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The car was far away from the headquarters of the Firefly Group, and Bill Michanik hadn't recovered from the shock of Katzenberg's words just now.
Over the years, Firefly Group has not only annexed New Line Films, Disney Group, and ABC Group successively, becoming the largest media giant in Hollywood, but also secretly controls MGM Pictures, and has an intertwined relationship with 20th Century Fox.
Bill Michanik thinks that even MGM, which was in full swing in Hollywood's golden age, is probably nothing more than that.
Bill Michanik wouldn't be too surprised if Firefly just wanted to get Columbia Pictures back and drive the Japanese out of Hollywood. In his view, with the current operating conditions of Sony Pictures, if there is no fundamental change in the next few years, it is almost inevitable that Sony will withdraw from the film and television industry. At that time, with the strength of Firefly Group, if this company makes a move, there will be very few competitors inside and outside Hollywood that can compete with it.
However, from Katzenberg's remarks that Firefly intends to suppress the remuneration of Hollywood's first-line superstars, Bill Michanik understands another thing: Firefly Group wants to be the rule-maker of Hollywood.
However, if you want to formulate rules, even if you control half of Hollywood's major film companies, it is still not enough. This can only be like half a fishing net in a river, but the fish in the river can easily swim across from the other side.
To make the rules, Firefly must have all of Hollywood in its hands.
To achieve this goal, after Sony, Firefly will definitely make a move to the other three Hollywood companies.
In Bill Michanik's view, among them, it is more realistic to take back Columbia Pictures. The other three major film companies, whether it is Universal, Paramount, or Warner, have all become large media groups. However, these media groups that have finally integrated after going through difficulties and obstacles will basically not sell their film business.
In other words, the only way for Firefly to win the last three film companies is probably to swallow their parent companies together.
Bill Michanik knew Katzenberg very well, and he didn't think Katzenberg would have such unrealistic ambitions. After all, in his opinion, even if such a goal could be achieved, it would probably be 20 or 30 years later thing.
Thirty years, Hollywood, who's ambition can last for thirty years
Even the old and firm media tycoons like Redstone or Murdoch, Viacom and News Corporation have reached a limit to the current level of development. Even if these two people can live another thirty years, and They firmly hold Viacom and News Corporation in their hands, but they don't actually have enough energy to continue to grow the industry in their hands.
However, thinking of this, the figure of the young man behind the Firefly Group quickly appeared in Bill Michanik's mind.
So, in the midst of all kinds of flavors, suddenly a little more enlightenment.
Eric Williams is only twenty-seven years old this year, but the Firefly Group has grown to its present size.
Then, if we continue, as long as we stick to this ambition, it may not be completely impossible for Firefly to control the entire Hollywood.
Unknowingly, the car has arrived at the Columbia Pictures headquarters in Culver City.
Hearing the assistant's soft reminder, Bill Michanik finally recovered from his contemplation.
Thinking of Howard Stringer who was still waiting for the outcome of his negotiations with Katzenberg, Bill Michanik thought about it for a while, but decided not to tell Howard Stringer what the other party said when he met Katzenberg. ringer.
Howard Stringer wants to become the first non-Japanese CEO of Sony Group, but he still wants to stay in Hollywood for a long time. Bill Michanik even thought, perhaps, in the future, he should have more contact with his colleagues from the Disney era. Then, even if the Firefly Group takes back Columbia Pictures, he still has a high chance of striving to continue to serve as the CEO of Columbia Pictures. Keep up the good work with this company.
This year's Christmas is on Thursday. Except for the impact of Christmas Eve on Wednesday, the single-day box office of "Rush Hour 2" fell to 6.59 million US dollars, and the single-day box office of "Rush Hour 2" on the other three working days was 9 million. The single-day box office of "Rush Hour 2" even rebounded to 10.75 million US dollars on Christmas Day.
