Chapter 556

Eric's guarantee didn't sound meaningful to Murdoch at all, and even if the contract was renewed, half of the rights to "The X-Files" and "Who Will Be a Millionaire" were still in the hands of Firefly Pictures.

Once Firefly Pictures completes the acquisition of the television network, and "The X-Files" and "Who Will Be a Millionaire" happen to become competitors to some programs of Firefly's TV stations, who dares to guarantee that Firefly will not secretly do some tricks, Murdoch remembers the fiasco of "Cut Throat Island" two years ago, and he also learned some of the inside things from his daughter's mouth. A movie not only brought in a loss of more than $100 million, but also completely damaged the confidence of Disney Studios shareholders in the management at that time, otherwise, Firefly wanted to buy Disney at that time, relatively speaking, it would never be so easy.

With concern in his heart, Murdoch said: "Eric, why don't you sell the other half of the rights to The X-Files and Who Will Be a Millionaire to Fox?" ”

Eric had long expected that Murdoch would make such a request, and the loss of "Friends" was already a big blow to the Fox TV network, and once Firefly Pictures withdrew its shares from the Fox TV network, there would be no direct interest entanglement between the two sides, and still let Firefly control the copyright of the remaining two programs, which was tantamount to completely exposing his weaknesses in front of his opponents.

Although "The X-Files" and "Friends" both belong to the phenomenal TV series of the nineties, the audiences of the two TV series are very different, most of the audience of "The X-Files" is concentrated in the young people around the age of twenty, although there are many diehards, but the size of the audience is inherently limited, "Friends" is an all-age sitcom, basically not limited by the age of the audience, therefore. "Friends" is also much more influential than "The X-Files".

Now that he is ready to take back the broadcast rights of "Friends", Eric is ready to give up "The X-Files", and the copyright of "The X-Files" can also be used as a very important bargaining chip.

As for "Who Will Be a Millionaire", this show has been broadcast for several years because of its very simple format. Viewers are also inevitably suffering from aesthetic fatigue, and the ratings of programs in North America are gradually declining, but because of the success of this reality show in the United States, many overseas TV stations negotiate program licensing every year, and this income is very stable, or even no cost at all. Moreover, if he sells half of the rights to Fox, the price offered by the other party will definitely be much less than the future income of the show, although Eric is in urgent need of money to buy the TV network. But it hasn't been lacking to that extent, so of course it's impossible to give up easily.

"Rupert, as long as the price is right, I can transfer the copyright of "The X-Files" to Fox, but I will not let go of the half of the copyright of "Who Will Be a Millionaire", you must know why. Of course, if you're worried that Firefly will interfere too much in the production of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" in the future. Fireflies can forgo participation in the production process and only invest and enjoy a share of the corresponding shares. In addition, Firefly can also extend the original five-year contract early. ”

What Murdoch cares about most is actually "Friends", but at this time, hearing Eric say these conditions without hesitation, Murdoch is still a little surprised that Eric will let go so easily.

Eric noticed Murdoch's surprised expression and said, "Of course. All this is conditional. ”

Murdoch sensed that things were a little more normal and said, "You say." ”

"I want Fox to complete all the processes of buying back the shares in Firefly's hands within a month, and of course, in order not to cause problems with News Corp.'s cash flow, the buyback funds can be paid in installments within the next six months." Ignoring Murdoch's gradually solemn expression, Eric continued in a loud voice: "If we can't reach an agreement within a month, then the conditions I just said will be null and void!" ”

Only then did Murdoch realize that Eric was more eager than he had originally thought. Although Firefly Pictures only holds 10% of the shares of Fox Network, this 10% of the shares is already the second largest shareholder after the Murdoch family in the Fox Network.

And rights and obligations are often relative.

According to the federal antitrust law of the United States, Firefly Pictures has such an important say in the fourth largest television network in the United States, it cannot easily initiate acquisitions of other national television networks, otherwise, the acquisition is likely to be jointly investigated by the Federal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Therefore, Eric was eager to sell a stake in Fox Television Network within a month, so that Firefly Pictures would not bring similar legal risks if it launched acquisitions of other television networks.

Of course, this kind of monopoly problem is not Murdoch's main concern, there is a lot of room for action in the antitrust regulations of the United States, which involves more interests between different forces, and the monopoly restrictions in the media industry have been gradually relaxed in recent years. Murdoch is more concerned about limiting the negotiation period to less than one month, and at this time, it seems that Fox TV Network is not in an advantageous position, so News Corp. will definitely not take advantage of the issue of the share offer in the hands of Firefly Pictures.

You must know that a few years ago, Eric personally took 10% of the shares from him for only $80 million, while the share withdrawal plan submitted by Firefly Pictures at this time was quoted at $800 million, although this offer is not much different from the current market value of Fox TV Network, but the tenfold difference still makes Murdoch very difficult to accept.

"Eric, if you want to withdraw from the Fox network within a month, $800 million will definitely not work," Murdoch thought for a moment and said, "I can only give you $600 million at most, and the payment period of this money needs to be extended for at least a year." ”

Eric smiled and said, "Rupert, you know, my personality is not really suitable for negotiating such things. ”

Murdoch looked puzzled. Eric didn't sell the lawsuit either, and continued: "Otherwise, I'll let Katzenberg talk to Fox on behalf of Firefly Pictures." ”

Katzenberg's style has always been known for being tough, and Eric remembers that in the original plane, Katzenberg was in charge of the negotiations between Disney and Steve Jobs' Pixar Studios, and the final terms were agreed. The animation produced by Pixar Studio not only could not participate in Disney's peripheral distribution profit sharing, but also did not even have a box office profit share of the film, Pixar could only get a fixed 'commission' for each 3D animated film, and in the end, "Toy Story" was a great success, but Pixar Studio did not get much money, and in desperation, Jobs could only choose to go public when Pixar's performance was just improving.

