My 1999

Chapter 712 Pixar

"Are China's educational resources so scarce?" Allen asked in surprise.

In the United States, except for good universities that require exams, community colleges are optional.

“China has a large population and the development of educational resources does not happen overnight, so the competition will be extremely cruel.

In order to get rid of poverty, I have no rebellious period. Only continuous learning can I sit here today. "

Allen admired: "BOSS, you are the best entrepreneur I have ever seen. Even in the business history of mankind, there are very few who can compare with you."

Xu Liang smiled. After hearing too many compliments, he was almost immune to such words.

"DreamWorks Animation still rejected us?"

"Jeffrey Katzenberg still hopes that the company can go public." Allen nodded.

"Where's Pixar?"

"Jobs's attitude is very ambiguous and there has been no positive offer. Moreover, they are also talking to Disney, and Pixar has cooperated with Disney for many years, and the latter enjoys the former's story copyright and sequel copyright.

If we acquire Pixar, the price will be much higher than Disney. "

Xu Liang nodded. He was also very aware of the feud between Pixar and Disney.

Before the acquisition in 2006, Disney and Pixar had been working together for more than ten years, based on a 50-50 split of investment and profits.

Pixar will produce and Disney will distribute.

Because Disney's position was stronger at the beginning of the cooperation, the details of the cooperation method were more beneficial to Disney.

For example, Pixar still has to pay distribution fees to Disney, and Disney owns the copyright and sequel rights to the story.

As a result, Pixar was subject to Disney's decisions in many ways, which paved the way for subsequent conflicts.

By the time this partnership came to an end, Disney's own animation production was already very weak.

On the contrary, Pixar became the most profitable company in Hollywood, with a strong and weak voice. When they reopened new cooperation negotiations, Jobs had a fierce conflict with Eisner, the CEO of Disney at the time.

Pixar hopes to establish a simple distribution agency relationship with Disney.

Then the investment and profits will be borne independently by Pixar.

In other words, Pixar has stiffened its wings and has greater control.

If Disney doesn't agree, Pixar will choose another distribution company.

A lot happened during this period. The powerful and domineering Eisner left the position of Disney CEO that he had held for nearly 30 years and was replaced by Robert Iger.

Iger has always been close to Jobs, so the relationship between Disney and Pixar has tended to ease.

And he restarted merger talks with Pixar.

Hongmeng’s chances of competing with Disney for Pixar are slim.

From Disney's perspective, it needs Pixar more than Pixar needs Disney.

Because the current leaders in Hollywood animation are Pixar and DreamWorks, Disney has long lost its glory and it is in urgent need of content.

This desire is so strong that Disney feels that if it cannot reach a new cooperation method with Pixar that is more beneficial than the old agreement, then why not simply acquire it?

So in the end, Disney offered a share exchange condition of US$7.4 billion.

From the perspective of Jobs and Pixar shareholders, first of all, the price is very affordable. Almost everyone feels that Disney paid too much, so what reason is there not to sell it?

The stock exchange acquisition agreement made Jobs, who owns more than 50% of Pixar's shares, the largest individual shareholder of Disney (about 7%).

He surpassed former CEO Eisner, Disney veteran Roy Disney, and obtained a seat on the Disney Company's board of directors.

At the same time, John Lasseter and other former Pixar executives and creative cores have all obtained good positions in the new Disney·Pixar animation production structure.

And in order to ensure the independence of Pixar's corporate culture, Disney has not exerted unnecessary influence on its animation production methods and human resources.

Well, Pixar is basically still the same Pixar.

In addition, for Jobs, becoming Disney's major shareholder will also help him play a greater role in the media and entertainment field.

Disney is a comprehensive media empire with countless business branches, and the influence Jobs gains from this will only expand, not shrink.

Gaining control over the production of entertainment content undoubtedly has positive implications for Apple that cannot be underestimated.

Judging from the logic of the development and growth of Hollywood companies, Pixar also needs Disney to a certain extent.

