I have encountered too many bad things about charity. Regardless of past and present lives, Eric is not interested in this topic. Tom Murphy also felt Eric's emotions, so he changed other topics and said: "Eri Ke, I heard that a sequel to "Jurassic Park" is already in the works, are you really not going to continue to be the director?"
Now that he has become a shareholder of Firefly, a film project like "Jurassic Park" that involves billions of dollars in interests has also become Buffett's focus. Hearing this matter from an old friend, Buffett also echoed: "Eric, for such an important project as "Jurassic Park", I think it's better for you to control it yourself in the end. I don't think anyone wants to see the sequel of this film go wrong."
Eric also expected that this would happen when Firefly introduced other shareholders. However, he was not like Michael Eisner in the original space-time who bought abc and forced his own will, which eventually led to the profit-making abc falling into trouble soon again. loss.
With the development of Firefly to the present level, Eric knows that he is definitely not in control of him alone, so it has become very important to handle the relationship with shareholders and management. Therefore, after hearing the suggestions from the two old men, Eric patiently explained: "Personally, I will still serve as the producer of the sequel of "Jurassic Park", and I will also carefully consider the selection of directors, so as to Make sure this project is foolproof. However, for at least the next year, I will focus more on the content production of abc. Although abc achieved the first place in the North American market share last year, I found that in " After Growing Pains ended. ABC hasn't had a phenomenal series in years."
Hear Eric's plan. Tom Murphy nodded in understanding. Said: "I heard that Firefly has withdrawn the copyright of "Friends", right?"
"Yes," Eric noticed what Tom Murphy wanted to say, and continued: "However, the two programs "X-Files" and "Millionaire" were originally developed by Firefly and Fox to share copyright. These two programs will never be brought back.”
"It seems that there is another "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". I heard that this TV series has aroused great repercussions among teenagers," Buffett interrupted suddenly, shaking his head slightly as he spoke. With some regret in his expression, he said, "Eric, you are too generous to Fox Network."
"Because Firefly and Fox were partners at that time," Eric casually said, "However, in addition to "Friends", I have already selected a good TV series for ABC, which is currently in production. You'll be able to see the pilot next month."
"Oh," Tom Murphy became interested. Asked: "What kind of TV series?"
"A medical drama," Eric said, "it's called "The Story of the Emergency Room". If you are interested, I will send you a story outline tomorrow."
"That's not necessary," Tom Murphy shook his head: "I'm still looking forward to seeing the pilot episode as soon as possible."
"No problem. I will invite you as soon as I finish, Warren. If you are interested, you can come and take a look."
"If I can find time, I will come," Buffett said. "Also, Eric, since "Millionaire" can't be brought back, why don't you conceive of a similar reality show?"
Eric smiled and said: "It has already been. Firefly bought a reality show concept called "Survivor" from a British program producer last month. It is still perfecting the specific details of the show. It is expected that the autumn file will be released. Simultaneously with Friends and ER."
Although the well-known reality show "Survivor" was not launched on CBS until 2000 in the original time and space, it was actually conceived as early as 1994, but it was never adopted by the North American TV network.
Many viewers have found that major American TV stations are always used to remake or buy TV programs that are already in other countries, so they often use this to ridicule Americans for their lack of creativity, but this is not the case.
Several major TV networks in the United States usually launch a total of more than 90 hours of TV programs in daytime and prime time every week, but the most important and most valuable ones are only three hours a night (four hours on Sundays). ) a total of 22 hours of prime-time programs per week, because daytime program public television networks often have their own program schedules in each region, and affiliated stations also arrange program listings according to their own conditions. However, during the prime time every day, the main TV network and hundreds of sub-networks under its umbrella broadcast the entire network, which means that every program in the prime time must go through strict screening before it can be finally broadcast. Once a TV program is established, it is impossible to broadcast one or two episodes and cut it off immediately because the ratings are too low. Due to constraints such as the contract, even if the ratings are very high, it needs to be broadcast after the scheduled six episodes before it can be stopped. Once this happens, the TV network will lose huge advertising dollars because of the failure of this program. Therefore, it is undoubtedly the most secure way to introduce TV programs that have proven their viewing potential from the same English-speaking cultural circle.
When Eric was collecting program ideas, Charlie Parsons, the creator of "Survivor", was promoting his idea to major TV stations in the United Kingdom and the United States, but all of them were rejected without exception. Eric found that After getting this idea, let Firefly's TV drama production department secretly buy out the creative copyright of this show.
However, the format of the show Charlie Parsons conceived was very rough compared to Eric's memory, and Eric has recently been letting Firefly's production department continue to refine the project.
Buffett and Tom Murphy listened to Eric briefly talk about the general concept of "Survivor". Buffett just thought this program was very interesting, but Tom Murphy, who had been working in the TV industry for decades, could see the " "Survivor" subverts the traditional idea and is praised again and again.
Eric didn't show much pride in Tom Murphy's praise, after all. The most indispensable thing in this world is creativity. What's more, the program idea of "Survivor" must have been reviewed by the original ABC production department. Then it was randomly thrown into a corner without any accident. The reason why Tom Murphy is like this is more because of the halo blessing caused by Eric's personal creation of a series of successful programs, just like any movie project he is looking at now will be valued and competed by Hollywood.
