments, mainly changing the judge lineup.
For popular reality shows, maintaining a stable lineup of judges is often a key to maintaining stable ratings. It is precisely because of this that many reality shows are almost tied to a small number of judges, making them inseparable.
Simon didn't like this situation very much.
Therefore, even though all four judges were interested in continuing after the first three seasons, Simon still took the initiative to ask for a change in the judge lineup.
The purpose is to avoid binding effects.
Moreover, this will not only prevent the judges from sitting on the ground and raise prices, but more importantly, it will keep the initiative 100% in their own hands, preventing some judges who think they are the core from dictating the direction of the program, and further consolidating their own importance.
Doing so will of course cause certain risks to the ratings, but it must be tolerated.
Daenerys Entertainment's East Coast headquarters on 66th Street on the Upper West Side.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, after finishing today's latest production meeting on the sitcom "Unexpected Susan", Simon rushed to a place inside the headquarters building with Brooke Shields, the heroine of the series who took the initiative to entangle him. studio.
There are some live rehearsals going on here for the new season of "American Idol."
Brooke Shields, who was wearing a simple white dress today, followed the man beside her and quietly sat in the auditorium of the studio. Looking at the busy scene on the stage, even though this popular project had nothing to do with her, she thought of the past few months. Things that have happened, it is inevitable that there will be some waves in my heart.
After completely giving up her career in the film industry and moving to the television industry, Brooke Shields has been busy on the East Coast in recent years starring in the "Unexpected Susan" project, which is in its third season this year.
Maybe it will be the last season.
Of course, "Unexpected Susan" cannot be compared with the popular "American Idol".
Let’s talk about “American Idol” again.
Based on the popularity of the first three seasons of this TV show, everyone who paid attention initially guessed that with the arrival of the fourth season, the four judges who have followed for three consecutive years will definitely be able to negotiate a very lucrative contract. After all, No one thought that ABC would rashly change the judging panel under such a good situation.
Even with the intention of raising the price, the four judges, who are very aware of how much this show has improved their popularity in the past three years, never thought of quarreling with each other. Then, as ABC officially announced that the judges were about to be changed, the whole circle suddenly became undercurrent.
The four judges who bore the brunt were a little unbelievable at first.
Everyone is doing a good job, so there is no reason to suddenly change people? !
However, it is necessary to replace people.
When it was confirmed that this was a decision made by Simon Westeros himself, the four judges no longer had the posture of sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai, but became trembling with fear. On the other hand, due to the overall decline of the recording industry, many musicians are so coveted that they are drooling over the "American Idol" judgeship, which provides generous remuneration and can consolidate their popularity.
What followed was a chaotic battle.
Not to mention all kinds of rumors, Brooke Shields has personally experienced two gossips surrounding the competition for "American Idol". One is that a female singer who is rumored to be the replacement for Jennifer Lopez paid paparazzi to follow her. The Latin diva's attempt to dig up dirt on her partner led to a confrontation at a downtown bar where Brooke Shields happened to be hanging out with friends.
Another time, two veteran actresses, both of whom were at the eldest sister level, had a quarrel at a party over the judges, and ended up breaking up.
In short, many people almost broke their heads with just one word from this arrogant man next to him.
The final outcome was that the original four judges' seats became five. Of the four judges in the first generation, only the unlucky Jennifer Lopez was eliminated and replaced by two judges, one male and one female under Daenerys Records. A teenage pop singer.
It is said that it is taking into account the young market.
In addition, in the second round of salary negotiations three seasons later, no one dared to speak out. Both parties renewed the contract in an amicable manner. There is no way to know the specific years of each contract. Rumors in the circle are that they hope to sign at least three more contracts. year, but unfortunately this time it was ABC’s turn not to do so.
Brooke Shields believes that there will be changes in the judge lineup after the fifth season.
As an artist who cooperates with a giant like ABC, Brooke Shields can't help but feel a little worried. However, from the perspective of the man sitting next to her at this time, Brooke Shields has to admire his strong control over the North American media and entertainment industry. force.
