Different from Redstone's business philosophy that content is king, Murdoch is more inclined to channel expansion, which is why News Corporation's territory is larger than Viacom's.
Because of the rise of the Fox TV network and the 20th Century Fox Film Company, Murdoch's business focus has gradually focused on North America.
Barry Diller's resignation caused News Corporation to instantly lose an important pillar of its film and television media business in the United States. Murdoch had to temporarily take part in the battle in person. These days, Murdoch has been presiding over the overall situation at the Fox headquarters in Los Angeles.
The success of "Friends", "X-Files" and "Who Will Be a Millionaire" has made the development of the Fox TV network much smoother than the original time and space. Inspired by Warner's n and the resource advantages of News Corporation itself, Murdoch Preparations for Fox News have recently begun.
Another busy day was about to pass, and when he was about to leave work, Murdoch's assistant suddenly knocked on the door and walked into the office, handing him a document: "Mr. Murdoch, this is Mars, editor-in-chief of the New York Post. A press release that Allen just faxed, maybe you need to see it for yourself."
Murdoch trusted his assistant not to send over a frivolous press release, and since it was handed to him, there must be something special about it.
6⊙, "Put it here, I'll read it later," Murdoch waved his hand, and the assistant politely left the office.
After quickly reviewing the last few documents at hand, Murdoch picked up the press release sent by his assistant, glanced at the title of the article, and frowned slightly. As a media tycoon who made his fortune in journalism, Murdoch only read the first few paragraphs. Then it was determined that this was pure gossip. Maybe it will bring some talk to readers. But it will certainly cause dissatisfaction among the parties involved.
Murdoch read it hastily, and couldn't help picking up a document he had just read, which was part of the financial statements of Fox TV's media content expenditures this year.
Murdoch's eyes quickly fell on the column about "Terminator 2". After a Hollywood movie has finished playing in theaters, the second round is to release video tapes, followed by the third round on major North American mainstream TV stations, broadcast on cable and local television.
After "Terminator 2" has completed its theater play and distribution of videotapes, it began to bid for TV station authorization, usually. In order to maximize profits, movies are often played on paid cable stations first, and then free wireless stations are considered.
But because of the shareholding relationship between Firefly and Fox Television Network, Firefly made an exception and sold the rights to broadcast the first round to Fox Television, but the price is still not cheap. For just four broadcasts in the first round, Fox will have to pay up to 16 million U.S. dollars in licensing fees , an average of 4 million US dollars each time.
The cooperation between Fox and Firefly has always been pleasant, but if the article in front of him is sent from the New York Post, it will not only be regarded as provocative by Eric. Other media forces will definitely think that there is a crack in the cooperation between Firefly and Fox. This is obviously a scene that many people like to see.
Although realizing the weak position in cooperation with Firefly made Murdoch feel very uncomfortable. But he would not take any drastic actions because of this. He called his assistant again and explained: "Tell Mars Allen that there is another similar press release about Eric Williams, just press it down. Other reports must be stopped."
"I see, Mr. Murdoch," the assistant nodded and walked out.
Checking the time, Murdoch stuffed the manuscript into his briefcase and went home from get off work.
TG last year's "Thelma & Louise" was nominated for five Oscars. Elizabeth and Drew planned a public relations party together. In the evening, she received a call from her father and had to rush back to the Murdoch family's residence in Los Angeles. have supper.
After dinner, looking at his daughter who came to the study with him, who was obviously absent-minded, Murdoch couldn't help but reprimanded: "You are so old, you can't be more stable."
Elizabeth sat down on an office chair, crossed her legs and said with a smile: "You should tell my two precious brothers, tsk tsk, I heard that James has recently become obsessed with rock and roll. What kind of person, I hope he won't bring you a pale daughter-in-law covered in piercings one day, oh, this 'daughter-in-law' is not necessarily a woman."
Mentioning the two sons, Murdoch, gave me a headache. Seeing his daughter's teasing expression, he immediately became angry: "Then you, you are already twenty-four, and it's time to think about getting married."
