Heads Up Hollywood

Although both bombard the Jews, Marlon Brando's acting class DVD tutorial is fundamentally different from Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ".

The former is just a professional tendency, with a small scope and a narrow audience; the latter is a worldwide popularization with too much influence.

Therefore, Tang En refused to invest in "The Passion of the Christ", but he was allowed to produce and distribute Marlon Brando's lecture DVD.

Even some Hollywood Jews supported Tang En.

After all, that is Marlon Brando who stands high in the acting hall. Regardless of his character and viewpoint, his professionalism is worthy of everyone's admiration!

However, some people just can't bear it.

For example, Redstone.

This well-known media tycoon is Jewish.

It was also Blockbuster's resistance that initially led to Marlon Brando's initial setbacks in his plans to release the film on DVD.

If it weren't for Tang En's intervention, his lecture DVD would probably be the same as in his previous life, and he wouldn't be able to release it until he died.

Such a result is destined to further deepen the conflict between Tang En and Lei Shidong.

"It doesn't matter!" Tang En talked about this topic with Barry Diller during lunch, "Since I dare to invite you to manage New Universal, I am ready to fight against Redstone."

The personal relationship between Barry Diller and Redstone had broken down a long time ago, but he was different from Twain, he was a professional manager with very good professionalism.

It is impossible for him to link the company's business with his personal relationship, so from his point of view, he does not want the New Universal Group and the Viacom Group to go to war.

However, he also knew that Tang En's sneaky layout in private, that a big war was inevitable, so he nodded, "I'm sure, he will fight back in a few days."

"Oh? What do you think will happen to him?" Tang En put down his knife and fork, very curious.

This is the executive restaurant on the top floor of the New Universal Building, and it is not afraid of leaks.

Barry Diller said: "Among Viacom's major business segments, Viacom Cable Network, CBS Public Television Network and Blockbuster all have absolute advantages in their respective fields. But in the film industry, we can Paramount formed a crush."

Tang En said softly, "We don't have a public television network yet, and CBS can't pose a threat. We can help Disney and escalate the war between CBS and ABC."

Barry Diller nodded and said: "That's right, so we can guess the direction of Redstone's shot. Either use Viacom's cable network to suppress the USA TV network, or urge Blockbuster to continue to reduce the impact on Nai. flying living space."

"Blockbuster squeezing Netflix?"

Tang En shook his head amusedly.

For now, Blockbuster is definitely a giant in the market. There are more than 5,000 stores in the United States, more than Disney stores, which shows that Blockbuster has great ambitions.

But because of its ambition, Blockbuster made a serious strategic mistake.

As Blockbuster's market share in DVD and video tape rental exceeds 80%, approaching saturation, Blockbuster's board of directors began a strategic transformation to find new profit points.

At this time, Blockbuster and Redstone chose video games!

Yes, video games do have a very bright future at the moment. But here comes the question, Blockbuster is a traditional DVD rental company, does it have the innovative genes of game companies such as EA, Blizzard, Microsoft, and Dynamics?

Entering the game market rashly will definitely lead to the collapse of Blockbuster.

Twain is sure that as long as Blockbuster doesn't cut off its wrists and give up the game field that has already invested heavily, it will definitely embark on a road of no return that leads directly to death.

On the contrary, if Lei Shidong is really brave enough to cut off his wrists, and instead imitates Netflix's "monthly membership subscription" and "online rental" models, it may really be possible to defeat Netflix.

However, Blockbuster has already invested more energy and funds in game development and channel expansion, may it give up?

Tang En has no worries about Blockbuster. As far as the current situation is concerned, it is very likely that it will be the same as in the previous life.

Blockbuster was beaten by rising star Netflix.

Barry Diller seemed to see Tang En's disapproval of Blockbuster, and said with a smile: "We have Netflix and Blizzard, and we are in direct competition with Blockbuster, so we don't show weakness."

"Cable TV, though, is in big trouble."

"That's right." Barry Diller nodded solemnly, "Although our STA has a great advantage over SHO, the difference between USA TV Network and Viacom TV Network is too big."

Tang En waved his hand, and said lightly: "Where there are advantages, there will be shortcomings. This is normal. Viacom is a big media group, and Viacom Television Network is just a part of it. At this time, just Let's see whose weak defense is stronger, and whose superior attack power is stronger!"

He knew that no matter how hard he tried, the USA TV Network could not be the opponent of Viacom TV Network.

In this case, it would be better to take off your clothes and dry.

You punch me, I kick you!

