"Boss, Fox replied that he would no longer buy our TV shows because the ratings of the TV series we supplied were lower than expected." Dean hurried over to report.

"Huh? I remember that the contract signed with Fox still has more than two years to expire, and there should be no ratings clause attached to the contract......" Katzenberg frowned, and then muttered in a low voice, "It hasn't been a year or two since Universal Pictures has supplied TV series resources to Fox's FOX TV network, so the ratings problem should not have just appeared, how could the cooperation be suddenly interrupted for this reason?" Forget it, when I'm done with the business at hand, I'll go to Fox myself. ”

Although the FOX television network has only been around for less than five years, it has grown to become the fourth largest television network in the United States. There's no way, Murdoch, the boss of Fox, is willing to spend money on mergers and acquisitions to expand, and he can't slow down if he wants to.

Universal Pictures' TV shows have a strong advantage, and it makes sense to provide TV program rights resources to Fox, which has a huge TV network. Although both parties are Hollywood's top seven studios, this does not prevent the two sides from working together.

Universal Pictures has just separated from the American music company, even if it does not cut off the cooperation, but the other party will definitely not support Universal Pictures as before, and Katzenberg intends to strengthen the cooperation with Fox, which has huge media resources. Therefore, the vice president in charge of copyright business was able to come forward to solve the matter, and he decided to take matters into his own.

Pity.

He is so busy now that his feet don't touch the ground, and he can't wait to know how to do the trick, and he really can't get out of it.

"Hey."

Katzenberg picked up the phone in front of him. Immediately, his calm face gradually became gloomy, and he said, "Davis, are you sure you want to do this?" ”

"Yes. The scripts for those three excellent movies are all Paramount's, and we need to keep the full copyright resources, so we will no longer make joint ventures with Universal Pictures. Of course, if you're willing to give up your unreasonable request to share the rights to the film, Paramount is happy to continue working together. ”

"Unreasonable demands...... Hum. Davis, if you're going to tear up your contract, why bother with such a laughable reason? Katzenberg said angrily. The competition between the seven major film companies is fierce, but sometimes in order to raise enough funds or share the investment risk, everyone will also cooperate to make big-budget films, share the benefits and risks, and also share film copyright resources. It was originally a normal cooperation, but Davis said that it was an unreasonable request, obviously deliberately finding fault, how could Katzenberg not be angry.

"I warned you anyway. If Universal Pictures does not waive the condition of sharing the film rights, the cooperation between the two sides will end here. ”

Forthwith.

Hung up the phone with a snap.

"Fake." After hearing Davis leave a cruel word, he rudely hung up the phone without giving him a chance to speak, obviously unwilling to negotiate, and Katzenberg couldn't help but burst into a foul mouth.

"Boss, what's wrong?" Seeing that Katzenberg's face was not good, Dean asked in a low voice.

"Paramount wants to interrupt the plan to invest in the film on the grounds that it is unfair to them to share the rights of the film." Katzenberg said.

Not long after Davis hung up on Katzenberg, he made an announcement. Paramount will work with Disney to invest in the production of three film and television masterpieces.

Soon.

The two parties signed a contract.

……

When Katzenberg heard the news, his face instantly darkened, and he finally understood the root cause of Paramount's eagerness to break the contract. It's all Disney's way of getting in the way.

Call.

It's really careless.

Katzenberg was secretly annoyed in his heart, he really didn't expect that the half-dead Paramount would suddenly tear his face with Universal Pictures and openly side with Disney.

Forthwith.

Seems to think of something. Katzenberg's face changed, and he hurriedly called.

"Barry, I'm Katzenberg. Tell me. Fox TV Network is suddenly ending the cooperation in the supply of TV drama resources, is it related to Disney? Katzenberg said bluntly.

"Hey, Katzenberg, you're still the same, you're still so impatient." Barry's voice came slowly, but didn't respond directly to Katzenberg's question.

