Chapter 38 Listing and Chef
After Reed Hastings leaves, Sid and Shirley walk through Sony's studio, and the two continue their conversation.
"What do you think about Reed's first move on Netflix?" Sid said, and later Reed Hastings mentioned the idea of wanting Netflix to go public.
Sid did not directly state his attitude, but prevaricated with other things.
"I don't think it's a bad thing for Netflix to go public. Shirley said after a moment's thought.
"Oh, why?" asked Sid, interested.
At present, the Fire Lion as a whole still maintains an absolute private equity system, and even if it is financing, it is also in the form of issuing corporate bonds.
Coupled with the overall amazing profitability of Fire Lion, especially the jaw-dropping cash flow generation ability of Fire Lion TV Station, it is rare for Fire Lion not to have financial problems.
"The biggest use of Netflix for us right now is the effective use of long-tail films. Because they use online leasing, the operating costs will be much lower than those of physical stores. And having them run these parts on their own can also allow other departments to focus on content production. Shirley began.
"Then, for Netflix, we Fire Lion are the investors, and they are the entrepreneurs. So although Reid still wants to maintain 51% of the decision-making power, if it goes public, then we can take the opportunity to inject capital and take our controlling stake more than 50%, and then get the decision-making power. ”
Shirley's words made Sid nod involuntarily, "I agree with that, but I don't think Netflix needs to be in a hurry to go public now." ”
"My positioning for Netflix is much more than a simple DVD rental website. "And even for the rental business, there are too many constraints for Netflix at the moment, and it will take at least three to four years for the broadband network to reach the whole country, and there are too many competitors in the current physical DVD rental business." ”
"Whether it's Viacom's BesTV or Walmart that has always wanted to enter the industry, they are both opponents with deep foundations. In my case, it would be better to bring Walmart over and let them focus on DVD sales and outsource rentals to Netflix. ”
Sid's words made Shirley think, "If we can have more high-quality film and television resources, then with the overall resource advantages of Fire Lion and the professionalism of Netflix network rental, then it is not impossible to negotiate with Walmart." ”
"Hehehe, after a while, you mean that I haven't made enough best-selling movies!" Sid laughed helplessly.
"Eh, did I say that?" asked Shirley with a sly wink.
"Okay, okay, I surrendered. Sid spread his hands helplessly, "I'd better go back and shoot my "Spider-Man" obediently." ”
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In this way, the Fire Lion unknowingly, after realizing its own layout in the long-tail film library and Internet rental, and even in the future streaming media. Sid returned to Sony Studios to prepare for Spider-Man on location in Los Angeles.
At the same time, in the British Isles, across the ocean, another restless test was also carried out at the most critical time.
A young man in a standard Western waiter costume wearing black pants, white clothes and a black vest held a fiery red book, but it was this seemingly ordinary book that attracted the attention of all the staff in the restaurant.
"Bring it!" said a middle-aged blond man in white clothes and black pants, frowning.
"Yes, Chef. The waiter immediately delivered the red book to him.
Gordon Ramsay, known as the strongest newcomer in the British food scene, stroked the red book cover with his hands trembling slightly, and his movements were as if he was caressing his lover's cheeks.
On the cover of this red book is written "London – Restaurants and Hotels 2001", and at the top of the cover, there is a white leather circle cartoon character with its name "Michelin" written next to it!
Then Gordon Ramsay took a deep breath as he opened the latest Michelin Red Book, the book known in the global gastronomic world as the "Bible".
Michelin, even those who don't know much about Western food, have heard of this name to a greater or lesser extent. Those who know a little about the West will know that Michelin is not only a well-known tire company in France, but also the largest crystallization of French food culture.
Founded in 1900 and the world's first gastronomic guide publication, the Michelin Red Book is an authoritative publication that is updated annually.
In this long-established and authoritative appraisal body, it is well known that there are three levels of Michelin rating restaurants, and the entire judging process is rigorous, fair and demanding.
One star, awarded only to the exceptionally good in a restaurant of its kind.
Two stars, must be very good at cooking, even in different types of restaurants, is a rare leader.
As for the three stars, they can only be obtained by those who have a delicacy that will never be forgotten and who have become a legend among chefs.
The French began to rate their Michelin-starred restaurants in 1900, but by 2001, there were only two chefs in the UK who held the three-star Michelin title.
Can the British break that number again today?
Gordon Ramsay quickly flipped to the chapter on the Chelsea district where the restaurant was located, page one, page two, and the sharp-eyed front office manager next to him immediately said, "Here, Gordon!"
Gordon Ramsay stopped, and the page was "Gordon Ramsay's Restaurant, Chelsea District, London", and he went on to read it - "3 stars"!
OMG!
The UK's third three-Michelin-starred chef was born.
"Yay-" Everyone couldn't help but cheer when they saw the shiny "three-star" under the restaurant's name, even Gordon Ramsay couldn't help but raise his head excitedly.
"Chef, did I see you in tears? The front office manager on the side asked quippedly.
"Go—" Gordon immediately laughed with his middle finger raised.
At the same time, a new record was set when Gordon Ramsay, at the age of 35, became the youngest chef in British history to be three-Michelin-starred chef.
The news immediately exploded in the world's food industry, and far across the ocean in North America, in the conference room of Fire Lion TV, CEO Charles Schell held the latest "London Michelin Red Book" and said to everyone in the reality show department: "We must win this Gordon Ramsay food reality show." ”
"There are so many new Michelin chefs every year, and there are far more three-star chefs in Europe, so why is he optimistic?" asked one producer, confused.