Reborn Tycoon Rise

After chatting for a while, Shao Morita asked: "The movie "Home Alone" is very successful, and the future profits must be extremely considerable. I wonder why Mr. Xu wants to sell all the copyrights to this movie?"

Xu Zhi did not answer directly, but asked: "Sony is engaged in electronics? And it has been very successful in this industry, why does it want to get involved in the film industry?"

Xu Zhi and Shao Morita were able to meet here because their subordinates had already informed them that Sony intended to purchase all the remaining copyrights of "Home Alone."

Morita Shaofu smiled: "Because we work in electronics, we have to be involved in the entertainment industry. Electronic products are just the body, but entertainment is the soul!"

"I see, I understand." Xu Zhidao: "Is it for the betamax video recorder?"

Before the Internet era, in addition to watching movies in theaters, people could only go to some stores to rent video tapes. At that time, there were two companies that mastered the video tape industry standards: Sony and Panasonic.

Sony's betamax technology and Panasonic's JVC subsidiary's VHS technology were competing fiercely throughout the 1970s. Both sides wanted to defeat the other and become the standard setter of videotape industry technology.

First-class enterprises set standards!

But no matter what the technical standards are, the core of the video tape is still the movie. This area is firmly controlled by several major Hollywood giants. They are actually sitting on the mountain and watching the fight, because they do not want any one to win the final victory. In other words, the two parties compete with each other, and they are the real winners.

Neither of the two Japanese giants are fools. This problem is actually very obvious. Sony annexed Columbia Corporation for US$3.4 billion in 1989 because their betamax failed completely in 1984. Morita Shaofu believed that the problem was caused by the failure of Sony. Hollywood is stuck and doesn't have enough movies to support it.

But Xu Zhi didn't expect that in 1979, Sony's controllers would already have this idea.

Morita Shaofu looked at Xu Zhi in surprise and said, "I didn't expect that Mr. Xu actually knew about this!"

People who are not in the industry generally have no idea that this kind of competitive relationship exists.

Xu Zhidao: "I pay close attention to news in the electronics industry, and I am also involved in the film industry. I am still aware of the dispute between the two major formats, betamax and VHS."

Shaofu Morita smiled and said, "Then what does Mr. Xu think of this matter?"

"To be honest, I'm not optimistic about Sony's betamax format?" Xu Zhi replied.

Morita Shaofu was not angry and asked: "Why?"

Xu Zhidao: “First of all, my point of view is not from a technical perspective, because I don’t understand these technologies at all.

The reason why I am not optimistic about betamax is because the recording time is too short, only one hour, which cannot record a complete movie at all.

The second point is that VHS is an open patent and has enough allies, while betamax is a closed patent. Even if the technology is superior, it will not be successful without the support of the manufacturer! "

In fact, betamax's technology is indeed superior, but it is impossible for a single person to fight against a group of interest alliances.

Morita Shaofu did not argue anymore, but just nodded and said: "Then let's wait and see in the future!"

Xu Zhi asked: "Mr. Morita, if I sell you the copyright of "Home Alone", will this movie only appear on betamax VCRs in the future?"

Morita Shaofu said: "Yes, is there anything wrong?"

Xu Zhidao: "No, I just want to remind you that if you adopt this strategy, it is not cost-effective from an investment perspective."

Morita Shaofu smiled and said: "I will consider this carefully. I heard that Mr. Xu has negotiated with several major Hollywood companies, but the results were not good. I wonder what price Mr. Xu has in mind?"

Xu Zhi asked: "Let's not talk about the price. My request is a one-time payment. Can Mr. Morita agree to it?"

"Why do we have to make a one-time payment?" Shao Morita asked: "We at Sony are willing to do the transaction with part of cash, part of bonds and stocks."

"Sony's stock is indeed very good, but I still only agree to cash transactions." Xu Zhi said with a smile: "Since Sony is willing to use stocks and bonds to trade, then using this as collateral, we can still get cash for normal transactions. This is not more convenient." ?"

Morita Shaofu smiled and said: "That's okay, but Sony's stock returns will definitely be high in the future. I'm afraid Mr. Xu will regret this choice in the future."

"No, I have my own ideas. There are so many places to invest in this world. Until the harvest comes in the future, who can guarantee that their choice is the most correct one." Xu Zhi shrugged.

Shao Morita said: "Okay, it does make sense. Let's talk about the movie. If Mr. Xu insists on a cash transaction, we at Sony can agree. For the price, we are willing to pay US$200 million to buy out the future." All overseas distribution rights to "Home Alone", global peripherals and sequels."

Xu Zhi shook his head and said: "This price is not very good!"

Morita Shaofu asked: "What is the price in Mr. Xu's mind?"

"250 million U.S. dollars!" Xu Zhi said. In previous negotiations with several major Hollywood companies, the price was almost 180 million U.S. dollars, and they were still dragging their feet and refused to pay in one go. Relatively speaking, Sony was much more cheerful.

Shao Morita said: "It's too expensive. There are not many companies in the world that can earn more than 250 million US dollars in annual profits."

"What does a company that makes less than 250 million US dollars have to do with me?" Xu Zhi said with a smile: "According to the general rules of Hollywood, the income from peripherals far exceeds the box office share. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the peripherals of "Home Alone" are extremely profitable. , not to mention that subsequent sequels will also have box office and various peripherals. This is a chicken that can truly lay golden eggs. Mr. Morita actually knows very well whether it is worth the price."

In fact, "Home Alone 1" alone netted 20th Century Fox 800 million US dollars. However, this later movie appeared in the 1990s. Taking into account inflation and the Internet's promotion of the film market, this The numbers may be exaggerated now, but folding them in half is still fine.

If you add in the following "Home Alone" 2, 3, 4, 5, etc., as long as the operation is good, the profit will definitely far exceed the US$250 million proposed by Xu Zhi now, but the problem is that in Hollywood, Xu Zhi is just a loner. There is no ability to operate the peripherals of this kind of movie. Even if the full copyright is not sold now, a large piece of flesh will be stripped off if it is handed over to any distribution company in the future.

Sony is different. Although it has not yet acquired Columbia Pictures, its influence is already global. It is fully capable of negotiating on an equal footing with some distribution companies. If it is not satisfied, it will directly take over the other company. Anyway, Sony is already preparing to enter. In the film field, it is inevitable to establish your own channels.

Morita Shaofu smiled and said: "I can agree to this price, but Mr. Xu has to promise me two things."

Xu Zhidao: "Please tell me."

Shao Morita said: "First, I hope Mr. Xu can write the script for the next one for us!"

"Shall I write the script?"

"Yes." Morita Shaofu said: "I have seen Mr. Xu's investment in Drunken Master and Home Alone. In my opinion, Mr. Xu should be very good at comedy plot production. Sony has invested heavily this time and entered the It’s an area I’m not good at, and I hope to reduce the variables that carry risks.”

"Okay, I agree to this." Xu Zhi said readily. Anyway, the entire copyright has been sold, and the subsequent plots in his mind have no value. It might as well be used now as a favor.

Shao Morita nodded and added: "This second condition has nothing to do with the movie rights of our transaction. I hope Sony can obtain the exclusive rights to operate the arcade of Mr. Xu's video game company in Japan!"