In the end, the first-week box office of "Rush Hour 2" reached 103.52 million U.S. dollars, becoming the only dark horse with a first-week box office of over 100 million in the schedule at the end of 1997.
Following "Rush Hour 2", the box office of "Starship Troopers" stopped at 29.15 million US dollars in the first week, and the single-day box office on the last working day of the first week even fell to the million level.
"Rush Hour 2" exceeded 100 million in the first week, and the total box office in North America exceeded 200 million.
Since it was unavoidable, Eric also concentrated on enjoying the warmth of Christmas. As for the request from Los Angeles that the two male protagonists hoped to add a part of the box office share on the basis of the third sequel's $20 million salary in the contract, Eric also agreed. I didn't take it to heart.
After Christmas, "Jurassic Park 3" landed on the North American theaters on time on December 26.
Now that Christmas is over, Eric gradually turns his mind to work.
On Saturday morning, because he invited several senior executives of Yahoo to hold a not-so-formal video conference to discuss Yahoo's development plan for next year, Eric sat in the study early and waited for the "Jurassic" from Los Angeles. Park 3's first-day box office report.
Throughout this year, due to the complete outbreak of the wave of Internet technology, a large number of emerging Internet companies have increased their efforts in online advertising regardless of cost.
Therefore, as a portal website giant occupying more than 70% of the North American market, Yahoo's performance this year has increased significantly again.
Compared with last year's annual revenue of 194 million US dollars, although the last quarter's performance data is still being counted, in the first three quarters, Yahoo's annual revenue has reached 435 million US dollars, and the annual revenue is likely to Close to $600 million.
However, correspondingly, as Internet users in North America and even overseas continue to grow explosively, Yahoo's operating costs have also risen sharply. Throughout 1995, Firefly invested $500 million in Yahoo.
According to preliminary statistics, compared with last year, Yahoo's loss this year will also rise to more than 300 million US dollars.
Because it was not a formal meeting, on the other side of the video, several Yahoo executives also gathered in the living room of Yahoo CEO Ian Grenier's home.
"According to the statistics in November, the number of global Internet users has exceeded 100 million, of which North American Internet users accounted for 70%, reaching 70 million. Next year, the number of Internet users in North America alone will exceed 100 million. Want to To maintain Yahoo's rapid expansion in North America and overseas, the company needs at least US$1 billion in capital next year. Eric, I have received more than one call these days to test whether Yahoo wants to raise funds. This time it is US$1 billion. Do you still plan to be fully invested by Firefly Investment?"
According to the original agreement, Yahoo has already carried out an equity distribution.
However, through last year's capital injection of 500 million US dollars, Firefly Investment's shareholding ratio in Yahoo has once again increased to 85%. According to Yahoo's current valuation of around US$15 billion, if all the US$1 billion is injected by Firefly Investment next year, Firefly Investment's shareholding in Yahoo will rise to more than 90% again.
"I've said before that before Yahoo goes public, we won't introduce external investment, so of course," Eric nodded, and said, "As for the money, you and Chris just discuss it. , This year Nokia, Cisco, LTD and other subsidiaries will bring good profit dividends to Firefly Investment, and it is no problem to support Yahoo’s expansion, let’s discuss Yahoo’s next development plan.”
Eric was about to continue talking when the door of the study was pushed open.
Eric didn't see anyone at a glance, straightened his body, and only then noticed that his daughter had run in.
"Dad, Dad, these are the biscuits that mom just baked, try them," the little guy ran to Eric, and handed over half of the biscuits in his hand with a pure face.
Eric looked at his precious daughter deliberately pretending that I am a child and I don't understand anything, smiled, and hugged her daughter dotingly, and put her on his lap.
The goal of Hawaii was achieved, and he stuffed half of the biscuit into his father's mouth casually, but his beautiful big eyes turned to the computer screen curiously, and he was a little disappointed when he saw a few strangers' faces on the screen.
