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Eric didn't expect that Firefly's management would do things so neatly. Just after the meeting in the morning, they made a move to JIVE Records in the afternoon. But he was not too surprised. JIVE Records was brilliant around 2000, and Teen-Pop has not risen yet. JIVE's market value is only less than 10 million US dollars, which is not worth mentioning compared to the entire Firefly Group.
Hearing that Howard Stringer took out JIVE Records as a bargaining chip, Eric just smiled and said: "Howard, Katzenberg really intends to acquire some record companies with good potential recently to expand the strength of Firefly Records. , since you say that, it must be true. However, unless Firefly is planning to acquire the entire Sony Records, I will not interfere with these small matters. If you have any doubts, you can call Katzenberg them."
Of course, Howard Stringer could not know that Eric personally ordered this matter, and he was a little shaken when he heard him say that.
After receiving the news from JIVE, Howard Stringer hurriedly asked someone to find the information of this humble subsidiary, and found that JIVE Records had been focusing on black Hip-hop music. Under Will Smith, but I regret to miss this industry gossip. In recent years, JIVE Records has never cultivated any heavyweight black singers. Trying to transform.
After researching this company several times, Howard Stringer did not find that JIVE attracted fireflies. Although he didn't discover the key point for a while, Howard Stringer didn't think things would be as simple as Eric said. Seeing Eric sitting across from him with a calm attitude, Howard Stringer finally decided to showdown , Said: "Eric, do you think this is okay? The distribution contract between Flower Pictures and Columbia remains unchanged. In return, I can make the decision. Sell JIVE records to Firefly."
Losing "Night at the Museum" and "Forrest Gump," compared to a mediocre sub-label, it's impossible for Columbia to find two more films to fill its summer slot. Columbia's lining is already rotten, and it is shocking that if even the superficial performance cannot be maintained. Sony will undoubtedly be under more pressure from investors in the film business.
However, Eric still shook his head lightly, and said: "Howard, as I said, the acquisition of the JIVE record you mentioned is such a small matter. I don't care at all, and you don't have to think about it. Let’s talk about the bargaining chips, I’m still talking about what I just said, this matter was first provoked by Columbia, since you are not willing to cooperate well, then everyone will go their own way.”
Howard Stringer also felt a bit of anger in Eric's reluctance, and said: "Eric, the contract between Columbia and Flower Pictures has not been terminated. If Flower Pictures wants to forcibly cancel the distribution In the case of a contract, Colombia does not rule out the opportunity to use litigation to protect its own interests. [ㄨ]”
Eric's body suddenly leaned forward. With a dangerous look in his eyes, he said, "Howard, listen to me, don't do this, otherwise you will find that Columbia will face much more trouble than Flower Pictures."
Howard Stringer said tit-for-tat: "Eric, Columbia has enough troubles. If we have no choice, we don't mind a little more trouble."
"And then?" Eric continued Howard Stringer's words, without waiting for the other party to speak. He continued: "Then, you will find that Columbia's business will be even worse. You are a media background, and Nobuyuki Idei hired you. He wants you to revitalize Sony's entertainment industry in the United States. If you can't do this, You're not worth much to Sony, and of course Sony will have to find another scapegoat when Columbia's business gets worse, and that person could only be you. And now. You have another option, Endure this, and Columbia will only lose one summer slot, but the situation will not continue to deteriorate, and the responsibility for losing the summer slot will ultimately only be placed on the top Sony executives at Nobuyuki Idei's level. So, Howard, what are you going to do? "
Howard Stringer leaned back in his chair, his eyes flickering continuously, and he didn't say anything after a while.
Eric also ignored the other party, feeling the sunset on his body, stretched out his hand to beckon the waiter not far away to ask for the menu, discussed with Elizabeth in a low voice, ordered dinner, and handed over the menu to The waiter said to Howard Stringer: "So, Howard, do you plan to stay for dinner together?"
Howard Stringer seemed to be awakened suddenly, shook his head slightly, said nothing, got up and left.
Eric just nodded and didn't mean to get up and see him off. Instead, Elizabeth looked at Howard Stringer and said, "Eric, aren't you afraid of driving him into a hurry?"
"Since he was able to climb to the position of CEO of the Sony US branch, he is unlikely to do any hot-headed things. It's just that he will definitely find that the position of the CEO of the Sony US branch is not as good as he imagined. Depressed for a while, for sure."
Although Peter Guber was kicked out of Columbia, because of projects such as "Men in Black", Columbia will definitely continue to survive in the shadow of Firefly for a few years. Unless Howard Stringer cuts off his wrist from now on, abandons his dependence on Firefly and develops his own film business on his own. But the reality is that, judging from the performance of Columbia Pictures after Howard Stringer took control of Sony's American branch in memory, he obviously does not have this talent, and Columbia does not even have an excellent manager now.
