Heads Up Hollywood

Kevin Turner said: "Better service can be more attractive. It is impossible for us to charge users for shipping, but we can use some means to reduce unnecessary redundant transportation for users. I think This is what Mr. Walker is willing to spend a lot of money to buy IMDb, right?"

Tang En smiled, "It's just part of it. IMDb can provide a wealth of video information. When users choose to rent a DVD, they can check more information, including themes, actors, plot outlines, media reviews, audience reviews, user ratings, etc. Wait, use these elements to judge whether to rent a disc. This will naturally avoid some 'wrong' subscriptions and avoid unnecessary shipping costs."

Reed Hastings nodded, he agreed with Tang En's statement.

This is also the reason why he was so excited that he lost sleep after seeing Tang En's acquisition of IMDb.

IMDb's assistance to Netflix is ​​really great!

In the previous life, why did Amazon, a company mainly engaged in e-commerce and cloud services, suddenly dare to start the video streaming business?

Not only did it play, Amazon also quickly occupied the market in just a few years, becoming the second largest streaming media company after Netflix.

It is because Amazon owns IMDb, the largest film and television information platform in the United States!

The monthly active users in North America are as high as 100 million!

With the support of this top-level traffic, Amazon can naturally invest in the streaming media business and compete with Netflix.

Now, Tang En is the director of Amazon, the second largest individual shareholder, and has a lot of power to speak. Naturally, it is impossible for Amazon to dismantle itself.

With his intervention, let Amazon say goodbye to streaming media completely!

Let the Netflix family dominate!

Now that Netflix owns IMDb, it is even more powerful!

In contrast, Blockbuster lacks IMDb's film and television information, which will definitely cause movie fans to often rent some "title party" movies when renting discs.

After a long time, users will inevitably lose confidence in Blockbuster and turn to Netflix with better service and more caring.

Kevin Turner said: "Actually, there are simpler and more direct methods."

Reed Hastings hesitated slightly, "What?"

Kevin Turner said: "Video-on-demand combined with offline mail!"

"Video-on-demand...offline mailing...combined..."

Reed Hastings muttered thoughtfully.

Tang En smiled slightly, he had already understood.

To put it bluntly, the current IMDb website is not as sound as it was later, just some textual descriptions, comments and summaries, and lacks videos and trailers of highlights.

It is difficult for users to build imagination simply through words.

If you have a small video clip as a sample and have a general impression of the overall style and style of the movie, you can also judge whether the movie meets your own taste.

This Kevin Turner can think of the idea that Amazon only improved in 2006 in his previous life, and he can think of the change that Netflix did not make until 2007, which is enough to illustrate his personal vision and ability.

But then, after hearing Kevin Turner's reason, Dunn almost rolled off the deck chair by the pool.

"Speaking of which, I also got the idea from adult video sites." Kevin Turner said solemnly, without the slightest embarrassment on his face, "Many videos on adult video sites are very short, usually between 3- Within 5 minutes, there is an astonishing number of clicks. Not only that, those short video clips with wonderful content will also drive the sales of full-length DVD discs, which is an industrial chain."

Barry Diller lay quietly on one side with his eyes closed.

In fact, he also has rich experience in the Internet. He has managed an e-commerce group.

However, he kept silent all the time, listening to the three young men's high-spirited speeches, his heart was filled with appreciation and admiration.

The age of the Internet, after all, is the world of young people.

Thinking is alive!

With the current Internet speed, it is almost impossible to watch a whole movie on demand.

However, after ordering a short video and getting a general understanding of the content of the movie, and then ordering DVD discs, it will greatly reduce the mailing of some unnecessary discs, and naturally reduce the loss of shipping costs.

Unexpectedly, Kevin Turner's original serious words suddenly turned to Xiasanlu.

Dare to be inspired by adult websites?

Barry Diller coughed violently and almost burst out laughing.

Tang En suppressed a smile, and agreed again and again, "Yes, adult websites have indeed provided a powerful boost to the development of the Internet! Video decoding programs and multi-resolution control technology are all contributions from adult websites."

This is no joke.

In today's American cultural environment, if someone says "I use AOL America Online", it is tantamount to saying that he is watching adult movies.

Currently, 50% of Internet traffic is contributed by adult websites.

It can even be said that the reason why the Internet can develop rapidly, the adult website, is the most important contribution!

Reed Hastings agreed with Kevin Turner's proposal: "The resolution of this kind of video clip does not even need to be too high, as long as it gives the user a general impression of the film, which will greatly reduce the user's The demand for network speed, thereby reducing Netflix's transportation costs."

Kevin Turner said with a smile: "That's the reason. Video decoding is simple to say, but it is definitely a promising technology for research and development. With the continuous improvement of network speed, video decoding technology must continue to innovate. As soon as possible By doing so, we can accumulate more experience and provide guarantee for the future push of film and television content.”

