I’m in Hollywood Chapter 881: That works too
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Early on Sunday morning, Eric had a phone call with Chris in Tokyo to understand the situation of Southeast Asia, and rushed to Century City in the morning to meet with Harvey · Weinstein. After FFMTV Station was handed over to Weinstein for operation, FFM's Headquarters was set up near Fox Century City Studio.
Last weekend, on June 15, "Black Road Family" went through a 13-week broadcast, and the first season officially ended.
With the skillful operation methods of Harvey · Weinstein, the reputation of "Black Road Family" continues to spread like a virus. Under the good start of the 1.76 million viewership of the first broadcast, the ratings of the series have also soared. When the final episode of the first season was broadcast, the highest number of viewers has rushed to 3250,000, which is almost double that of the first broadcast.
Due to the influence of "Black Road Family", FFM's popularity has further expanded, and subscription users have also increased significantly. As of the end of the first season of "Black Road Family", the number of FFMTV Station user subscriptions has been close to 6 million.
The user base of FFM was only about 4500,000 before the release of "Black Road Family". Due to the relatively low starting point and the support of the three major media giants, everyone foresees that FFMTV Station will be just like in fertile soil. The sprouted seedlings grow quickly. However, in just one quarter, the number of new subscription users is close to 1.5 million. This kind of user growth rate is still unbelievable. You must know that during the same period of HBOTV Station, the number of new users in a quarter is less than 500,000.
From the beginning of the idea of establishing FFMTV Station, Eric was thinking of competing with HBO. Therefore, while giving FFMTV Station full support, Eric has not relaxed its focus on TV Station operations. From September last year until now, Eric will participate in at least two or three FFMTV Station operation meetings every month.
After an initial short period of discomfort, Harvey · Weinstein quickly demonstrated his outstanding ability in TV business operations. The number of FFMTV Station users has skyrocketed in the most recent quarter. To be honest, the credit for "Black Road Family" can only be counted as 30% at most, and the remaining seven Chengdu are the result of Weinstein's excellent business operation capabilities.
Like the public relations operation process of hedging the Olympic film, since the "Black Road Family" was broadcast and the word of mouth has been established, Weinstein has conducted a deeper operation of the "Black Road Family" through all available channels such as newspaper, TV and the Internet. In the three-month broadcast cycle, almost every episode of "Black Road Family" will become the focus of media discussion. When the first season is over, the "Black Theater" point of view has been in the minds of many people. It became entrenched, and accordingly, the FFMTV Station brand has also become more popular, and as a result has brought a large number of new users.
Speaking of this, the operation of FFMTV Station during this period of Weinstein is very similar to Netflix of previous life.
After the original time and space in 2013, when mentioning Netflix, many people thought of "House of Cards" for the first time. "House of Cards" is naturally also a work called a divine drama, but just like "Black Road Family" at this time, both episodes are strictly speaking only as a catalyst. What really made Netflix rise is still This company has excellent business operations capabilities. Of course, just as some chemical reactions cannot proceed without a catalyst, without House of Cards, Netflix would not be able to increase the number of subscribers from the 26 million to 40 million during the two years of the episode. In the same way, the "Black Dao Family", although not decisive for the development of FFM, can never be ignored.
However, behind the skyrocketing number of users is also the rapid increase in the operating costs of FFMTV Station.
Although with the support of the three major media giants, FFMTV Station is, after all, an independent company that needs to bear its own profits. Whether it is Firefly or Fox, it is impossible to provide film and television copyright to FFM for free.
In order to compete with HBO, FFM not only bought a batch of film and television copyright for filling the broadcast period in the early stage, but in addition to the homemade drama "Black Road Family", TV Station also introduces a new film on average every week. Next, FFM will spend more than 300 million USD on film and television content this year. TV Station's advertising marketing budget is also close to 200 million USD. In addition to TV Station's own operating expenses, FFMTV Station's annual operating costs will reach 700 million USD.
On the other hand, in order to attract new users to subscribe, FFM has also implemented a large number of discounts on charging, which has also greatly reduced the average subscription fee of users. Although the number of users has risen rapidly, FFMTV Station is expected to The total revenue for the whole year will not exceed 500 million USD, which is only about one-third of HBO's annual revenue. This also means that FFM will bring at least 200 million USD losses to shareholders in 1997.
Actually, if the ambitions are smaller, in the context of the overall explosion of the cable TV industry, relying on the rich content resources of the three major media giants, FFM only needs to significantly reduce the budgetary expenditures on content and marketing, even if it only depends on the current ownership. Subscribers can quickly make a profit, and moisturize their small lives. But in this case, FFMTV Station will forever lose the possibility of becoming a cable TV giant. Even in the future of streaming media, FFM is destined to become the first traditional cable platform to be eliminated.
Eric will naturally not let this happen, either not doing it or doing the best possible. Even if the final result is not satisfactory, Eric will not allow FFM to settle into the status quo at the beginning.