Eric took the half biscuit stuck in his mouth and put it aside, feeling that his daughter was about to run away, hugged him gently, and said: "Xia Xia, be polite, remember everyone, don't forget greet."
On the other side, Ian Grenier, Steve Mitnick and Tina Brown all watched the situation with great interest. They had already seen Hawaii at Chris's wedding, although not much Contact is not unfamiliar, but I only later heard from Jeff Bezos that Eric's little girl is very smart.
Looking at the little girl in front of him through the screen with an inexplicable spirituality in every move, Steve Mitnick couldn't help it, and said: "Hey, Xia Xia, I heard that you are very smart, hey, here Can you come up with a math problem?"
Hawaii looked at the few people crowded in the computer screen, tilted his head, and said, "I got the answer right, can you walk away from the screen?"
…
…
However, correspondingly, as Internet users in North America and even overseas continue to grow explosively, Yahoo's operating costs have also risen sharply. Throughout 1995, Firefly invested $500 million in Yahoo.
According to preliminary statistics, compared with last year, Yahoo's loss this year will also rise to more than 300 million US dollars.
Because it was not a formal meeting, on the other side of the video, several Yahoo executives also gathered in the living room of Yahoo CEO Ian Grenier's home.
"According to the statistics in November, the number of global Internet users has exceeded 100 million, of which North American Internet users accounted for 70%, reaching 70 million. Next year, the number of Internet users in North America alone will exceed 100 million. Want to To maintain Yahoo's rapid expansion in North America and overseas, the company needs at least US$1 billion in capital next year. Eric, I have received more than one call these days to test whether Yahoo wants to raise funds. This time it is US$1 billion. Do you still plan to be fully invested by Firefly Investment?"
According to the original agreement, Yahoo has already carried out an equity distribution.
However, through last year's capital injection of 500 million US dollars, Firefly Investment's shareholding ratio in Yahoo has once again increased to 85%. According to Yahoo's current valuation of around US$15 billion, if all the US$1 billion is injected by Firefly Investment next year, Firefly Investment's shareholding in Yahoo will rise to more than 90% again.
"I've said before that before Yahoo goes public, we won't introduce external investment, so of course," Eric nodded, and said, "As for the money, you and Chris just discuss it. , This year Nokia, Cisco, LTD and other subsidiaries will bring good profit dividends to Firefly Investment, and it is no problem to support Yahoo’s expansion, let’s discuss Yahoo’s next development plan.”
Eric was about to continue talking when the door of the study was pushed open.
Eric didn't see anyone at a glance, straightened his body, and only then noticed that his daughter had run in.
"Dad, Dad, these are the biscuits that mom just baked, try them," the little guy ran to Eric, and handed over half of the biscuits in his hand with a pure face.
Eric looked at his precious daughter deliberately pretending that I am a child and I don't understand anything, smiled, and hugged her daughter dotingly, and put her on his lap.
The goal of Hawaii was achieved, and he stuffed half of the biscuit into his father's mouth casually, but his beautiful big eyes turned to the computer screen curiously, and he was a little disappointed when he saw a few strangers' faces on the screen.
Eric took the half biscuit stuck in his mouth and put it aside, feeling that his daughter was about to run away, hugged him gently, and said: "Xia Xia, be polite, remember everyone, don't forget greet."
On the other side, Ian Grenier, Steve Mitnick and Tina Brown all watched the situation with great interest. They had already seen Hawaii at Chris's wedding, although not much Contact is not unfamiliar, but I only later heard from Jeff Bezos that Eric's little girl is very smart.
Looking at the little girl in front of him through the screen with an inexplicable spirituality in every move, Steve Mitnick couldn't help it, and said: "Hey, Xia Xia, I heard that you are very smart, hey, here Can you come up with a math problem?"
Hawaii looked at the few people crowded in the computer screen, tilted his head, and said, "I got the answer right, can you walk away from the screen?" (To be continued.)