Just this time, Brooke Shields came forward without any pretense after the video conference, just to gain some opportunities for herself.
From the outside, it seems that as a star, you should be very free. After all, your income is far higher than that of ordinary people, and you will not be short of money under normal circumstances. How can you still need to be coy and coy? It should be those film companies or TV stations begging them to star in such coquettish ways.
The fact is that there are indeed such big names who are begged and shouted for cooperation.
But definitely very few.
And it is often just a stage in an acting career and cannot be permanent.
For most artists, even if you win an Oscar or win consecutive Emmys, you still have to take the initiative to fight for opportunities.
Because fame and fortune are addictive.
Even if they are not short of money, most of the superstars and celebrities who have tasted the glamor of Vanity Fair cannot bear the feeling of silence that no one cares about after their status has fallen and their popularity has ceased. It is simply worse than death.
Besides, in the face of Daenerys Entertainment, which is currently at its peak, no artist of any rank can even think of showing off.
Or maybe there’s only one person who can handle it.
That's Simon Westeros.
In the stands, when Brooke Shields, who was leaning towards the man, finally successfully guided a big hand to her thigh, a rehearsal on the stage ended, and a group of people in charge and several judges came over, Brooke Shields Si could only sit upright again and quickly stood up with the man.
For more than half an hour after that, Simon was discussing various details of the new season with the "American Idol" project leader, and the stage was also busy again.
So until get off work time.
When Brooke Shields finally felt that she could leave and monopolize Simon Westeros for a little while, she was immediately surrounded by a group of people. Among them, the eldest sister Cher was unabashedly almost clinging to the man, which made her Brooke Shields is inevitably slanderous. Sister, we are two generations.
Xueer was also helpless.
Just like this time, if Cisco hadn't found Robert Redford to help negotiate the deal, she would probably have been dumped together with Jennifer Lopez. Having been in Hollywood for so many years, there have been ups and downs, and having just experienced another peak in three years, Cher simply can't imagine what it will be like if she hits rock bottom again.
Are you still alive
Therefore, since there is an opportunity, of course, I must do everything possible to establish a good relationship with this little man who makes all women covet. As for suffering some losses for this, well, it is not a loss for me anyway.
Simon has always been a very considerate person, and of course he would not be cold-hearted to Sister Cher's overtures: "In the evening, first there was a dinner invitation, and then there was a Pop Art exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. , Xueer, are you interested?"
"Of course," Xueer nodded immediately: "I was good friends with Andy back then. It's a pity that he, a genius like him, passed away so early. By the way, Simon, are there any works by Andy tonight?"
The Andy here is naturally the pop art master Andy Warhol, who died in 1987, the year Simon just became famous, so naturally there will be no intersection with him. However, many of the older generation of Hollywood entertainers have interacted with Andy Warhol.
When Simon heard Xue'er ask, he nodded and said, "There must be, I don't know much about it."
Speaking of which, this painting exhibition was brokered by Stephanie Seymour’s publisher and collector husband Peter Brandt, and it can be regarded as a warm-up for Christie’s Pop Art auction to be held at the weekend.
After all, it is still his own business, so Simon agreed to join in the fun.
Simon was vague, but Cher was sure, and followed him directly. The destination was the mansion of Peter Brant and Stephanie Seymour on the Upper East Side. The nominal invitees were the Brants. In fact, Simon It was more about giving face to a certain supermodel. After all, the two parties had an intimate exchange just last month in Atlantic City.
As for appearing in front of a woman's husband like this, Simon didn't feel guilty.
Perhaps Peter Brant himself felt this, as he was still very warm to Simon throughout the evening.
This can also be regarded as a certain tradition in the West.
It's probably like that. It's not too shameful for a wife to be slept with by a big shot.
Typically, Churchill's mother was the mistress of the British King.
Moreover, even in modern times, this kind of thing has not changed much in the West.
For example, if Jeff Bezos was not suddenly exposed by the media that he slept with his wife, Bezos, who had been showing off his affection in the media a few months ago, would not have divorced, and the other couple might also be living well. of.