Murdoch, of course, knew exactly who Katzenberg was, and the manic Golden Retriever's nickname wasn't for nothing.

Smiled wryly. Murdoch said: "Eric, ten years ago, when you got the shares, you only spent 80 million, do you think the offer of 800 million dollars is reasonable?" ”

Eric didn't blush, and said as a matter of course: "If it weren't for the few programs provided by Firefly Pictures for Fox TV Network to quickly open up the situation and expand, maybe the original 10% stake is still only worth 80 million, so if it weren't for the fact that Fox TV Network has only so much market value now." I actually think that this offer is already very low, so I think this offer is very reasonable. "Speaking of which. Eric couldn't help but shake his head again: "Rupert, in fact, I think the Fox TV Network's program production team has gone wrong, and for four years, even a TV show that can be compared to the influence of "The X-Files" has not been produced, you should probably change the person in charge or something." ”

Murdoch smiled bitterly in his heart, this kind of thing is so easy there. The U.S. television industry produces thousands of original TV series every year, but the number of episodes that survive and have enough impact is frighteningly low, and this is not a problem for Fox alone, the other three major networks have similar problems. If once the average 20 million ratings of the program then good production. There will be no TV station that offers a million-dollar salary for a single episode in order to retain the protagonist.

"Eric, even if I agree to the price of 800 million US dollars, I don't think the board of directors will approve it easily, so I think you should back down a bit, otherwise, it will be difficult to negotiate this matter in a month."

"I still mean it just now," Eric was unmoved, everyone knows that although the Murdoch family does not have an absolute controlling stake in News Corporation, but for so many years, no one dares to challenge Murdoch's authority, Murdoch definitely has control over News Corporation, looking at the old fox's shrewd eyes kept rolling, Eric suddenly said: "Rupert, you must know, in fact, this matter has been talked about for a long time, and it may cause some images to Firefly Pictures, But it definitely won't have a bigger impact than on you, you know, Firefly Pictures is not a public company, but News Corp is different. ”

Murdoch was shocked, he didn't expect Eric to suddenly mention this, he thought that Eric wouldn't think of this aspect at all.

Eric is right, if it weren't for the high-rated dramas provided by Firefly Pictures that made Fox TV Network quickly open up the situation, Fox TV Network would not have developed so rapidly in recent years, but at the same time, the capital market also understands the importance of Firefly Pictures as the second largest shareholder of Fox TV Network, a subsidiary of News Corp.

Therefore, if this withdrawal drags on for too long, is exposed by the media, and even exaggerates the differences between the two sides at will, then the newly developed Fox TV network will definitely suffer a heavy setback, and the stock price of News Corp. will also be greatly affected.

Seeing that Murdoch didn't speak, Eric continued: "So, if we both negotiate this matter as soon as possible, then the withdrawal of Firefly Pictures from the Fox television network can be done in as quiet an atmosphere as possible, so that it will not have any impact on News Corporation." Of course, even if someone finds out about it later, with the conditions I just mentioned, I'm sure News Corp. shareholders won't lose faith in Fox Network, and Firefly Pictures will be able to cooperate with some PR activities in the future. ”

Murdoch fell into a brief silence.

Eric raised his hand and looked at his watch, it was already two o'clock in the afternoon, he took the initiative to stand up and said: "Rupert, this matter is not too urgent, you can go back and think about it, I think I have to go back to work, there are still some things to do in the afternoon." ”

Seeing that Eric did not continue to be aggressive, Murdoch did not relax much on his face, but he also followed Eric to get up: "Then I will go back first, and I will give you an answer as soon as possible." ”

"I look forward to good news from you," Eric politely sent Murdoch into his luxury car, watched the other man's car leave, and then walked towards his office in the administration building with the tome in his hand.

As soon as he sat down behind his desk, Eric's temporary secretary in the studio pushed the door in and placed a document in front of Eric: "Mr. Williams, this is Mr. Viessman who has just passed it over, and he has already communicated with Mel. Mr. Gibson talked about it, and in addition, there was a script in it. ”

Eric hummed, and waited for the secretary to go out, before opening the folder, which contained a film project plan with two words prominently written on the title: "Braveheart".

This is one of the more successful epic films in Hollywood in the 90s, although the box office is not too good, but it is also profitable, and most importantly, the film won a series of important Oscars such as Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor.

Of course, these are not what Eric is most concerned about, the reason why he was able to think of this movie is because Eric met Sophie in France, and there is no more suitable movie to turn this French rose to Hollywood as soon as possible.

Mel. Gibson's status in Hollywood in the nineties was definitely no better than Harrison's. Ford, Kevin. How much worse is Kostner et al., if not for Mel. Gibson's series of tricks in the new century, with his series of box office and award achievements, Mel Brown. Gibson will definitely become one of the legends of celebrity Hollywood history.

Eric for Mel. Gibson didn't care too much about it, after all, those problems are common to many Hollywood stars. Gibson's scandal has been exaggerated infinitely. (To be continued......)