In the luxurious and elegant banquet hall, Netflix CEO Mark Randolph greeted William with Ronan's introduction, exchanged a few words, and quickly left the crowd to find his target.

He communicated with Ronan yesterday, and he came here tonight not to see the prince, but to have his own mission.

Mark Randolph quickly found Blanc Smith, the Premier League's operations officer.

"Hello, Mr. Smith. Mark Randolph greeted with a smile: "I'm Mark Randolph from Netflix." ”

Blank Smith smiled back: "Hello, Mr. Randolph. Mr. Anderson just gave us an introduction. ”

The two exchanged a few words and raised a glass to drink, and Mark Randolph turned to the topic: "I watched Mr. Smith's press conference in New York, you came to North America this time, and you are still responsible for promoting the Premier League?"

Blank-Smith's heart moved, and he said: "North America is a very large market, and there is a lot to offer. His voice changed abruptly: "Mr. Randolph is also interested in the Premier League?"

Mark Randolph said: "As long as time permits, I watch a couple of Premier League games every weekend. ”

Blank Smith took two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handed one of them to Mark Randolph, saying: "If there were more fans like Mr. Randolph in North America, it would be much easier to promote the Premier League. ”

Mark Randolph nodded lightly and said, "The most popular sport here is American football, and although there are many people who like it, the audience is limited. ”

Blank Smith knew he was telling the truth, and that North America was a veritable football desert compared to most of the world, and immediately smiled and said, "So, we want to unite local people in North America who like English football to promote the Premier League together." ”

Mark Randolph took the opportunity to say: "Netflix is willing to cooperate with the Premier League to promote. ”

"That couldn't be better. Blank Smith smiled very sincerely: "Mr. Randolph, is Netflix willing to be a sponsor of the Premier League?"

When it comes to cooperation, of course, we have to pay real money, otherwise what is the point of cooperation?

Mark Randolph didn't take Blank Smith's words at all, and instead said, "Professional sports leagues promote the first media, which media outlets in North America do you work with?"

Blank Smith thought for a moment and said: "The Premier League and ESPN have a strategic partnership, with ESPN taking full responsibility for the Premier League's TV promotion and broadcasting ......"

Mark Randolph then asked, "What about the Internet?"

Blank Smith said: "On the internet side, we have a partnership with Yahoo Sports, which has the online reporting rights to the Premier League. ”

"What about live webcasts?" asked Mark Randolph dryly.

Brank-Smith was stunned for a moment, for the more traditional English football industry, the live broadcast of Internet games is a relatively new matter, although there have been considerations in this regard, but the specific implementation has not really been implemented.

Mark Randolph glanced at Blanc Smith and immediately said: "Netflix has the largest Internet video business in the United States, with more than 15 million users, and has done Internet video live broadcasts of many event programs, including boxing events, and Netflix can broadcast Premier League matches through the Internet. ”

Blank Smith, who has the conservative side of the British, hesitated for a moment and said: "Football matches are broadcast live on the Internet, we have not actually operated them. ”

"Internet users are widely younger and represent the future. Mark Randolph put it simply: "If the Premier League wants to be long-lasting, it needs to attract more young audiences. ”

He smiled: "According to Netflix's statistics, although there is no authorization from you, many websites in North America have stolen ESPN's live TV signals to make profits. ”

Blank Smith was moved and said, "Let's discuss this internally, please wait for a while, and I'll give Netflix a formal reply." ”

At the same time, Blank Smith was also thinking about the corresponding issues, the live broadcast contract with ESPN was signed a few years ago, at that time there was no clear concept of Internet live video, and the contract between the two parties was limited to traditional TV and radio broadcasts, and there were no Internet copyright clauses at all.

It seems that there is a certain operability.

This will both increase the Premier League's revenue and further promote the Premier League brand through the internet, killing two birds with one stone.

Moreover, the video website with 15 million users has a fairly wide audience.

Here Mark Randolph is discussing the rights to the Premier League live stream with Blank Smith.

On the other side, after Will Smith and Tom Cruise chatted with Willian about Diana's past, the new FA chairman also chatted with Ronan about football and the Premier League.