Elizabeth's eyes immediately became a little erratic, and she changed the subject impatiently: "Dad, what are you calling me back for? If there is nothing else, I can leave. There are a lot of things to do."
Murdoch couldn't do anything about his stubborn daughter. Knowing what he said, this girl would really walk away, so he had no choice but to talk about the topic.
"It's like this. Recently, I feel that Fox is a bit weak in content production. What do you think of Fox's acquisition of TG Films?" Murdoch said bluntly to his daughter, not hiding the reason.
Elizabeth spread her hands and said: "Dad, you know that this kind of thing is actually not up to the three of us girls, and that guy has to nod and agree, and it's useless even if he buys it. TG and Firefly have already signed an agreement." The publishing contract is over. In addition, don’t think about Firefly, even if Firefly has remaining high-quality projects, it will definitely be handed over to Disney. In the final analysis, Fox still has to do it by itself.”
Murdoch certainly understands what Elizabeth said, but now that the investment cost of movies is increasing day by day, the risks are also increasing, but the big-budget movies produced by Fox in the past few years have not achieved any outstanding results. The disastrous box office failure of "Cut Throat Island" last summer and the disappointment of Spielberg's "Captain Hawk" at the end of the year made many film companies realize that big-budget movies are not so easy to play. While being cautious about big-investment movies, Firefly announced four movie production plans with a total investment of more than 300 million U.S. dollars. People have to admire Eric's confidence and courage in movie investment.
"Didn't Firefly announce the production plan of four films? Do you think it is possible for Fox to participate in the investment? After all, it is 300 million US dollars. Firefly has just acquired Disney. Funds should be tight."
Elizabeth shook her head straight: "It's unlikely. The film company will only introduce external investment when it's not sure about the project. How could it be possible for him to be unsure about the project he personally likes. Moreover, that guy is now evaluated as extremely conservative by Wall Street. A business operator who advocates low debt and abundant cash flow, if he does not have so much capital, he will certainly not launch such a plan."
Murdoch sighed and glanced at his daughter. The subtext is obviously nothing more to say, so what use is there for you
Elizabeth stared back in dissatisfaction: "Old man, you won't let your daughter sell her lust, will you? Don't even think about it!"
Murdoch was instantly annoyed, shook his head with a wry smile, took out the manuscript from his briefcase and threw it to Elizabeth: "It was handed over by the editor-in-chief of the New York Post this afternoon. Take it."
Elizabeth picked it up curiously and flipped through it. Although she also knew that most of this report was nonsense, she still said unceremoniously: "Again, what a bastard, he will fall on women sooner or later."
…
"Asshole." At noon the next day, in Julia's mansion in Beverly Hills. Several women had lunch and chatted about it, and Elizabeth said bitterly again.
"Asshole," Julia echoed, laughing from the other side of the couch.
Tina Fei, who was holding a little girl in her arms, smiled, but didn't follow suit, but the little girl who was about to be one year old in her arms yelled, "Eggy!"
Drew flipped through the manuscript in front of him and said, "It's not that you don't know what's going on, you should think about how to deal with the aftermath."
"Whoever wants to deal with the aftermath for him, give him the manuscript and let him handle it by himself."
"February 10 is the Super Bowl final. Eric has been busy editing the trailer of "Tornado" these days, so don't bother him with these things," Drew read the manuscript twice carefully, and then Putting it in her bag, she asked Elizabeth again: "Do you have the contact information of the paparazzi who wrote this article? I have to get the recording back first."
Seeing Drew's solemn expression, Julia said, "There's no need to be so troublesome. Anyway, the manuscript has been suppressed."
"Of course it is necessary, not only that, but also to warn the girl's father, the little people who are mercenary often become very troublesome."
Elizabeth smiled and said, "Oh, you seem to be very experienced."