Not to mention, the average annual loss of 200 million USD is only a few tens of millions of USD allocated according to the shareholding ratio of each company. In recent years, everyone's situation has been very good. Paying tens of millions of USD each year on a toll cable station with huge growth potential is not an unacceptable thing. However, Eric also knows that after the bursting of the Internet bubble, the days of cable TV operators who are also the beneficiaries of the new technology wave will become very sad for a long period of time. At that time, tens of millions of USD losses every year Expenses are more difficult for them to accept. Eric also expects to be able to take back 20% of the shares that were originally allocated to the major cable operators.
With the current growth rate of FFMTV Station, by the end of 1997, the total number of users will exceed 8 million, and users who break through 10 million subscriptions next year will also be stable. However, after the number of subscribers breaks through 10 million, just as the fast-growing seedlings enter the maturity period, the growth rate will also slow down, and will start a more direct personal combat with HBO.
In the conference room of FFMTV Station Headquarters, Eric listened to the Harvey · Weinstein report and said, "Harvey, your contract period is not five years. In this way, if you can develop the number of FFM subscribers during your contract period To 20 million, I can now promise to increase your share of options by 50%. "
Harvey · Weinstein left the demo stage and returned to his seat, laughing: "Eric, your condition is indeed very attractive, but this is not an easy thing. Whether it is Firefly, News Corp or Metro Goldwyn Mayer, there is no A national cable TV operating network like Time Warner, several major operators are only small shareholders in FFM, and support for TV Station cannot be too dedicated. Time Warner's cable TV Network network will definitely crowd out FFM, and remote communication companies are also eager to try to build themselves Toll cable station Starz, as well as basic cable companies, they have a very close relationship with Viacom, these factors will limit the further expansion of FFMTV Station. In my opinion, the scale of FFM users to 15 million will enter a bottleneck, want Breakthrough, the three of you must buy a national cable TV operating system that is sufficient to support the further development of FFMTV Station. Otherwise, I can only guarantee that the number of FFM subscribers will grow to 15 million during my tenure. "
The contract of Harvey · Weinstein began in July last year and ended in July 2001, a five-year period, this period happened to be the most turbulent period of the new technology wave, although the Internet bubble must have burst when the Harvey contract expired However, Eric cannot be too hasty. Of course, Eric is even less likely to buy a cable TV company before the dot-com bubble bursts. In this case, Eric certainly cannot meet the requirements of Harvey.
In the eyes that Weinstein looked forward to, Eric finally shook his head and said: "I have no such plan in the past few years, but you can discuss it with Rupert."
Weinstein shrugged helplessly. In fact, he also talked about this topic with Murdoch. News Corp itself already has a satellite TV and cable TV operating network, but it is relatively small. Moreover, News Corp has put more energy on the development of TV Station in recent years, and is not too keen on basic cable TV operations.
Don't mention this topic anymore. Everyone in the meeting room chatted about others. It was not until noon that the meeting was finally over.
Harvey · Weinstein packed up the documents in front of him and glanced at Peter · Rich, who had been sitting next to Eric today, still smiling harmlessly to Fatty: "Eric, let's have lunch next?" /
Eric said with a smile: "Of course, even if you don't mention it, I will let you invite me to dinner."
Eric came over today. In addition to participating in FFM's most recent operation meeting, there is another important purpose. It is to officially introduce his assistant Peter · Ritch to Harvey · Weinstein. In fact, at the beginning of this year, Eric had already discussed this with Weinstein Things, he has also been prepared. When the FFM was formed, Eric did not have too many personnel problems. At this time, it was only a management that was inserted, and it was nothing.
In the restaurant near Century City, most of the management of FFMTV Station has been dispersed. There are only four people sitting in the box, Eric and Peter · Rich, Vice Chairman and the head of the production department of Weinstein and FFM Brad · Gray, as for Harvey's brother, Bob Weinstein, still puts all his energy on Miramax and does not work at FFM.
Eric didn't approve of FFMTV Station's acquisition of Production Studio, the former assistant Brad · Gray of Weinstein. However, Weinstein eventually brought him closer to the company's program production department, and bought Brad · Gray's Production Studio with 5 million USD. This transaction involves a small amount, and it is not even as good as the cost of FFM to buy the rights to broadcast a hot movie, and Eric is not too blocked.
After ordering lunch, several people chatted about the arrangement of "Black Road Family" to impact the Emmy Awards in September. Harvey · Weinstein took the initiative to mention the arrangement for Peter · Rich: "Peter, I hope you can First come to the marketing department as the deputy of Mark, Mark Levinson, I introduced in the morning, his current position is the marketing department Manager. First familiarize with a period of time, if you have more interesting positions, I can adjust it appropriately. "
The current scale of FFM is not too large, with fewer than 200 employees. As a toll cable TV Station, the core functional departments are movie purchasing, program production and advertising marketing. In the future, after the FFM self-made content is more abundant, copyright operation department will be added, although other departments such as finance and personnel are the same. Important, but it will not have much impact on the development of FFM. In recent years, due to the rapid expansion period of FFM, the company's advertising and marketing department has become more important. It is possible to join this department and the future development space is also broader.
