Top of the big era

The first agreement between the two companies was reached.

No one was too serious, and both sides made certain concessions and compromises, showing that both of them tended to be friendly, cooperative, and long-term contacts.

The next step was much smoother.

Robert Iger even talked about company secrets and said with a smile: "I am promoting a big plan worth 35 billion US dollars in the Disney board of directors."

"oh?"

Zhou Buqi knew that this guy was never willing to be lonely.

Egger said: "In the next 10 years, I will push Disney to increase capital expenditures on theme parks, experiences and product departments. In fact, there are two aspects. First, expand the scale of the amusement park; second, increase the number of Disney yachts. Total investment The scale will reach US$35 billion."

Zhou Buqi asked: "Can it pass?"

Iger is full of confidence in this, "There will be no obstacles, and the board of directors will definitely accept it. This is common practice. We have a big plan for the amusement park business every ten years. The last time was in 2003, when The scale is US$16 billion. This time it is US$35 billion. By the next decade of 2023... it may exceed US$60 billion."

From this we can see why Disneyland is the largest in the world, with more visitors every year than the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth places combined.

Who can afford this kind of long-term and continuous large-scale investment?

It’s a no-brainer that Universal Studios was left behind by Disneyland.

Zhou Buqi nodded and said solemnly: "This proves the correctness of my choice of long-term cooperation with Disney."

Egger said: "The current number of visitors to Disneyland is about 100 million people per year. But according to our estimates, there is still a market of 700 million people waiting for us to develop. Only with more fresh and interesting content and theme parks can we Supporting Disneyland’s long-term expectations.”

Zhou Buqi smiled and said: "I'm afraid that just 'Star Wars' is not enough? What else do you want? Marvel?"

Iger said bluntly: "Yes, it's Marvel. In our plan, the Marvel theme park can even open earlier than the Star Wars theme park."

The reason is also simple: Marvel theme parks require less investment.

A billion dollars is about right.

If the Star Wars theme park invests less and the scene deteriorates, there will be no need for Ziweixing Universal to protest, and the American people will react.

"Star Wars" is a belief in the hearts of Americans.

If Disney dares to casually make money by ruining the park, countless Star Wars fans might be able to delist Disney. You have to spend money and make it hit people's hearts.

Zhou Buqi asked: "What about the price?"

Egger said: "Continue the contract terms of 'Star Wars'."

Zhou Buqi glanced at him, "Each garden has a guarantee of US$20 million and a 20% share of consumer goods?"

"Yes." Robert Iger smiled, "Marvel is different from Star Wars. Marvel is very popular all over the world. If we can reach an agreement, at least two Marvel theme parks may be launched this year. One is Paris, and one is Los Angeles. By the way, your country’s Magic City, Disneyland, which is under construction, can also follow up and develop a Marvel-themed park as soon as possible.”

This clause is very fragrant.

Compared with the "Star Wars" series, Marvel's superhero movies are global products and are loved by fans all over the world without any cultural barriers.

A theme park has a guarantee of US$20 million and a 20% share of consumer goods...

Disney has six or seven amusement parks around the world, and each amusement park must be equipped with a "Marvel Heroes World"... Such a licensing agreement is likely to bring more than 200 million U.S. dollars to Ziweixing Universal every year. income!

Zhou Buqi said without hesitation, "I don't think we need to get too hung up on the details. The cooperation between Ziweixing Universal and Disney is a big strategy that benefits both parties. It doesn't matter who suffers the loss and who gets the advantage. It doesn't matter." What do you fancy? Jurassic Park?"

"Dinosaurs? No, no!" Robert Egger shook his head repeatedly, "Not with dinosaurs. This is different from the overall theme of Disneyland."

Zhou Buqi smiled and said, "You can't do it even if you want. We have already authorized it to Universal Studios."

These licenses are exclusive.

For example, if you want to see dinosaurs or Transformers, you can only go to Universal Studios. Exclusive agreements can become the competitiveness of the amusement park.

Egger said: "Your cartoons are very good recently."

"Shrek?"

"No, Minion."

"this……"

Zhou Buqi has some difficulties.

Iger said with a smile: "The image of the minions is quite interesting and very popular among children."

