Chapter 1591 Muffled layout
Ziweixing Global is not a listed company, so many things do not need to be disclosed to the public. Therefore, it will not be subject to pressure from external public opinion and capital, and can do many things with confidence and boldness.
It would be impossible for a listed company like Disney or Time Warner to spend US$2 billion to buy copyrights.
It's not a matter of money, it's just that we simply can't do it.
Even if top executives such as CEOs and presidents have such a vision, it will be difficult to convince a profit-seeking board of directors.
Spending so much money to buy copyright, where is the profit?
The market can't see clearly, and so much money has been spent, resulting in a sharp drop in annual profits. The result is a sharp drop in stocks, and you will be under great external pressure.
This kind of pressure, if it is profit pressure, is actually easier to deal with. If you stick to it, you will be slapped in the face in a few years and make a lot of money for the employer.
What cannot be endured is often moral pressure.
Many people take out loans for their houses and then use leverage to buy stocks. Once the stocks plummet, their families will go bankrupt.
Many people will even jump off the building because of this.
Who is responsible for this debt?
Even many private equity funds that participated in the investment may have had their annual statements fall short of expectations due to this incident. Hundreds of employees in the fund have lost their year-end bonuses, which has affected hundreds of families.
Who is responsible for this debt?
Once a company is listed, it means responsibilities, not only profit responsibilities, but also moral responsibilities. Once the stock price fluctuates, it is really hard to bear it if you don't have a hard-hearted heart. Even Musk collapsed when Tesla suffered continuous short selling.
I cried bitterly and even shouted many times that Tesla should be delisted.
Delisting is indeed a good choice.
For example, a rumor spread in Silicon Valley recently - the famous PC manufacturer Dell intends to launch a delisting plan.
Times have changed. The computer companies that used to represent the pinnacle of the technology industry have gradually been marginalized. The only PC manufacturers that can be counted in the world are HP, Lenovo and Dell, plus Apple.
Except for Apple, which has been very successful in transforming into smartphones, the other three companies are in a terrible state.
The most embarrassed person is undoubtedly Dell.
In addition to the PC business, HP and Lenovo have also explored and developed businesses in other fields. They have entered the transformation process, but Dell cannot. This company started by relying on a lightweight market model that focused on research and development and focused on sales. After the tide subsided, life went by.
The company that gets the worst must be the company with the worst technology.
Transformation is Dell's only way out.
In the past 20 years, hundreds of PC manufacturers around the world have either closed down, been acquired, or gone bankrupt. If Dell does not transform in time, it may be over.
However, transformation means groping, and it means high investment that may not be recognized by the market with great risks, which is very painful for listed companies.
Mr. Dell decided to delist.
This can be considered a very classic business case.
When Dell delisted, Michael Dell's net worth was $3.8 billion.
After delisting, Dell was able to carry out drastic reforms without external constraints. It sorted out its business, analyzed the market, and transformed its strategy, and it quickly achieved success.
After 5 years, Dell is back on the market!
After the secondary listing, Michael Dell's personal wealth soared, reaching $33 billion, an increase of almost 10 times in five years.
After evaluation, Zhou Buqi decided not to launch the listing plan of Ziweixing Global in the short term, but to quietly lay out the plan first to avoid external interference and lay out the copyright market with peace of mind.
Within five years, at least US$8 billion to US$10 billion will be spent to purchase copyrights around the world.
Streaming media is different from TV stations. TV stations have relatively heavy assets, strong localization characteristics, and it is very difficult to go overseas. HBO has been operating for more than ten years, and the profits from overseas operations are almost negligible.
Streaming media is an Internet-based platform with inherent global advantages.
Well-known American TV stations such as HBO, AMC, CBS, and NBC can only target American audiences, but streaming media is different and can target the whole world!
Therefore, the content of streaming media platforms must be richer than that of TV stations.
HBO will not buy the rights to a French TV series, which makes no sense. But streaming media is different. When Netflix opens up the French market, it will be necessary to provide French users with local French film and television content.
These must be laid out and purchased as soon as possible.
When the trend of streaming media takes off, the price of copyrights around the world will skyrocket. At that time, you will really not be able to afford it, and you will have to rent the copyrights like Netflix did in the previous life.
After renting it for several years, the copyright fee has not been paid less, and the copyright owner may cut off the payment at any time.
Content copyright is the lifeblood of streaming media.
You must hold it firmly in your own hands!
Film and television copyrights are very expensive and valued here in Hollywood, but they are very cheap in other overseas countries. As long as you have connections and channels, you can buy them in large quantities as if they were shopping for goods.
A few years ago, Zhou Buqi instructed Xu Baihui to purchase more content copyrights, but due to limited funds, it was mainly limited to the Greater China region.