Let's see who is stronger!

Barry Diller hesitated for a moment, and said softly: "I have managed the USA TV network many years ago. To be honest, there is not much room for development. According to Jack Welch's 'principle of number one and two', the USA TV network ..."

Tang En's eyes lit up, "You want to sell?"

"If possible, it's best to sell!" Barry Diller said loudly.

Tang En pondered for a while, "Go ahead and do it, as long as the price is right, you can make a move."

...

Just as Tang En expected, the box office of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" did not need to worry about anything. In the first three days of the weekend, the box office in North America was 96 million US dollars.

Among them, imax theaters contributed more than 5 million US dollars.

It is said to be a Christmas file, but it is only mid-November, and there is still one month before Christmas.

In this time period, the film has won such a box office, which is already amazing enough.

According to the trend of the box office, as long as there is no unexpected cliff-like decline, the North American box office of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" will exceed 300 million US dollars, so there is no problem.

For "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" with an investment of 120 million US dollars, the North American box office is enough to recover the cost!

Other overseas box office, peripheral income, everything is profit!

Only three days after its release, the celebration reception for "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was held.

This is the first time that New Universal Group has held a celebration reception for a film since its establishment.

Before that, "The West in New York" and "The Hours" had too strong a literary style, and the box office was mediocre. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was considered a successful opening.

However, this time the celebration reception, the industry colleagues who came to congratulate... not too many.

Especially those from Paramount, none of them were present.

Because everyone in the industry knows that Summer Redstone and Dunn Walker have turned their faces!

Lei Shidong took the lead in making a move, and hit a hit, directly targeting the weakest point of New Universal - the USA TV network.

Currently, the cable network with the highest coverage in the United States is not Time Warner's CNN News Network, not Disney's ESPN Sports Network, but Viacom's MTV Music Network!

Almost every family subscribes to the MTV channel.

Not only that, MTV still has great influence in overseas regions, and even in Asia, the MTV Music Awards of China, Japan and South Korea were held.

As the absolute trump card of Viacom, the MTV TV network is almost invincible, and it directly issued a notice to the major TV operators in the United States-prohibiting all channels of the MTV TV network and conducting "package" sales with the USA TV network!

As soon as the news came out, the industry was in an uproar!

This is not a monopoly operation that excludes dissidents.

If Viacom requires TV operators to "choose one" between MTV TV network and USA TV network, this is an absolute monopoly, and it is the suppression of new forces by industry leaders, which will be punished by the US Department of Justice. Heavy punishment.

However, Redstone's operation was very ingenious. He chose to refuse the "package" service with the USA TV network, which directly avoided the monopoly investigation.

"Bundling" and "packages" are tricks that almost every TV operator has to play.

For example, the subscription fee of the MTV channel is 60 cents, and the subscription fee of the USA channel is 20 cents. If the two channels are combined and subscribed, the user only needs to spend 70 cents.

Rejecting the package, on the surface, is a mutual loss for both parties.

But in fact, everyone's eyes are sharp, MV is the most fashionable music form at the moment, MTV TV network is the most popular TV channel at the moment, this is a must-subscribe channel.

In contrast, the USA TV network does not have much need.

If there is no longer a package service, it is equivalent to an increase in the subscription price of the USA TV network, which will naturally lead to the loss of users.

It can be said that in front of the MTV TV network, the USA TV network has no room to fight back.

Although the New Universal Group is very strong, Dunn Walker is victorious, and Barry Diller is legendary, but this time their opponent is Redstone and Viacom!

Many people who followed the wind began to wander on both sides again.

"Twain, you have to be careful this time." Amy Pascal attended the celebration reception and said to Tang En earnestly.

Tang En was a little amused, "You mean Redstone? Amy, you overestimate those old guys! For example, John Carley from Sony Pictures, do you really think his level is higher than yours? Do you really think He is qualified to lead you?"

Amy Pascal was momentarily at a loss for words.

She wanted to comfort Tang En, but she didn't expect that this guy directly directed the flames of war to herself.

"I remember his name was on the invitation letter. He didn't come tonight again?" Tang En's face was slightly cold and his tone was not kind.

Amy Pascal was in the middle, so he was a little embarrassed, "Mr. Carley... misunderstood you."

"Misunderstanding? Hmph, is he waiting to see my joke?" Tang En waved his hand, twitched the corner of his mouth, and sniffed, "These old guys are all gangsters!"

Twice in a row, John Carley was not present, so why pretend?

When he had the time to spare, Tang En might make gestures with him.