Well.

Hearing this, Katzenberg couldn't help but be stunned, but soon came to his senses again, he was a little impatient, but he was very shrewd, so naturally it was impossible for Barry to change the topic. Now that Paramount is on the opposite side of the globe, it's clear that he's in a position to be sure of Fox's attitude. Fox is not a declining Paramount, and Fox has a powerful media network, if you also wear the same pants as Disney, the media network where the two sides come together, you feel scary to think about it...... Universal's Japan is going to be sad. Universal Pictures, which has received Tang Bao's strong support, is well-funded, but if it stands on the opposite side of the two major media groups, it is useless to have money.

"Barry, are you Fox really going to ally with Disney?" Katzenberg asked again.

"Frankly, I'm really surprised and a little sad to see you and Eisner get to this point. I want to persuade you to make peace, but I know it's impossible......" Barry said, "You and Eisner are my partners and friends, and no matter which side you stand on, it will make one side sad, so I won't choose." ”

"Really?" Katzenberg asked, suspicious.

"Of course it's true, I choose neutrality!" Barry assured.

……

After ending the call, Katzenberg leaned back in his office chair and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, thinking to himself: As long as Fox doesn't ally with Disney.

Ease your emotions a little.

Katzenberg began to call the bosses of several other Hollywood studios, with the sole purpose of finding out the attitudes of the others.

The results were not bad, and everyone hinted that they would not get involved in his dispute with Eisner.

……

Paramount, which had just reached an alliance with Disney, seemed to suddenly have infinite confidence and became extremely active, attacking everywhere.

And the biggest move is Paramount's high-profile announcement to raise the acquisition offer, to buy Time Inc. for $10 billion, which is $1.5 billion higher than the previous offer, and compared with the real valuation of Time Inc., Paramount's latest acquisition premium is as high as 70%.

But.

The high acquisition premium did not change the mind of the management of Time Company, and when Paramount's latest offer was announced, Time Company immediately refused.

But at this time, Paramount's willingness to acquire Times Company was very strong, and it showed an inevitable momentum, and it didn't care about the attitude of Times Company's management at all.

Directly and quickly absorb the shares of Times Company. That's right, Paramount is going to carry out a hostile takeover and fight for control of Times Inc.!

This time.

The management of Time Company was anxious and directly stood up and stated that it did not welcome Paramount as a shareholder of Times Company, and at the same time reminded shareholders not to sell their shares to Paramount. However, these methods have limited effect, and more and more shareholders are choosing to sell their shares under the lure of high premiums.

Warner Bros. also came out to accuse Paramount of hostile takeover! Because the merger negotiations with Time Company are basically over, and the merger is about to begin, at this time Paramount came out halfway, Warner Bros. was naturally very unhappy, and began to discuss countermeasures with Time Company. If Paramount succeeds in acquiring Time Inc., then their Warner Bros. will not be busy for half a day.

Paramount hostile takeover of Times Inc.!

Seeing this shocking news, Katzenberg was stunned for a moment, and then it dawned on him that he finally understood why Paramount would rather tear his face with Universal and side with Disney. Disney is behind Paramount's takeover of Time Inc.

"Times must not be allowed to fall into the hands of Paramount!" Katzenberg thought to himself. Disney's media resources are terrifying enough, if Paramount is allowed to buy Time Company, and there is a Fox that he has a difficult attitude to understand, if the three are united, then Universal Pictures will be in danger.

Barry assures him that he will be neutral, but only says "him" instead of "Fox", and doesn't care at the time, but afterwards Katzenberg notices this, and although he is suspicious, he doesn't ask Barry again, but he keeps it firmly in his mind.

……

Then.

Katzenberg hurriedly found Harris and explained the whole situation to him, "Harris, here's the thing, we must not let Times Company fall into the hands of Paramount." You're better at capital operation, see how you can prevent Times from being acquired by Paramount! (To be continued......)