Chapter 943 Ambition
The car was far away from the headquarters of the Firefly Group, and Bill Michanick had not recovered from the shock that Katzenberg had just said to him. 【Read the latest chapter】
Over the years, Firefly Group has not only successively annexed New Line Cinema, Disney Group and ABC Group, becoming the largest media giant in Hollywood, but also secretly controls MGM Pictures and has an inextricable relationship with 20th Century Fox.
Even MGM, the golden age of Hollywood, thinks it's just that, Bill Michanick thinks.
If Firefly just wants to take back Columbia Pictures and drive the Japanese out of Hollywood completely, Bill Michalnick wouldn't be too surprised. 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 for Sony to withdraw from the film and television industry. At that time, with the strength of the 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 words that Firefly intends to suppress the remuneration of Hollywood's first-line superstars, Bill Michanick understands another thing: The Firefly Group wants to be a Hollywood rule maker.
But it's not enough to set the rules, even if you control half of Hollywood's big studios. This can only be like half of a fishing net in a river, but the fish in the river can easily swim from the other side.
To set the rules, Firefly must have Hollywood in its hands.
To achieve this goal, after Sony, Firefly will definitely make a move to the other three Hollywood companies.
In Bill Michnick's view, among them, it is only realistic to take back Columbia Pictures. The other three major movie companies, whether Universal, Paramount, or Warner, have become part of large media groups. , These media groups that have gone through hardships and obstacles to finally integrate will basically not sell the film business in their hands.
In other words, if Firefly wants to win the last three film companies, the only way is probably to swallow their parent companies together.
Bill Michanick knew Katzenberg 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 twenty or thirty years later. thing.
Thirty years, Hollywood, whose ambition can last for thirty years?
Even the old and hardened media tycoons like Redstone or Murdoch, Viacom and News Corp. have reached their limit, even if they can live another 30 years, and 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 young man behind the Firefly Group quickly appeared in Bill Michanick's mind.
As a result, among the miscellaneous tastes, suddenly there was a little more clarity.
Eric Williams is only twenty-seven years old this year, but the Firefly Group has grown to its current size.
So, go on, as long as you stick to this ambition, it may not be completely impossible for Firefly to control the entire Hollywood.
The car had unknowingly arrived at the Columbia Pictures headquarters in Culver City.
Hearing the assistant's soft reminder, Bill Michanick finally recovered from his deep thoughts.
Thinking of Howard Stringer, who was still waiting for the outcome of his negotiations with Katzenberg, Bill Michanick considered it for a while, and decided not to tell Howard Stringer what he said when he met Katzenberg. Ringer.
Howard Stringer is obsessed with being the first non-Japanese CEO of Sony Group, but he himself wants to stay in Hollywood for a long time. Bill Michanick even thought that maybe he should get in touch with his colleagues from Disney in the future. Then, even if the Firefly Group takes back Columbia Pictures, he still has a high chance of trying to continue to serve as the CEO of Columbia Pictures. Stay on top of this company.
This year's Christmas is Thursday. Except for Wednesday, which was affected by Christmas Eve, 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" in the other three working days was 900 million. Above the dollar, the single-day box office of "Rush Hour 2" on Christmas day even rebounded to $10.75 million.
In the end, the weekly box office of "Rush Hour 2" reached 103.52 million US dollars, becoming the only dark horse with a weekly box office of over 100 million in the end of 1997.
Following "Rush Hour 2", "Starship Troopers", the weekly box office stopped at 29.15 million US dollars, and the single-day box office on the last working day of the week fell to the million level.
"Rush Hour 2" broke 100 million weekly, and the total North American box office exceeded 200 million is almost a certainty, and the next "Jurassic Park 3" will inevitably be affected by "Rush Hour 2".
Since it is unavoidable, Eric will concentrate on enjoying the warmth of Christmas. As for the request from Los Angeles that the two male protagonists hope to add a part of the box office share to the third sequel of the contract, Eric also Did not take it to heart.
After Christmas, "Jurassic Park 3" hits 6 North American theaters on time on December 26.
Since Christmas was over, Eric gradually turned his attention to work.
On Saturday morning, Eric sat down in the study early because he had an informal video conference with several Yahoo executives to discuss Yahoo's exhibition plans for next year, while waiting for "Jurassic Park" from Los Angeles. 3" daily box office report.
Throughout this year, due to the complete explosion of the Internet technology wave, a large number of emerging Internet companies have increased their efforts to promote online advertising regardless of cost.
Therefore, as a portal giant that occupies more than 7o of the North American market, Yahoo's performance this year has increased significantly again.
Compared with the revenue of 19.4 billion US dollars for the whole year of last year, although the performance data for the last quarter is still being counted, in the first three quarters, Yahoo's annual revenue has reached 43.5 billion US dollars, and the annual revenue is likely to be close to $600 million.
However, correspondingly, with the explosive growth of Internet users in North America and even overseas, Yahoo's operating costs have also skyrocketed. Throughout 1995, Firefly invested $500 million into Yahoo.
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 very formal meeting, on the other side of the video, several Yahoo executives also gathered in the living room of Yahoo CEO Ian Grenier's house.
