Rebirth in America

Bart and Angel may not be able to see the development in a few years, and they choose the fastest way. Alex is different. He understands the trend of development in a few decades. He believes that if he can't buy newspapers or radio stations, he should be able to build a TV station.

Don’t think that TV stations are more difficult to operate than newspapers and radio stations. In fact, in this era of low TV penetration, the value of TV stations is much lower than that of newspapers and radio stations. Nowadays, American TV stations are popping up everywhere, and TV towers of various sizes are built in various places. There is almost one TV station for every TV tower.

However, the cost of running a TV station is too high. Many TV stations have to be sold due to losses shortly after they are built. After the initial chaotic development, the U.S. government banned the random construction of towers. Now, if you want to set up a TV station, you need a government operating license.

If Alex was reborn in ten years, maybe he could build the largest television broadcast network in the United States. Now, unless we can obtain new licenses through government relations, we will directly acquire existing TV broadcasting companies.

Speaking of American television broadcasting companies, Alex thought of the three major commercial radio and television companies in the United States, NBC (National Broadcasting Company), CBS (CBS) and ABC (American Broadcasting Company). In later generations, these three companies occupied almost half of the American television market, and many people were users of these companies. Many news opinions are disseminated through these companies. However, the influence of these companies is not that great now, and it is not even as influential as some newspapers and radio stations.

"I don't know if NBC or CBS are expensive. It would be best if I could fully control them."

Alex has not considered ABC at all because ABC is still a small radio station with little influence. He has never seen ABC's programs in his entire life, as if he has never heard of them. He only knows that NBC and CBS are two very good companies now.

He finally decided to ask about the market conditions first and then make comparisons. So he called the staff of the investment company and asked them to find a way to contact some people from NBC and CBS to understand the basic situation.

"Hello? I'm Alex! I have something I want you to help me with."

After arranging for someone to do this, Alex patiently waited for the news at home. Within a few days, there was a reply.

"Not for sale!" The person's answer was very concise, and he immediately rejected Alex's request.

Today's TV stations are actually not very profitable to operate. If you want to become bigger and stronger, you have to invest a lot of money. However, people are not fools. They are willing to invest so much money because they are optimistic about the future development of the television broadcasting industry and their influence on public opinion.

After being rejected, Alex began to think about ABC Company. He had already asked someone to investigate this company. He wanted to know why the ABC TV station, which was famous in later generations, was unknown in this era. It turns out that this company has not really developed yet.

At that time, NBC was the first broadcasting organization in the United States, with two nationwide broadcast networks, one called the Red Network and the other called the Blue Network. Among them, Blue Net is the predecessor of ABC.

At that time, the broadcast networks were slowly transformed into television networks. As the largest broadcast organization, NBC not only covered the entire United States, but also radiated signals to Canada, Northern Mexico and other places. This violated the Antitrust Law at the time, so in 1943, according to the US Federal Communications Commission's investigation report on chain broadcasting, it was pointed out that a company was not allowed to own more than two broadcast networks.

NBC had to split them up, retaining the red network and selling the blue network. After changing hands several times, it was purchased by Edward John Nobel for $10,000. A few years later, it officially appeared in front of the audience as a television station.

At that time, Blue Network was almost an empty shell. Apart from equipment and network coverage, there was no formal program group. Fortunately, Edward did not throw it away because of this. He was not a qualified media person and did not accept the opinions of his subordinates. As a result, ABC TV station was in a mess.

Edward was a serious, unsmiling man. He didn't know how to manage a TV station, and he didn't care whether the business he bought for only $10,000 was viable. He actually suggested that the broadcaster could just face the camera and read the newspaper in front of the audience. He made his fortune in the candy business. He is a philanthropist but not a good TV manager.

In the first ten years of ABC TV, basically no one paid attention to this TV station. It's almost impossible to compete with NBC and CBS.

At this time, Alex's people came to the door. Edward was surprised by the idea that he wanted to buy the television company. The two of them made an appointment to meet for dinner and talk about related matters.

"Why do you want to acquire ABC?" Edward asked. He was exhausted with the TV station at this time, and many people advised him to sell the company. But he has never found a good buyer. No one wants a TV station that has no influence.

Alex looked at the person in front of him. He was a man with a gray face and sunken eyes. From the other person's dull eyes, Alex could feel that this person's time was running out. However, he still answered cautiously: "I like to watch TV programs, but the current TV stations don't have what I want to watch. I want to make some programs that can entertain people, and at the same time, people can learn something from them."

After listening to this, Edward felt that Alex's idea was more interesting. He had heard about the Carpenters for a long time, first by hearing their songs on the radio, then by seeing their interviews on television programs, and finally by seeing their movies in the cinema. He likes Alex and thinks that although this boy is young, he will definitely be a big shot in the future.

