Chapter 530： TV media

There are four major business divisions under the New Universal Group: film and television entertainment, television media, interactive entertainment, tourism and vacation and consumer goods.

At present, only the film and television entertainment department has confirmed the director, which is jointly managed by Bill McNick and Ron Mayer, and the heads of the other three major business departments are still pending.

In addition, the candidates for the group president and chief executive officer are also yet to be finalized.

Originally, Jack Welch suggested Dunn, first select from the inside, and then improve the establishment.

Dunn did not agree.

He has high expectations for the New Universal Group!

For these important positions, he has to choose some of the top elites.

He even invited Barry Diller, are you afraid that he won't be able to invite others?

This matter must be resolved as soon as possible, at least before Barry Diller takes office.

It's true that Barry Diller will be CEO of New Universal, but he has management power. Major strategic decisions and major personnel appointments are still under the control of Dunn.

The first candidate is Jeff Zucker, whom Dunn has long been optimistic about!

Dunn will appoint him as the chief executive of the TV and media department, and may even serve as the senior vice president of the group.

Jeff Zucker is only 37 years old this year. He is young and promising. He is currently the head of the TV department of the nbc group. In fact, as early as 26 years old, he has become an executive of nbc.

However, in recent years, the ratings of nbc have plummeted. Jeff Zucker's life is not very easy, and he can only rely on "Friends" to continue his life, which is very stressful.

NBC chairman Robert Wright has been rumored to have fired him in an effort to revive the appeal of NBC television.

Shareholders are also divided into two factions, Jingwei and Wei, and the competition is fierce.

In the previous life, in 2004, the power struggle within the nbc came to an end.

At that time, General Electric and Vivendi completed a $14 billion merger and acquisition transaction, and the nbc group acquired Universal Pictures, usa television network and universal studios to form nbc universal group.

The result is that Robert Wright stepped down, Jeff Zucker became the chairman and CEO of nbc Universal Group, and led the nbc group to replace Viacom's position and rise rapidly!

It was acquired by Comcast in 2010.

Now, it's 2002, and it's the worst time for Jeff Zucker to be suppressed in the nbc group.

Dunn's foresight, the best at "opportunistic" and "taking advantage of the situation".

Jack Welch, as the king of General Electric, is naturally the best liaison.

On September 8, Dunn met Jack Welch and young Jeff Zucker at the *** Hotel in New York.

The three sat down in a quiet cafe in the hotel.

In fact, Jack Welch and Jeff Zucker had been talking about the same before, and Dunn had spoken to him many times.

This time, it is mainly a routine meeting to confirm whether the future strategic development of the New Universal Group is in line with Jeff Zucker's career plan.

If the "television media" department was not taken seriously, no matter how famous Tang En was, he probably wouldn't want to come here.

"The focus of the New Universal Group... should be film and television entertainment, right?" Jeff Zucker pointed out the key point.

In this restructuring, the film and television entertainment division will spend at least $260 million.

And the amount of assets, high revenue, and fame are amazing.

Even if the other three departments are added together, it is not as good as a film and television entertainment department.

At 37, Jeff Zucker is almost a business genius, and he doesn't want to waste his time in an abandoned department.

Dunn smiled, "The TV media department... At present, there are only sta TV network and usa TV network, which is indeed a bit shabby. But you should be able to see my attitude towards TV networks. I have ordered Universal TV to spend 1 $100 million to shoot "The Walking Dead", it will be a hit TV series. In the future, there will be "Warcraft" with more investment."

Jeff Zucker pondered: "I know, sta TV network was unknown a few years ago, but now it is the largest professional cable TV network in the United States, but..."

Tang En waved his hand, "I know what you mean, you just think it's better to work hard in nbc to manage two small TV networks, sta and usa?"

Jeff Zucker looked slightly embarrassed.

Jack Welch shook his head repeatedly and said, "Jeff, you underestimate Dunn's ambition."

"Oh?" Jeff Zucker looked surprised.

Jack Welch said: "Haven't you heard? He invited Barry Diller back to run the new Universal Group, and he was under a lot of pressure in the industry."

Jeff Zucker nodded, "I heard."

The corner of Tang En's mouth twitched, a little disdain, "Murdoch called me, but his attitude is not clear. But Redstone's attitude has been made clear."

"How?" Jeff Zucker was slightly nervous.

Redstone, media tycoon!

Tang En's face was calm and his tone was relaxed, "What else can you do? Let's do it! The old guys look down on us young people, hehe, then we have to show our muscles to them."

Jack Welch coughed, "I'm still very optimistic about you young people!"

