I’m in Hollywood Chapter 980: Warner calculation

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After attending the product launch conference of Firefly Electronics, the next day, Eric took the VH-60N helicopter retrieved from Larry · Ellison and flew to the eastern part of California, which is more than two hundred kilometers away from Los Angeles shoots "Iron Man" location scenes.

At the same time, entering the working day, under the topic hype of the three companies, "Austin Powers2" continues to harvest Box Office at a rate exceeding 6 million USD in a single day.

Finally, following the 46.99 million USD Box Office in the first three days of the first weekend, the complete first week Box Office of "Austin Powers2" reached 73600,000 USD. Created a number of Box Office figures for the first week that many blockbuster movies are difficult to match.

Compared to the "City of Angels" which was originally the most popular in the media, Box Office only had 23.96 million USD in the first week, and was directly thrown out of several positions by "Austin Powers2".

The quality of the movie "City of Angels" can't be considered too bad. Warner's marketing has not been careless, except that with the ingenious marketing methods that Firefly, Fox and Metro Goldwyn Mayer have jointly brought together the audience's emotions, " "City of Angels" is almost completely forgotten by the audience. Although Warner tried its best to remedy, it still failed to regain much attention from "Austin Powers2".

Facts have proved that for a film that lacks attention, Box Office is often even bleak even a bad film that has been punished by everyone. What's more, although most of the film critic has been labeled as a bad movie, the reputation of "Ace Spy 2" in the general audience is not bad.

In the week of Easter, "The Wedding Singer" and "Species" were simultaneously upgraded on a large scale. Encouraged by the excellent Box Office performance of "Ace Spy 2", the marketing departments of the three companies continued to work hard and flexibly changed their promotion strategies. With the slogan 'More options', continue to build momentum for the Easter movie package.

Although the topic of "Austin Powers2" is very high, there are still a large number of people who do not like this kind of **** and pee movie. The release of "The Wedding Singer" and "Species" just gave this group of people who want to enter the cinema to join in the lively, but also a brand-new choice for people who don't have a cold for "Austin Powers2". The marketing strategies of the three companies are also very accurately focused on this a little.

So, many theater operators have found that compared with previous years, the number of viewers entering the cinema this Easter weekend has increased significantly.

So until April 13th, Monday.

The CEORichard · Parsons of Warner Bros. arrived early in the morning at Burbank Warner Bros. Headquarters, and the secretary had put the Box Office data for Easter weekend on his desk in advance.

In addition to the two new films of Xinxian and Metro Goldwyn Mayer, there were some other low-cost movies on Friday.

However, looking at the Box Office data in hand, the Richard · Parsons frowned slightly, the three films of the Firefly system, and there was no suspense in the top three positions of the Box Office ranking this weekend.

Due to the intensified competition, this week's "Austin Powers2" did not stand out.

The new line Film Industry's "The Wedding Singer" is a warm love comedy with the widest audience. It took 31.7 million USD Box Office in the first three days of painting, firmly occupying the top position on the Easter weekend Box Office ranking list.

Subsequent "Austin Powers2", compared with the first weekend, Box Office's decline remained very impressive 45%, and then closed 25850,000 USD, ranking second in the Box Office ranking.

It is worth mentioning that in just ten days, the total Box Office of North America of "Austin Powers2" reached 99450,000 USD, which is only a very small 550,000 USD distance from breaking 100 million.

Compared to this, the performance of "Species", which is a sci-fi thriller, is slightly weaker. Box Office has only 21.77 million USD in the first three days of the weekend.

Of course, this weakness is only relative to the other two movies in the Firefly system. Because, the fourth-ranked Universal Pictures new film "Let's Get Done", the Box Office in the first three days of the weekend was only 13.12 million USD, which was nearly 9million USD worse than "Species".

The fifth place in the ranking is Warner Bros.'s "City of Angels". Squeezed by these series of films, "City of Angels" fell by 46% in the second week, and only 8.19 million remained in Box Office the next weekend USD, accumulated Box Office 321 50,000 USD in ten days, still only one third of "Austin Powers 2".