Ziweixing Global is very powerful, and not counting the US$5 billion in cash on its books, it has not built up any debt. The CFO said that it can easily obtain US$5 billion in low-interest loans, which means that it is at least okay.
Get another $5 billion in loans with conventional interest rates of 6%-9%.
I am fully capable of working hard in the field of copyright!
In order to do this well, Zhou Buqi asked Joshua Carey, the group's vice president and president of the global distribution division, to take charge and use the global resources and contacts of distribution channels to cover the world to purchase copyrights.
If possible, it is best to buy out the full rights.
If you can't buy it, buy out the streaming media rights, adaptation rights, and renewal rights.
If you still can't buy it, then just buy the streaming rights.
In addition, Ziweixing Global has also established a new company called Global Digital Rights Management Company, which is responsible for managing the streaming copyright of all film and television content under Ziweixing Global.
The Home Entertainment Division is only responsible for the television, video and DVD markets, and streaming media rights are managed by this newly established digital rights company.
The candidate for the chairman and president of the new company is Jason Kilar, who was entrusted with the important task by Zhou Buqi.
This appointment is critical.
Because there are too many copyrights in the world, Zhou Buqi has only approved 2 billion US dollars in funding for the time being. At first glance, it seems like a lot, but if you want to purchase classic movies and TV series, the copyright fees will be sky-high.
For example, Zhou Buqi is optimistic about "Breaking Bad" and has already sent people to inquire about the price. Sony Pictures has opened its mouth and expressed its willingness to sell the streaming rights of the entire series of "Breaking Bad" for US$350 million.
.
In Zhou Buqi's opinion, this price is really cheap.
Ten years later, the price of US$350 million will only be enough to rent for five years.
But in the United States, there are so many American TV series that are more popular than "Breaking Bad". According to traditional analysis methods, comparing ratings, media attention and audience love, etc., "Breaking Bad" may not even be the most popular TV series.
I can't even make it into the top 50.
Therefore, this requires a new "Netflix-style" analysis method.
The thinking of traditional Hollywood people must change. Jason Kilar must be allowed to cooperate with Netflix and use new analytical methods to select films!
"Breaking Bad" was originally a marginalized niche TV series broadcast by AMC. Because it was broadcast on Netflix, it became popular immediately. It can be seen that streaming media has a special charm, and it has a way of transforming the traditional perception of "bad".
The ability to promote "movies" and "bad dramas" into "good movies" and "good dramas".
The copyright prices for "bad movies" and "bad dramas" are often very low.
In other words, Jason Kilar needs to help with the copyright procurement business. It will never be possible to buy the copyrights of film and television dramas of the level of "Titanic" and "Friends", "Operation Smith" and "Big Life".
Even if the copyright of content of this level could be purchased, it would be at a sky-high price.
The funding of 2 billion US dollars is simply not enough.
Therefore, we should use Netflix-style analysis methods to find some content in the market that is considered "bad movies" and "bad dramas" from a traditional perspective but has great potential for development from a streaming perspective. The price
It's relatively low and easy to negotiate.
As for film and television content from countries and regions other than Hollywood, it's very simple. Even the most classic content, the price is not much higher.
After the meeting, Zhou Buqi called Jason Kilar to the office and said concisely, "We only have 5 years."
"5 years?"
Jason Kilar didn't understand what he meant.
Zhou Buqi said: "In five years, Netflix will definitely become another shining pearl in the Internet industry, and the trend of streaming media will inevitably come. At that time, the price of content copyright will inevitably skyrocket exponentially. Just like in prime locations,
Just like office buildings, only renting but not selling will become a common phenomenon for high-quality content."
"How much does it cost?"
"No less than $8 billion!"
Jason Kilar took a deep breath and said, "Your confidence and investment in the streaming media industry gives people the feeling of a great voyage."
Zhou Buqi smiled and said, "I believe I will find Indian."
Jason Kilar nodded, "So in the past few years, my work has mainly focused on two things. First, to support Netflix and let Netflix drive the trend of streaming media. Second, to do as much as possible in
Global acquisition of copyrights. When Netflix takes off, the concept of streaming media becomes popular, and the copyright acquisition plan ends, Ziweixing Global will begin to enter new fields and officially launch its own streaming media platform."
Zhou Buqi said: "One more thing, you have to promote Weishu's digital office."
Jason Kilar has a headache, "This is harder than streaming!"
Zhou Buqi smiled and said: "It's not that serious. It's much more convenient to use Weishu for real-time office work. You haven't used Weishu before, have you? You can try it later. It is a very powerful collaborative office product and is easier to use than Google Docs."
There are many. You can also directly use Weishu to manage your mailbox and send emails."
"I'll fight for it!"
Jason Kilar secretly sighed. It is actually not difficult to promote this kind of thing. For this kind of b-end product, employees have no say. They have to use whatever the company arranges.
Chapter completed!