"Of course, because I have such a pair of parents, I understand what such people will often do," Drew said with some self-mockery, and then narrowed his eyes slightly to look at the three people in front of him, speaking in a slow tone It became hoarse and strange: "No one can hinder Eric, let alone hurt him, and neither can you."
For a moment, Julia felt that Drew was like a ghostly-eyed cat in a horror movie, ready to pounce at any moment.
Elizabeth also had the feeling of wanting to get goosebumps, and she said guiltily: "I just said a few words to him, and I didn't wrong him, he was... just... well, okay, I'll find you the paparazzi's contact." Way."
Elizabeth quickly found out the contact information of Cole Anderson, and after Drew wrote it down, he left Julia's house with Tina Fey.
Hearing the sound of cars leaving in the neighboring Drew's villa, Julia grinned at Elizabeth: "What a little lunatic, I just scared me."
Elizabeth listened to the distant sound of the car engine, turned her head and looked Julia up and down, thought of herself again, shrugged, turned and walked towards the room.
Julia followed up with the little girl who was dozing off with her head nodding in her arms, and said, "Liz, why are you so weird, you must be crazy too."
"I have to go to the set of "Ghost in Masquerade" in the afternoon, so I don't have time to go crazy, but if you stay at home all day, you will go crazy sooner or later. You should start filming early."
"I've started picking scripts recently, hey, do you think I can act in any of these tg films?"
"Why, you also want to play a crazy woman like Nicole Kidman?"
"The tone of your words is really sour. You are still complaining that Eric didn't hand over "Hot Girl" to tg. Drew obviously said it. It's his other arrangements."
"How dare I blame him, I'm afraid of being killed by Drew."
…
After getting back the recording of that interview with a check, Drew hurried to Disney's production center with Tina Fey.
Because of the relationship between Drew and Eric, Billy Clark, the program movie of "Mickey Mouse Club" heard the notice from the studio guard, and quickly greeted him in person.
"Hello, Miss Barrymore," Billy Clark felt a little strange. Eric had just visited the Mickey Mouse Club the day before yesterday, and he didn't expect to welcome another one in just one day.
Drew shook hands with Billy Clark very talentedly, and the two came to Billy Clark's office together before Drew took out the manuscript and the recording.
Billy Clark read the manuscript again and listened to a recording, and his expression became a little uneasy. He knew that these things would definitely bring trouble to Eric if they were reported. You know, recently the famous director Woody Allen just Falling into the scandal of adopting a daughter, if the media catches similar news, they will definitely make a lot of hype. If this kind of thing really happens, the program crew will definitely be unlucky too.
"Miss Barrymore, you... what do you mean?"
"Mr. Clark, this matter has nothing to do with you, you don't need to be nervous," Drew comforted with a smile, and said, "Call the girl's father to come over, I'll just talk to him personally, and , can you give me a copy of the information of the young actors who visited Eric's house that day?"
"Of course, of course, I'll do it now." Billy Clark said, leaving the office in a hurry.
Drew quickly obtained the detailed information of the seven teenagers, went through them quickly, and quickly eliminated five of them, leaving only the two little girls' information of Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears material.
After carefully looking at the photos of the two girls, the girl curled her lips and asked Tina Fei beside her, "Tina, what do you think of them?"
Tina Fey looked at the photo and said, "It's very cute. Disney's children's channel, of course the young actors selected are very lovable. Drew, I don't think Mr. Williams is that kind of person, he must be It’s just an invitation to these youngsters to visit the Sharp Point Manor.”
"No, you don't understand," Drew shook his head, and said, "After getting along with Eric for a long time, you will find that he often uses that strange look, which I don't know what it means Looking at some people, it's like, uh, like I've known them for a long time, and I'm sure there's a little guy like that among the seven."
"Ah..." Tina Fei opened her mouth in surprise, and wanted to say something, but she just subconsciously asked, "Then, did he see me?"
Drew looked up at Tina Fey, with a smile on his lips, and said, "Of course." (To be continued...)