It can be said that "Austin Powers2" is definitely the biggest winner of this year's Easter period.

Put down the Box Office data file, Richard · Parsons rubbed temple(s), thinking with some bitterness, maybe, if several companies in the Firefly system will launch the "Easter Movie Package" next year, who will be the first to internally When there is a dispute, it may be very lively.

Understand the current situation, "Austin Powers2" ten days Box Office nearly 100 million, at least two weeks more concentrated Box Office payment period, at least you can also get Box Office around 60 million USD for "Austin Powers2", the entire North America Box Office cycle If the performance is slightly stronger, the total Box Office of "Austin Powers2" may even go between 180 million and 200 million USD.

Compared to both "The Wedding Singer" and "Species", according to the current start, the limit of North America Box Office is around 100 million USD, and this possibility is still very low. "The Wedding Singer" may be able to reach the 100 million threshold , "Species" is obviously unlikely.

The North America Box Office that got 100 million USD in the Easter period, even if it was only 70-80 million, in terms of the low-cost production specifications in the two films, this is definitely an exciting success. However, this success is Compared with "Austin Powers2", it is destined to be too inferior.

In the face of the revenue gap of hundreds of millions of USD, Richard · Parsons does not feel that the three companies will maintain the current state of close cooperation.

After so comforting for a while, Richard · Parsons thought of Warner Bros.'s "City of Angels", and suddenly regretted it very much. At first, he didn't do his best to promote the cooperation with the Firefly family on the "Easter Movie Package".

Everyone can see that the three films launched by the Firefly system can not be regarded as too good in quality. The biggest reason for this success on the Box Office is the results of the previous three companies ’spare no effort in marketing .

Warner originally had a great opportunity to join this plan, and it was even a cooperation proposed by Firefly, but due to the delay of the specific executive of the issuing department, Warner missed this opportunity.

The production cost of "City of Angels" is 55 million USD, and announcement costs 25 million USD. The overall budget scale reached 80 million USD.

Now, according to the Box Office data of "City of Angels", the North America Box Office of this film is probably only about 50 million USD. The Warner distribution department is even considering canceling the overseas distribution, and it directly collects funds by selling out copyright. Only about 10 million USD can be recovered.

So, there is less than 40 million of funds that can be recovered on Box Office before and after Warner. Later DVD distribution and TV broadcasting rights income, because the cycle is too long, will not be considered temporarily, which means that in the short term, Warner's book loss on this project will exceed 40 million USD.

Although the Time Warner Group has a big business, the loss of 40 million USD must not be regarded as a small sum.

Although the responsibility for failing to achieve this cooperation is not on Richard · Parsons, last week's high-level meeting, some people have attacked him with this issue. Richard · Parsons is also very regretful. After all, as the CEO of Warner Bros., if he wants to forcefully promote this cooperation that is not too much, no one can stop it.

However, although he is the CEO of Warner Bros., the group's film department is also intertwined with various factions, worrying that it may intensify the internal conflicts of the company, Richard · Parsons did not do so, so the original Basic Instinct was easy enough Turned into a decision-making mistake now.

Richard · Parsons is considering how to resolve the possible impact of this matter on his future. The office door knocked, and the secretary pushed open the door: "Mr. Parsons, Mr. Levin is here."

The secretary said that a man with tall hair and some gray hair had already entered the office. It is the current deputy Chairman Gerald Levin of the Time Warner Group, except for the position in Warner, Gerald. Levin is also one of the heavyweight individual shareholders of Time Warner.

Richard · Parsons is the next step in Gerald Levin ’s support, and he is also one of the most powerful cadres of Gerald Levin ’s family. Seeing Gerald Levin walk into the office, Richard · Parsons quickly got up and greeted him.

The two embraced enthusiastically. Richard · Parsons ordered the secretary to make coffee and took Gerald Levin to sit down on the sofa in the reception area, saying, "Jerry, how come you come here at this time?" "

"I just met with Steve · Keith on the weekend, there are some things, I plan to talk to you," Gerald Levine said, noticing that Richard · Parsons's face has not completely dissipated, Tao: "What's wrong with you?"