In the next few days, Columbia finally accepted the reality of rescinding the distribution contract with Blossom Pictures. Between insisting on fighting for Sony's interests and protecting his own job, Howard Stringer obviously chose the latter.
However, Firefly also encountered trouble in the process of acquiring JIVE Records, and Sony Records flatly rejected Firefly's acquisition offer.
However, what Eric is interested in is not a signed singer under JIVE Records or the music copyright he owns, but the JIVE management team that created the peak era of Teen-pop in his previous life.
The acquisition of JIVE Records was fruitless, Firefly waved a 'hoe' to the entire JIVE management team, and promised JIVE CEO Barry Weiss the high position of Firefly Records President, although Sony Records realized this and increased their support for JIVE Records. The degree of importance, but between the president of Firefly Records and a subsidiary of Sony Records. Barry Weiss didn't have any hesitation at all, and soon led the entire JIVE management team to leave Sony Records and join Firefly.
Los Angeles International Airport.
The turbulence when the plane landed woke Owen Jacob from his dream. After more than 20 hours of flying, he was exhausted.
After more than three years of operation. It even sold a large part of its technical rights, and Qualcomm won the support of the South Korean government on CDMA. However, due to the strong rise of GSM and its widespread popularity in Asia, South Korea has also begun to waver. Owen Jacob Bu had to go to South Korea to deal with the crisis in person.
Think of the current situation of Qualcomm in North America. Owen Jacobs is also a little confused. AT-T, the largest telecom operator in the United States, has already determined the GSM standard as a mobile communication standard, which directly caused a group of smaller telecom operators to follow in the footsteps of AT-T. Now Qualcomm is almost It has reached the verge of life and death. If it cannot win over CDMA supporters in the United States as soon as possible, Qualcomm will inevitably go bankrupt even if it has more advanced technology.
Now, the meeting with that young man has become a crucial opportunity for Qualcomm.
Walking out of the airport with the assistant, standing in the bright eyes of Los Angeles. Owen Jacobs relaxed a little, looked around in the crowd, and soon saw Alan Salmasi, one of Qualcomm's partners, coming up to him.
The two embraced. Arun Salmasi took Owen Jacob and the two got into a black car and ordered Owen Jacob's assistant to drive. Arun Salmasi took Owen Jacob Jacob sat in the back row.
As soon as he sat down in the car, Owen Jacob couldn't wait to ask: "Aaron, have you contacted Eric Williams yet?"
"Of course," Allen Salmasy nodded, and said, "Tomorrow at noon. At the Pointe Manor in Malibu, Eric Williams invited us to have lunch together."
Owen Jacob was a little anxious: "It's noon tomorrow, it's only ten o'clock in the morning, why don't you make an appointment today?"
Arun Sarmasi patted the old man's shoulder: "Hey, Owen, relax, you have been flying for more than 20 hours, you must take a break, you don't want to see you in this state Eric Williams, and. We have to revisit that plan, and this is probably our last chance. If we miss it, our ten years of hard work may be in vain."
Hearing what his friend said, Owen Jacob also calmed down and nodded.
Driving all the way to a hotel in Santa Monica, Alan Sarmasi had arranged the hotel room for Owen Jacob and his assistant, and after a brief wash, Owen Jacob came to A Len Salmasi's room.
Arun Sarmasi sat Owen Jacob on the sofa and turned to make coffee.
As soon as Owen Jacob sat down, he was attracted by a copy of "Fortune" magazine on the coffee table, because on the cover of the magazine was a photo of Eric on the film set. Picking up the magazine, Owen Jacob found a bookmark in the magazine, and curiously flipped through the page, which turned out to be an article introducing the Firefly Group.
Owen Jacob glanced at it casually, and was quickly attracted by the content.
Arun Sarmasi came over, noticed Owen Jacob's focused expression, carefully put the filled coffee aside, and sat down quietly on the other side of the sofa.
At the beginning of a new year, countless media are reviewing the past and looking forward to the future.
For the financial media, whenever a new year comes, it is an intensive time for them to rank the various economic data of the previous year. The Firefly Group, which frequently staged various big moves last year, is undoubtedly the focus of attention of the majority of financial media in the United States. Although Firefly has not released its financial report for the fourth quarter of last year and the annual financial report, but with the data disclosed in the first three quarters, Fortune magazine predicts that the annual revenue of Firefly Group in 1994 is likely to reach 18 billion U.S. dollars, and the annual operating net profit will also be 1.5 billion U.S. dollars. At the same time, Firefly also had two major non-operating incomes last year, the $1.5 billion divestiture of paper media assets and the $2.5 billion auction of the Disney animation department. With this strong profitability, Firefly has already left Hollywood's No. 2 Time Warner Group behind and has become a veritable media giant.