Seeing this topic getting bigger and bigger, Tang En waved his hand and said: "Okay, we can talk about the Netflix matter slowly in the future. You can see the benefits of acquiring IMDb. This is not only rich, detailed, and professional. The information is so simple, but also the right to speak! New Universal must grasp the right to speak in the film industry!"

Barry Diller finally spoke, his face changed slightly, and he stared at him, "Have you discovered something new?"

Tang En smiled, "You can buy the Rotten Tomatoes website."

"Rotten Tomatoes?"

"Rotten Tomatoes is also a website that mainly focuses on film and television ratings, but the calculation method of ratings is very different from IMDb. The taste of Rotten Tomatoes tends to be more personalized, not more popular than IMDb. For example, you will understand, Focus Movies "The Pianist", produced by the industry, now has an IMDb score of over 9 points! But the freshness of Rotten Tomatoes is only 65%."

"ah?"

Barry Diller was a little shocked.

Tang En shook his head and said, "IMDb allows everyone to rate, while Rotten Tomatoes' raters are limited to professional film critics. In other words, only those who contribute to the media or are registered members of the Film Critics Association are eligible to rate. IMDb's score is a weighted average score, and the ratings of senior users are more important. "Nancy Meyers" directed by Nancy Meyers, IMDb scored 6.2, but Rotten Tomatoes has a freshness of 85%. "

Barry Diller sighed, "I still prefer IMDb's rating system."

Kevin Turner also said in disbelief: "It seems that my taste in watching movies is very different from that of professional film critics."

Tang En said with a smile: "Actually, it's not that exaggerated. For most movies, IMDb's score is the same as the freshness of Rotten Tomatoes. There are only a few movies, and there will be a huge difference between the two."

Barry Diller pondered for a while, and said: "Anyway, for now, Rotten Tomatoes does not have any substantial help for New Universal."

Tang En said: "No, as I said, Rotten Tomatoes represents the future. It is another direction of aesthetics. It is a supplement and a mutual aid. Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb are the relationship between the left hand and the right hand. Even if it does not help our film business for the time being Too many functions, but we have to invest for the future. It can be acquired and operated independently.”

In the future, after paper media gradually withdraw from the stage of history, the Internet will become a new stage for film critics.

And this new stage has two main positions: one is IMDb and the other is Fandango.

IMDb can provide the most professional and rich film and television information. After purchasing a membership, you can also find detailed information on movies, stars, producers and other professionals. It is the largest and most trafficked film and television information database in the world.

The emphasis is on "information".

Fandango is a movie information platform that connects upstream and downstream.

The emphasis is on "platform".

In addition to the ace website Rotten Tomatoes, there is Fandango online ticketing network, as well as film social forum Flixster, movie information network, and a video-on-demand streaming platform Fandango.

Fandango has a total of 70 million monthly active users in North America, making it a film and television information platform second only to IMDb.

According to Tang En's idea, IMDb rationed Netflix.

After the streaming media is launched in the future, Netflix can be split off and listed separately.

After all, streaming media has a bright future and a high price-to-earnings ratio. If it goes public with New Universal, its market value will be severely underestimated.

After Netflix is ​​spun off and operated independently, New Universal can develop the next film and television information platform based on Rotten Tomatoes.

This platform may not make too much money, but it can have enough voice!

Not only Rotten Tomatoes, but also the online ticket booking site, and the Flixster forum!

Anne Hathaway was so hacked in the United States. At the beginning, she was brutally criticized by a large number of mobs in the Flixster forum, which eventually caused her image to be ruined.

Tang En didn't want to see such uncontrollable things.

He wants to control the right to guide the public opinion in the entertainment industry in his own hands, and he must not let gossip and rumors casually bring down a movie star.

Of course, as long as he has the dominant power, it will be easier for him to mess with others.

IMDb on the left, Fandango on the right.

Twain can completely control Hollywood's online public opinion!

"Sony is so eager to snap up MGM, and even Microsoft is interested in selling MGM. The key reason is to snatch the 'standard' of high-definition DVD, that is, the right to speak. Throughout the United States, only two major movie rating websites can shine in the future Fever, one is IMDb, and the other is Rotten Tomatoes. If they are all in our hands, it means we have the right to speak about movie reviews!"

Tang En's eloquent talk once again revealed his ambition for Hollywood.

This is more or less beyond Kevin Turner's expectations.

He originally thought that Tang En's fight was to make money and build a bigger group company.

From now on, Tang En seems to have a bigger picture.

It seems that he is no longer satisfied with running a film and television entertainment company.

He wants to run the whole of Hollywood!