"According to the statistics in November, the number of Internet users in the world has exceeded 100 million, of which North American Internet users accounted for 70%, reaching 7ooo million. Next year, the number of Internet users in North America alone will exceed 100 million. I want to To maintain Yahoo's high expansion in North America and overseas, the company needs at least $100 million in funding next year. Eric, I have received more than one call to test whether Yahoo is going to raise financing. This time, the $100 million, Do you still plan to be fully invested by Firefly Investments?"
Originally, according to the agreement, Yahoo had already carried out an equity distribution.
However, through last year's $500 million capital injection, Firefly Investment's shareholding in Yahoo has once again risen to 85. According to Yahoo's current valuation of about 1.5 billion US dollars, if the 100 million US dollars of funds are injected by Firefly Investments next year, Firefly Investments' shareholding ratio in Yahoo will once again rise to more than 9o.
"I've said it before, 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 Investments, and it is no problem to support Yahoo's expansion, let's discuss Yahoo's next development plan."
Eric was about to continue talking, but the door of the study was pushed open.
Eric didn't see anyone at a glance, straightened his body, and then noticed that his daughter had run in.
"Dad, Dad, these are the biscuits that Mom just baked, try it," the little guy ran to Eric's side and handed over half of the biscuits in his hand with a pure face.
Eric looked at the baby daughter and deliberately pretended that I was a child, I didn't understand anything, smiled, and still picked up the daughter dotingly and put it on his lap.
Hawaii's goal was achieved, and he shoved the half biscuit into his father's mouth, but his beautiful big eyes turned to the computer screen curiously. Seeing the faces of strangers on the screen, he was suddenly disappointed.
Eric took off the half biscuit stuck in his mouth and put it aside, feeling that his daughter was about to run away, hugged gently, and said, "Xia Xia, be polite, remember everyone, don't forget greet."
Ian Grenier, Steve Mitnick and Tina Brown on the other side watched with interest, having seen Hawaii at Chris's wedding, although not much Contact is not unfamiliar, but it was only later that I heard from Jeff Bezos that this little girl from Eric is very smart.
Looking at the little girl in front of him through the screen, every move revealed an inexplicable spirituality, Steve Mitnick couldn't help it, and said, "Hey, Xia Xia, I heard that you are very smart. Can you solve a math problem?"
Hawaii looked at the few people crowded in the computer screen, tilted his head, and said, "I got it right, can you walk away from the screen?"
...
...
However, correspondingly, with the explosive growth of Internet users in North America and even overseas, Yahoo's operating costs have also skyrocketed. Throughout 1995, Firefly invested $500 million into Yahoo.
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 very formal meeting, on the other side of the video, several Yahoo executives also gathered in the living room of Yahoo CEO Ian Grenier's house.
"According to statistics from November, the number of Internet users in the world has exceeded 100 million, of which North American Internet users account for 70%, reaching 7000,000. Next year, the number of Internet users in North America alone will exceed 100 million. I want to To maintain Yahoo's high expansion in North America and overseas, the company needs at least $100 million in funding next year. Eric, I have received more than one call to test whether Yahoo is going to raise financing. This time, the $100 million, Do you still plan to be fully invested by Firefly Investments?"
According to the agreement, Yahoo has already carried out an equity distribution.
However, through last year's $500 million capital injection, Firefly Investment's shareholding in Yahoo has once again risen to 85. According to Yahoo's current valuation of about 1.5 billion US dollars, if the 100 million US dollars of funds are injected by Firefly Investments next year, Firefly Investments' shareholding ratio in Yahoo will once again rise to more than 9o.
"I've said it before, 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 Investments, and it is no problem to support Yahoo's expansion, let's discuss Yahoo's next development plan."
Eric was about to continue talking, but the door of the study was pushed open.
Eric didn't see anyone at a glance, straightened his body, and then noticed that his daughter had run in.
"Dad, Dad, these are the biscuits that Mom just baked, try it," the little guy ran to Eric's side and handed over half of the biscuits in his hand with a pure face.
Eric looked at his precious daughter and deliberately pretended that I was a child and I didn't understand anything. He smiled, and still picked up his daughter and put it on his lap.
Hawaii's goal was achieved, and he shoved the half of the biscuit into his father's mouth, but his beautiful big eyes turned to the computer screen curiously. Seeing the faces of strangers on the screen, he was suddenly disappointed.
Eric took off the half biscuit stuck in his mouth and put it aside, feeling that his daughter was about to run away, hugged gently, and said, "Xia Xia, be polite, remember everyone, don't forget greet."
Ian Grenier, Steve Mitnick and Tina Brown on the other side watched with interest, having seen Hawaii at Chris's wedding, although not much Contact is not unfamiliar, but it was only later that I heard from Jeff Bezos that this little girl from Eric is very smart.
Looking at the little girl in front of him through the screen, every move revealed an inexplicable spirituality, Steve Mitnick couldn't help it, and said, "Hey, Xia Xia, I heard that you are very smart, oh, give me Can you solve a math problem?"
Hawaii looked at the few people crowded in the computer screen, tilted his head, and said, "I got it right, can you walk away from the screen?" (To be continued.)