Waiting patiently for Owen Jacob to finish reading the article, Arun Sarmasi said, "Are you very surprised?"
Owen Jacobs nodded. Dao: "With a cash reserve of more than 10 billion US dollars and a discretionary cash flow of 2.5 billion US dollars, it is really unimaginable that Hollywood can produce such a profitable enterprise. Eric Williams is only 25 years old this year, right?"
"Yeah, but this young man appeared in this world simply to create miracles. Just like the Victoria's Secret annual show that was hyped by the media at the end of last year, Eric Williams, in order to run the Victoria's Secret Brand, spent 20 million US dollars in that luxurious interior show in half a year. Originally, many people thought that the 20 million US dollars of expenditure could only be earned back from the value-added of the Victoria’s Secret brand and product sales profits, but Victoria’s Secret After the show released the videotapes, the sales suddenly exploded. Each videotape at $29.9 is expected to sell 20 million boxes. This alone can bring Eric Williams $300 million in revenue. Williams returned the copyright of the Victoria's Secret show to LTD, and got more than 200 million shares," Alan Salmasi said with some emotion. He obviously did a lot of preparation work and understood A lot of information about Eric.
Owen Jacob was also a little bit sad. However, he is sixty-two years old this year, so he has experienced many things in the world. Although he feels shocked, his mood will not be too agitated.
After drinking a cup of coffee, the two chatted about business.
Arun Sarmasi handed the prepared materials to Owen Jacob and said, "This is the detailed plan, please read it first."
Owen Jacob flipped through the information in his hand. The FCC had just held an auction of spectrum licenses for established telecom companies not long ago. For these established telecom companies that have obtained A and B segment licenses. Qualcomm's influence is very weak, and it is impossible to influence which mobile communication technology these old telecom companies use. Therefore, Qualcomm has focused on the C-segment license from the beginning.
Compared with segment A and segment B licenses, they are simply supplied to a limited number of companies. In the C-segment license auction with countless bidders, the competition will undoubtedly be fierce. In the future, those small and medium-sized telecom companies that have paid a high price to win spectrum licenses will definitely pursue more economical and affordable mobile communication technologies in their actual development. Compared with GSM technology, CDMA has great advantages in network construction cost and spectrum utilization efficiency.
Qualcomm's worst plan at the beginning was once CDMA technology was abandoned by all established telecom operators. Qualcomm is working hard to win commercial opportunities from C-segment license holders.
However, after Eric expressed his interest in Qualcomm, one of Qualcomm's partners, Alan Sarmasi, quickly had a very bold idea. They plan to get enough financial support from Eric, and then eat all the C-segment licenses in one go, and then "wholesale" these spectrum licenses to small and medium-sized telecom operators at a relatively low price by bundling CDMA technology. In this way, even if CDMA technology has suffered a crushing defeat among mainstream telecom operators, CDMA technology can still occupy one-third of the mobile communication market by virtue of its promotion within the scope of C-segment licenses.
Arun Sarmasi said: "I have registered a company called Nextwave. As long as I can get funds from Eric Williams, I will let go of Qualcomm's business and concentrate on running NextWave. Get ready to snatch all segment C licenses.”
Owen Jacob put down the plan in his hand. Although Alan Salmahi's tone was full of expectation, he knew very well that this old man, like himself, had no confidence in this matter.
Because of the tacit understanding in private, the competition for A and B segment licenses was not intense, but the FCC still auctioned a total of 3.75 billion U.S. dollars. If you want to take all the spectrum licenses in the auction process of the C-segment licenses with a large number of competitors, you need to prepare at least twice the premium compared to the A and B-segment licenses. This figure is conservatively estimated to need 4 billion US dollars.
After hesitating for a moment, Owen Jacob asked: "Aaron, how likely do you think Eric Williams will provide us with 4 billion US dollars in support? Don't forget, now the entire Qualcomm, even 400 million Not worth the dollar."
Backing a company with a market capitalization of less than $400 million to execute a huge $4 billion plan is, in most people's eyes, something only a madman would do.
Although a set of wording has been prepared after repeated discussions, in fact, neither Irving Jacob nor Alan Sarmasi have any confidence in their hearts. The actual plan is also entirely because Qualcomm has nowhere to go now.
"Since Eric Williams took the initiative to contact us, we will definitely get some support from him this time. Perhaps, Eric Williams can help us lobby a major telecom operator to accept CDMA technology." Not sure. As for this plan," Alan Sarmasi comforted Owen Jacob, and comforted himself at the same time. Then, he looked at the draft plan with a slight bitterness on his face Smile: "As for this, if you try it, there may be a 1% chance of success, but if you don't try, there will be nothing." (To be continued.)