"Warren, Tom, there is one more thing, I want to say hello to you in advance," he drank a few sips of champagne and moistened his throat. Eric said to Buffett and Tom Murphy: "I plan to spin off all the newspapers and magazines under the company."
Buffett frowned slightly when he heard this, and Tom Murphy asked, "Eric, why are you doing this? These newspapers have been making continuous profits in recent years. I don't see any reason for that. Is it necessary to spin off, and these newspapers can just expand Firefly's media influence?"
According to the historical process, the Internet boom will enter an explosive period next year. Although the current paper media still occupies a very important position in the media industry, Eric still remembers it clearly. With the rise of Internet new media, these paper media will soon become a phoenix. The value has plummeted even more, and many traditional paper media groups that were originally in the world's top 500 basically could not escape the fate of sharply shrinking assets at the beginning of the 20th century.
Now when the official paper media is the most valuable, Eric will of course take the opportunity to cash out: "Tom, I don't deny the value of these newspapers, but Firefly's business focus is not on these, and Firefly will always focus on it in the future. In the film and television business and its derivative industries, that's why I plan to spin off these assets," Eric said, looking at Buffett again: "Warren, I know you have always valued the newspaper business, if Berkshire is right If you are interested in these assets, maybe we can find time to talk, and I will give a more reasonable price."
This is a willingness to fight and a willingness to suffer, Eric added in his heart, if Buffett finds that he has been cheated in the future, he can't blame himself.
Berkshire Hathaway owns shares in many newspapers including The Washington Post. Buffett has always maintained a strong interest in investing in the newspaper industry because of his childhood newsboy experience.
However, Buffett is very clear that the assets of those newspapers owned by the former Metropolitan Company will never be taken down without a billion dollars, but Buffett has already made his own plans for the more than one billion dollars that will be cashed out from this transaction. , He plans to take all the remaining shares of Berkshire's government employee insurance company into his pocket. It is impossible for Berkshire to raise more than one billion US dollars to buy these newspapers in the short term.
Moreover, although Eric's expression was very sincere, Buffett still keenly felt something strange, which made him cautious: "Eric, if you can wait a year, Berkshire doesn't mind taking The newspapers, but now, the money that Berkshire got back through this acquisition has been used for other purposes, and I can’t come up with enough cash.”
"It doesn't matter," Eric still looked like a very frank junior: "Firefly's current demand for funds is not so strong, so Berkshire can use stocks to pay for this acquisition."
The current stock price of Berkshire Hathaway is about 20,000 US dollars. Although this is already the highest stock price in North America, Eric knows that the stock price of Berkshire will continue to rise in the next ten years At the astonishing price of 200,000 U.S. dollars, even if these newspapers are sold for a billion U.S. dollars at this time, they will be worth 10 billion U.S. dollars if they change hands more than ten years later.
Buffett, who has never been stingy about stock sales and transfers, heard Eric mentioning this plan, and immediately changed from cautious to vigilant, shaking his head and said: "Eric, Berkshire will not use stock mergers to acquire companies. , maybe you can contact other media groups."
Eric shook his head regretfully: "Well, if Berkshire is willing to take over, you can call me anytime."
"I will," Buffett nodded, then pointed not far away, and said, "Eric, I saw an old friend, excuse me."
After Buffett finished speaking, he winked at Tom Murphy, who was hesitant to speak. Tom Murphy swallowed what he wanted to say, and walked away with Warren Buffett.
Watching the two old men leave, Eric looked at his watch, it was already one o'clock in the afternoon, looked around, found Jeffrey's figure, and walked over.
Seeing Eric approaching, a middle-aged man who was talking to Jeffrey raised his glass to Eric and walked away politely.
Jeffrey asked: "Eric, what were you talking to them just now?"
"Some things about program production," Eric said, "Jeffrey, today is the birthday of the two little guys. I'm going to East Hampton. Would you like to come with me?"
Jeffrey shook his head and refused with a smile: "Unknowingly, the two little guys are one year old. I will ask the secretary to help pick out two birthday gifts for them later, but the birthday party is for you young people. , I won’t go there.”
Eric said: "Let's go together, Chris and Emily will be there today, maybe you can talk to them about the wedding."
"The two of them," Jeffrey showed a helpless look on his face, but after thinking about it, he said, "That's fine."
"I'm going to say hello to Katzenberg and the others. The helicopter should be on the rooftop by now. You can go there first."
…
In April, East Hampton, Long Island is full of spring, giving people a feeling of vitality. The helicopter landed slowly on the lawn of the seaside manor in East Hampton. Eric helped Jeffrey get off the plane and explained how much the pilot In a word, the helicopter left again.
Joanna and Virginia also came up with a large group of people at this time. When the two women called Eric to talk about the first birthday party of the two little guys, they hoped to invite some guests. Eric Ke could also understand the thoughts of the two women. They didn't want the two little guys to remain unknown as illegitimate children. Eric had never wanted to keep the identities of the pair of children secret, so he agreed.
At this time, there were more than a dozen people who came over. In addition to Joanna and Virginia, Chris and Emily who were holding the two little guys, Eric also saw Elizabeth and Drew, but the two girls were separated. far away. In addition, Eric also saw Virginia's older brother, Michael Madsen, and a tall woman in her thirties who was beside Michael Madsen, who should be his wife, and Joanna's younger sister, Eva. . Pakula, Eric doesn't know much about other people. (To be continued.)