Although Eric has discussed with him before, at this time, after hearing Weinstein formally put forward, Peter · Ritchie is still a little excited. The deputy Manager of the marketing department, and then one level, is FFMVice Chairman. Although the scenery is around Eric, at this time, Peter · Ridge is a starting point for entering a wider career space.
After a short excitement, Peter · Ritchie nodded quickly: "Thank you, Harvey, I will work hard for this job."
Weinstein smile unchanged, glanced at Eric, and said: "So, when are you going to join the job, I will arrange it in advance?"
Peter · Rich also looked at Eric.
Eric put down the cutlery in his hand, smiled, and said, "Next month, I will go to United Kingdom once, but I ca n’t make a replacement in time. Of course, Peter, from United Kingdom, you can apply for one month On vacation, I remember starting with following me, you seem to have never taken a break? "
Peter · Ritchie shook his head with a little eagerness: "This is not necessary, I can immediately put into work."
Eric smiled and nodded, said: "Of course, this is your choice."
Weinstein also smiled with haha, and said: "Actually, young people, it should be like this. Look at each of us, but now it is not working at all on Sunday. In fact, I admire Eric even can Do it. If I have so much money for you, I must be hiding on a private island and enjoying life now. "
Eric shrugged and laughed, and said: "Well, it seems that my current style of painting is very uncoordinated in your eyes."
Several people said with a smile, after having lunch, Weinstein asked again: "Eric, the first three episodes of" Prison on Fire "have been completed. Do you want to come and see the film together this afternoon?"
"I still have something in the afternoon, it has been delayed for two weeks," Eric shook his head and said: "So, you can send a sample to Cliff Peak Manor, I have time to take a look."
"No problem," Weinstein nodded, and vaccinated Eric again, saying: "However, Eric, I do n’t think this series is too good, at least, it ’s definitely far from the" Black Road " "Family" compared. "
"This is natural, any Production Studio's works are ups and downs, I have never expected that all the films produced by FFM will be like the" Black Road Family "."
The overall strength of a TV Station has always relied on its overall episode quality, and it is accompanied by one or two popular episodes without interruption, which is the best state. If all the produced episodes are top-notch, not only is it unrealistic, but even if it is really realized, it will be transformed into an overall ‘mediocre’ after raising the audience ’s aesthetic requirements.
Eric's expectation for "Prison on Fire" is that it can be as long as it can exceed the average level.
Different from Weinstein and Brad Gray, Eric drove to the Trousdale manor, sent the assistant and bodyguard, and walked into the Drew mansion alone.
In the living room of the villa, Drew is lying on the glass coffee table in the center of the living room looking at a pair of aircraft materials and drawings. A pile of paper is also scattered on the carpet and sofa next to it. The twins kneel on both sides of the coffee table and help the girl softly With.
When I saw Eric coming in, the girl immediately raised a drawing in her hand, with a tone of obvious excitement over trouble, and said: "Eric, it's so messy, I didn't expect it to be so troublesome to buy an airplane."
Eric came over and sat down on the carpet next to the girl at random, took over the drawings in her hand and looked at the Natasha next to him: "Wait for a visitor to come and clean up the surroundings."
"Okay, master," the two women answered and stood up quietly to sort them out.
Looking at the drawings in her hand, the girl ’s little head has come together: "Eric, I suddenly do n’t want to buy 777 anymore."
"Oh?"
"Boeing 777 is a dual engine. I heard that the 747's four engines are safer, so the President plane is the 747."
Eric smiled and said, "If you are worried about these, there is no way to fly."
"Hehe, people are afraid of death."
"Then buy the 747."
Eric smiled and said as the girl said. In fact, he also read a lot of aircraft information recently. The reason why the 747 adopts the four-engine design is mainly because the aero engine was not enough power at that time.
Since the Boeing 757, due to advances in aerospace materials and engine design, Boeing has generally adopted a dual-engine design. As for the four-engine is safer than the two-engine, this argument does make sense. But in fact, during the flight, even if all the engines of the aircraft suddenly fail, they will not directly fall from the sky, but will continue to glide, as long as the operation is correct, they can still land safely. What's more, the simultaneous failure of the twin engines is a hundred times and thousands times lower than the probability of the aircraft being struck by lightning. The probability of the aircraft being struck by lightning during flight is still quite large. As for the failure of a single engine, it will not have much impact on flight.
"But, 777 is bigger Oh, I still want to build a party aircraft."
"Then 777."
"Wa~wū, your tone is too perfunctory Oh, be careful I buy both."
Eric continued to nod: "That will do." (To be continued.)