Jeff Zucker reluctantly smiled, but his eyes were full of suspicion when he looked at Dunn.

isn't it?

Does he really want to go to war with Redstone?

This is no joke.

It's not as simple as making a few movies in Hollywood and beating your rivals at the box office.

Redstone's most ace is the cbs TV network and Viacom TV network!

If Dunn and Redstone really start to compete, what can New Universal Group use to compete with Viacom in the TV network field? With just one sta?

To be honest, the body is a little smaller, and it is too biased.

This time, Jeff Zucker's face turned ugly.

He originally wanted to jump ship to join the New Universal Group, and fight with the young man Tang En.

But now my heart suddenly shakes.

Not to mention whether Murdoch will intervene, just a Redstone can't afford to play!

Tang En looked at him with a half-smiling expression on his face, "Why, are you afraid?"

"I don't think you will be Redstone's opponent." Jeff Zucker said bluntly.

Dunn smiled disapprovingly, "Don't you know that Disney is at war with Viacom?"

"You want to join Disney? This is even worse." Jeff Zucker sighed, "If you join Disney, even if you beat Viacom, the TV market will be dominated by abc. The TV media department of New Universal There is no room for growth.”

To put it bluntly, he believes that the TV media department of the New Universal Group is too small and has too little power. The sta and usa television networks could not satisfy his appetite.

Tang En stared at him, "The current media industry is the combination of content and channels, and the integration of the upstream and downstream of the industry chain. The performance of the nbc group has plummeted in recent years, and it has been left far behind by cbs and abc. why?"

"Lack of quality content."

"That's right! Behind CBS is Paramount, and behind ABC is Disney, but what is behind NBC? General Electric? To put it mildly, if NBC does not reform as soon as possible, within ten years, Fox will be left behind. .Because Fox is behind Fox!"

Jeff Zucker said conservatively: "If the nbc wants to reform, there must be personnel changes. I think ... I have the qualifications to compete."

"Ha!" Dunn looked at him amusingly, "Jeff, you really don't understand what I mean?"

"Um?"

Dunn said disdainfully: "If nbc wants to reform, it must get through with Hollywood content! Either it is acquired by a Hollywood company, or it is acquired by a Hollywood company. Now, Paramount, Columbia, Fox, Warner Bros., Disney are all famous flowers. There is a master, who do you think is the choice of nbc?"

Jeff Zucker's eyes widened, and he stammered, "Huan... Universal?"

Tang En asked coldly: "Universal Pictures has already integrated into the New Universal Group. Do you think NBC can acquire New Universal?"

"cannot."

"Then what?"

Jeff Zucker took a deep breath, his eyes shone brightly, his excited expression could not be concealed, and he said excitedly: "There is only one way - New Universal Group acquires nbc!"

...

Dunn flew to the next stop - Bentonville, Arkansas.

On the plane, Dunn and Jack Welch had a good talk.

"Mr. Welch, I'm really bothering you. With a senior like you, the negotiating table goes a lot better." Dunn complimented respectfully.

Jack Welch's fame and status in the business world is too great.

Dunn wanted to dig people, and when Jack Welch sat next to him, it had a bonus effect like a halo.

Jack Welch is very modest The reason why Jeff agreed to join New Universal is mainly because of your strategic plan to acquire nbc in the future. "

Jeff Zucker wants to stay on NBC because he's in a bad situation. But in the process of nbc reform, if there is a change of personnel, maybe he will defeat Robert Wright in the power struggle and ascend to a high position?

But joining the new global group, once and for all.

In the next few years, New Universal Group will acquire the nbc TV network!

At that time, Jeff Zucker, as the head of the TV media department of the New Universal Group, isn't NBC directly under his control? This is much brighter than staying in nbc!

Safe, secure, and more powerful.

Because of the new Universal Group, there are also sta TV network and usa TV network!

This kind of roundabout way is far better than staying behind nbc.

Jeff Zucker has no reason to say no.

What's more, Dunn also promised him that he will also serve as the senior vice president of the New Universal Group, and he will have the power to coordinate other departments and develop the TV media business.

Dunn said: "Barry Diller is too old, I need some young candidates, train for a few years, and take his class."

Jack Welch said: "I met Jeff six years ago. At the time, he had colon cancer, had two surgeries, and had to have chemotherapy every week. But the cancer didn't kill his love of life, Enthusiasm for his work. Since then, I have concluded that his future is limitless!"

"You think he can take over from Barry Diller?"

"no problem!"

Dunn smiled smugly, but then his face turned straight and said, "I'm not the only one on my shortlist. The one we're going to see next is only better than Jeff Zucker. Not weak!"

7

(Sanqi Chinese)