Zhou Buqi also boasts, "Well, it's very popular. A survey shows that among the animated movies to be released this year, "Despicable Me 2" is the most anticipated. Minions have become the most anticipated among children. The most popular cartoon character."

Robert Egger said: "The image of Minions is very suitable for Disney."

As long as there is no contradiction, you have to grab it.

If Disney can’t get it, its competitors will get it.

Disney grabbed it, which not only strengthens its own strength, but also weakens its competitors. One of the most important ideas in zero-sum games is to weaken the enemy. If you weaken your opponent, you will strengthen yourself.

Zhou Buqi frowned slightly, "This may be a bit difficult."

"oh?"

"When Universal Pictures was originally split, it had an agreement with Universal Studios. Universal Studios has the priority to use Universal Pictures' IP image. Minions belong to Illumination Entertainment, which is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures."

"Can't we adjust the organizational structure?"

"It can't be adjusted. Illumination Entertainment Animation Studio was already established when it was split. It is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures and is included in the agreement." Zhou Buqi looked at the other party with a smile, "But it's not too much. The big obstacle is priority, isn't it? All it takes is Disney giving a bigger offer. Disney has a lot of money, but it can't compete with Universal Studios?"

Robert Iger doesn't like this.

If there were bidding, the cost would be too high.

Zhou Buqi smiled and said, "Why don't you wait until the second and third Minions animated movies are released and see what kind of market effect there is before making a choice."

Egg nodded, "Okay."

Zhou Buqi said: "However, when the movie becomes a big success and Minions become the most popular cartoon character, then if you want to compete with Universal Studios, the price may be even higher."

Egg said: "I'll think about it again."

Zhou Buqi continued: "Except for Universal Pictures, other film companies do not have priority agreements with Universal Studios. Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, Summit Entertainment, MGM...well, there is also DreamWorks Animation. . In the past few years, the most important new elements of Universal Studios have come from DreamWorks Animation."

Iger glanced at him and said, "DreamWorks Animation is willing to give up its cooperation with Universal Studios?"

Zhou Buqi said: "The current Universal Studios has nothing to do with Ziweixing Universal."

"What about Katzenberg?" This is what Iger couldn't understand the most. "Can he accept it?"

DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg was Disney's chief operating officer and the company's second-in-command in the 1990s. Because of the power struggle, he was kicked out of Disney.

This made Katzenberg very angry. What he wanted to do most in his life was to bring down Disney. Can he agree to let the cartoon characters he developed enter Disneyland?

Zhou Buqi smiled and said, "It depends on whether you can handle the relationship with him and resolve the grudge."

Robert Iger knew that this was a direction that could cut off the lifeline of Universal Studios, but he did not dare to be too rash. "This matter requires longer consideration."

Zhou Buqi smiled, "No problem!"

Next, we talked about cooperation between TV stations and movies.

This is much simpler.

It's nothing more than Disney's AMC TV station paying to package and purchase a batch of Ziweixing Universal movies, and paying a fixed copyright fee every year.

It's always cheaper if you buy it in a package.

There is also cooperation in music.

Ziweixing Global owns EMI, one of the four major record labels.

There are countless classic music in Disney movies, so you can’t go to Universal Records, Warner Records, and Sony Records, right? Disney can do it on its own, but the global market is not strong enough.

So we need to deepen our cooperation with EMI Records.

Zhou Buqi also agreed.

And then there’s the last thing – the movie co-production.

Disney Studios really doesn't have much success.

In the past ten years, except for the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, there have been no more outstanding live-action films. Robert Iger wants to cooperate with Ziweixing Universal to jointly develop live-action films, sharing risks and benefits.

Zhou Buqi was vague and said he needed time to think about it.

Co-production movie?

it's out of the question!

Ziweixing Global would rather go to Wall Street for financing and "co-production" with Wall Street for its film projects than cooperate with Disney.

Live-action movies are the core strength, and there is no reason to help Disney make up for this shortcoming.

Making money through cooperation is a good thing.

Through cooperation, we help the other party improve their hard core strength... let's forget it.

Ziweixing Global is not in the amusement park business, so it doesn’t matter how powerful Disneyland is. But live-action movies are no good. How about raising Disney to compete with itself? it's out of the question.