"The Premier League is one of the top five leagues in Europe. William came to North America this time, although in a private capacity, but in fact has been promoting the Premier League, and has a sense of responsibility to find a job in his position: "Ronan, Will, Tom, I dare not say that the level of the Premier League is the first in Europe, but the commercial brand value of the Premier League is definitely the first of all professional football leagues in the world, and from a business point of view, it is worth investing in the Premier League." ”

Will Smith didn't know much about English football, just listened and didn't say a word.

Tom Cruise watched a little bit of the Premier League and suddenly answered: "David Beckham has left the Premier League to join Real Madrid in Spain, which will make the Premier League less attractive. ”

Ronan has vaguely seen reports that after the famous Flying Bootgate incident, Ferguson and David Beckham have turned against each other, and the latter left Manchester United for Spain.

But last summer, Ferguson found a new No.7 for Manchester United, a fancy teenager named Cristiano Ronaldo, who arrived in Manchester from Portugal.

No one could have imagined what kind of changes this flamboyant, dribbling Portuguese would bring to world football in the future.

In a few years, football will be proud first, and then others.

Willian said at this time: "David's departure is a pity, but the value of the Premier League is not determined by any one person, but the brand value of the entire league. ”

Ronan answered: "So, this time you are not only promoting the Premier League, but also looking for commercial investment?"

William smiled: "That's right. Some sponsorships in the Premier League have expired and we are looking for new commercial sponsorships. He is very direct: "Commercial investment is the key to the development of modern professional football, business is the driving force of football development, without commercial operation, the Premier League will never have the current situation, modern football can no longer be separated from business, I have seen a number of data, the organizers have conducted some analysis, as long as we continue to promote the commercialization process of the Premier League, the brand value of the Premier League can far exceed other European leagues in the next few years." ”

Ronan nodded slowly: "Indeed, modern football and business are inseparable, and football has become the world's number one sport, which is not only the choice of professional sports and spectators, but also the choice of business." ”

Commercial football is a product of the trend of development, which is inevitable.

It can even be said that David Beckham is a good manufacturer under commercial football.

William said: "Ronan, Tom, are you interested in investing in the Premier League?"

Tom Cruise shook his head: "I don't have the strength to play football. ”

Ronan shook his head: "I'm not interested in being a sponsor. Frankly speaking, I run a film company, and the company's brand doesn't have a particularly big impact on the film production. ”

Willian said: "Didn't you say you were interested in football clubs last time in London?"

In the past two years, the Premier League has frequently seen huge capital acquisitions, although it has caused huge controversy, but from the perspective of development, foreign funds have revitalized the almost backwater Premier League, and the controversy has brought the attention of the global media and fans, with the injection of large sums of money, the Premier League and Premier League clubs have attracted more attention from the world.

The power of money is driving the rapid development of the Premier League.

"Now, a lot of rich people from all over the world are coming to England. Willian may not have that ability himself, but the team behind him is making a name for himself: "They are all proud to own a Premier League football club. ”

Ronan laughs and says: "I've always been interested in the Premier League and that has never changed. ”

William said: "Why don't you join forces with Tom to buy a club. Ronan, you have the financial power, Tom, your fame will win the support of the fans. ”

As soon as these words came out, Ronan and Tom Cruise looked at each other tacitly, and they had the same feeling that this prince was not a decoration.

Tom Cruzga Premier League, the effect can be imagined.

Ronan glanced at Tom Cruise again, saw Tom Cruise nodded his chin at him imperceptibly, and said: "William, it is easy to resist the purchase of Premier League clubs by foreign funds, and when the Abu Dhabi consortium and Murdoch's News Corp. competed for Manchester United a few years ago, it not only caused protests from fans and media, but the FA also directly called for the transaction to be stopped. ”

"That was before. William said with a smile: "The current Premier League is an open professional football league, and we welcome investors from any country or region in the world. ”

Ronan did not continue the topic, but said: "You, the president of the FA, are very dutiful. ”

William laughed: "Since we are sitting in this position, we must have to do some work, and we must not waste resources, otherwise the public will accuse us again." ”

All four, including Will Smith, laughed.

The evening was a great success, a home away from home, in the words of the other side of the Pacific, and William left Los Angeles on the third day after the banquet.

A vice president of Netflix's video business then led a team to London to negotiate the Premier League's Internet rights.