As early as a year or two ago, Edward felt that his health was not as good as before, and he had already made arrangements for his death. It's just that the TV station has always been a worry for him. He has arranged a large amount of funds for his three hospitals and a candy factory. With these funds, these hospitals and candy factories can operate well, and the workers can also receive good care.

However, the TV station is different. It requires a lot of investment to operate properly. He had planned to leave a fund to the TV station alone, but it was still not enough. Edward was a good and responsible man, and he didn't want the people who worked for him to lose their jobs after he died.

"So what are you going to do? If you own this TV station." Edward asked.

Alex hesitated for a moment, unsure whether Edward would sell the ABC TV station to him, and whether there would be any bad effects if his idea was known to the other party. Eventually, he decided to tell the truth, and he revealed some of his ideas for the show.

For example, filming children's popular science education programs, news programs that follow current affairs reports, sports programs, music programs, etc. These programs were all very novel ideas at the time, and they were very interesting to listen to.

From Edward's words, he could feel Alex's confidence and love for television. He squinted his eyes, thought for a while, and said, "How much do you plan to spend on my TV station?"

Edward originally bought Blue Network for only 10,000 yuan, but after so many years of operation, ABC Company already has 116 affiliated radio and television stations. He has invested millions of dollars. It is precisely because of this that no one can take over the ABC TV station in his hands. Even if it is sold at cost price, almost no one wants to buy it. Spending tens of millions of dollars to buy a TV station that has no influence is simply idiotic.

Alex hesitated for a moment. He didn't know what Edward's psychological price was. He had money now, but he couldn't spend it carelessly. He said: "Then it depends on how much money do you want before you are willing to sell ABC Company to me?"

Edward opened his mouth and smiled silently. He stretched out a finger and said, "10 million dollars!"

10 million US dollars, this price was already a sky-high price at the time. Edward was a philanthropist, but he was also a businessman. If he sells it at this price, he can still make a few million dollars, which means that he has not worked in vain for so many years.

Alex frowned. He felt that if a TV station like ABC had to spend 10 million US dollars, it would be really not worth it. If he had that much money, he might as well start a new company. It's just that the license issue is difficult to solve, and there are also equipment and personnel, which require time to deal with.

"Mr. Edward, I don't think your ABC company is worth ten million!" Alex said bluntly.

Unexpectedly, Edward actually agreed with his statement, nodded and said: "Yes, it is indeed not worth 10 million. I bought it for only 10,000 US dollars. But you know, ABC was just It was an empty shell. Later, I approached the government and banks for support and loans, and then slowly acquired its other affiliated TV stations."

Alex kept listening and said nothing. He stared into Edward's eyes and found that when the other person talked about these things, his eyes became sharper and more energetic.

Edward continued: "I got the Blue Network in 1944, and it had changed hands several times, and when it came to me, I had almost nothing. When NBC originally sold the Blue Network, it sold for $8 million. I bought it for $8 million. Its people soon regretted it because they found that the blue network they bought was just some broadcast towers and equipment and was of no use to them."

"What about you? Have you ever regretted buying the blue network?" Alex asked.

Edward shook his head and UU read www.uukanshu.netｔ and said: "When I bought the blue network, I didn't know what it was used for. However, I will not regret it. My father taught me that it is better to regret what has happened than to regret it. , it’s better to find a way to solve it. I don’t understand what TV is, and I have no interest in TV programs. But I know that no matter how bad it is, I will not let it go easily."

Alex said softly: "Then it will make you lose money. ABC Company has been sucking away your funds without generating much profit."

"I have never done a business that lost money in my life, never. Even if I lose money now, I will never do it in the future."

When Edward said this, his eyes were firm. He was convinced that the TV station would definitely be able to develop in the future. As long as he persists, if his generation can't do it, then let's look at the next generation, and even the next generation after that.

Only then did Alex realize why other television broadcasting companies refused to buy the station from him. It turned out that no one was a fool. Nowadays, the penetration rate of TV is getting higher and higher across the United States, and the demand for TV is also increasing. Everyone can obviously see the importance of the television industry in the future.

damn it! These old foxes! Alex cursed secretly in his mind.

He lowered his head and looked at the patterns on the table, mentally estimating how much the business would ultimately cost. Ten million is just the price to purchase the company. Later, a large amount of money will definitely need to be invested to expand TV programs, reform the TV station system, etc.

Edward was not impatient. He did not rush Alex and waited quietly. He has a lot of patience. He has been waiting for more than ten years, and he is afraid that he will not be able to wait for this little time.