Richard · Parsons got up with a wry smile, walked over to the desk and took the document I was just looking at and handed it to Gerald Levin, saying, "It's still the Box Office thing for the Easter period."

Gerald Levin took a few glances at the document, then dropped it away, and said with ease: "Relax, as long as we do the next thing, these little things will not affect you in any way. Yes, not to mention, the Fred who is responsible for the distribution is the Semel person, you can completely push this mistake to them. "

While chatting, the secretary of Richard · Parsons served coffee to the two, and the conversation paused for a while, and the conversation between the two continued when the beautiful blonde beauty left.

"I have talked with Steve · Kes in detail, as long as we can promote the merger of AOL and Time Warner together, he is willing to share with us the new company in the future. By the time, Time Warner, we still say Count. "

Since last year, Gerald Levine has been in secret contact with CEO Steve · Kies of AOL to discuss the merger of the two companies. As a close family member of Levine, Richard · Parsons has always been aware of the matter.

I just picked up the coffee cup, but Richard · Parsons was confused when I heard Gerald Levine ’s words, saying: "Jerry, do you mean that this merger is dominated by AOL?"

Gerald Levin nodded: "Theoretically, this is indeed the case. AOL initiated a merger with Time Warner, and we will respond accordingly."

Richard · Parsons frowned slightly. In recent months, with the massive backflow of hot money caused by the Asian financial turmoil, the North America Nasdaq index began to rise rapidly again. As one of the most concerned technology stocks, AOL ’s The market value has exceeded 30billion USD.

However, the market value of Time Warner is also close to 50billion USD, and this is just the difference in the market value of stocks on the surface.

If you talk about the strength of the inside, Time Warner can even get rid of AOL. Not to mention the others, only the annual turnover, Time Warner Group is 5 times that of AOL.

Therefore, it is difficult for Richard · Parsons to accept that this acquisition is dominated by AOL. He does not think that a company such as AOL that has been inflated by the new technology wave is eligible to acquire an old media giant like Time Warner.

However, it is difficult to accept one point, but Richard · Parsons quickly figured it out, and only by giving control to AOL can they ensure that they have enough power in the merged new company. Otherwise, if the acquisition is dominated by Time Warner, as the weaker group within the group, the control of this M & A transaction cannot fall to the Levin family at all.

Step by step to today, Time Warner is basically a public shareholding company. Important individual shareholders such as Gerald Levine have basically held the position of the entire Time Warner group. Within a few.

Because the power of shareholders is too scattered, no one has a decisive say. Therefore, the management of the Time Warner Group is basically the controller of this media giant. As long as he can get control of Time Warner, even if it involves his own vital interests as a shareholder, Gerald Levin is willing to make certain sacrifices, not to mention the interests of other shareholders of the group.

So, after receiving the promise of Steve Case, Gerald Levin gave up the power to lead the acquisition without hesitation.

Thinking about it quickly, Richard · Parsons took a sip of coffee and put down the cup, saying: "So, Jerry, the most important question, what is the attitude of Firefly, they are the largest shareholder of AOL ? "

"Chris · Hansson, who is responsible for Firefly investment, clearly stated that AOL is developing in the direction of a comprehensive media group. This is probably also the meaning of Eric Williams. They do not want AOL to get involved in the media industry, but want to concentrate on being a Network Service Provider. Gerald Levine explained: "However, Firefly Investment also holds only 30% of AOL. Steve. Case is lobbying other shareholders of AOL to stand on their side. He let me not have to worry, we just need It is enough to solve the problem on Time Warner. "

Richard · Parsons nodded and said, "So what do you need me to do?"

“I also need to lobby the directors and shareholders of Time Warner during this time. All you have to do is discuss the details of the merger plan with Steve · Kes. I hope that both parties can reach a preliminary merger intention by the end of the year.”