Since the 1980s, Hollywood has formed an ultra-stable structure dominated by six multinational media groups, which is almost unshakable.

These large groups not only vertically monopolize all aspects of film production (the degree of monopoly has exceeded that of the studios before the 1950s), but also span all other media sectors.

No matter how ambitious independent production companies are, such as Orion Pictures in the 1980s, DreamWorks and Miramax in the 1990s, or New Line, which emerged with "The Lord of the Rings".

They can only take turns to be successful for three to five years. None of these companies wants to become a comprehensive entertainment group, but they are unable to do so.

Pixar can't do it either.

As a single studio, Pixar is reaching its limits of excellence.

To develop further, it must integrate with other links vertically and horizontally, and this cannot automatically grow out of the existing Pixar, so merging into a group company is the best shortcut.

Therefore, Disney’s acquisition of Pixar is actually a matter of course.

Even if Xu Liang was willing to spend money, Jobs was not willing.

Although Hongmeng owns Universal Pictures and spent countless funds and five years to build a global distribution and screening network, it is obviously impossible for Hongmeng to share this influence with Apple.

Although Xu Liang has shares in Apple.

After glancing at Xu Liang who was deep in thought, Allen tentatively asked.

"Boss, do you want to give up the acquisition of Pixar?"

"No, let's talk first. Also, help me make an appointment with Jeffrey Katzenberg." Xu Liang said.

"OK."

Xu Liang thought about it carefully. Among the three major animation studios in Hollywood, Pixar had little chance.

The blue sky is in Fox's hands.

The only one Hongmeng can covet is DreamWorks.

When he thinks of the "Shrek" series, the "Madagascar" series, and super IPs such as "How to Train Your Dragon" and "The Croods", Xu Liang drools with envy.

Originally there was also "Kung Fu Panda", but it was snatched away by him in advance.

"How's the cooperation with Mattel going?"

Mattel is a toy manufacturer comparable to Hasbro.

He holds the copyright to the "Barbie Series" in his hands.

Cooperated with Universal Animation Department on many Barbie series movies.

"Still the same, except Barbie is still Barbie."

There was a hint of envy in Allen's tone.

Xu Liang can understand him.

Mattel turned a Barbie doll into a flower.

Fairy tale princess series, fairy series, modern series, holiday series, each series is filmed once a year.

Since 2001, Shengsheng has made 42 movies in more than ten years.

The results happened to be pretty good.

Barbie dolls are even more popular.

Mattel made huge profits.

Everyone would envy him.

"Contact Mattel and buy the adult film adaptation rights for the Barbie series."

"BOSS, do you plan to adapt the Barbie series?"

"Can't you?"

"No, no, I'm just curious. It's hard to imagine what those dolls will look like when they become real people."

Of course it looks like making a lot of money.

Although "Barbie" is very controversial.

But the global box office of nearly 1.4 billion US dollars is real.

Although Xu Liang doesn't like it, he won't have trouble with money.

In addition to online music, comics, animation and game businesses, Hongmeng North America also has a film and television business. After taking over the Global Television Department, it mainly focuses on investing in TV series.

Xu Liang doesn't like American TV series very much and has only watched three of them.

The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones.

"Have you obtained the copyright to "A Song of Ice and Fire"?"

"No." Allen said nervously.

Xu Liang frowned slightly.

"Why? Did we give you not enough money?"

"No. Although all Hollywood film and television giants are chasing the film and television adaptation rights of "A Song of Ice and Fire", our offer is still the highest.

But George Martin doesn't seem to care about money, but more about who can truly understand this magical masterpiece... "

Xu Liang waved his hand to interrupt him.

"How much do we quote?"

"$15 million."

"Add money."

All the excuses were because there wasn’t enough money.

"And you tell the other person that we will spend a lot of money to turn "A Song of Ice and Fire" into a TV series, and invite him to be the screenwriter of the TV series."

“What about the copyright to The Walking Dead?”

"We have already negotiated with Image Comics to purchase its film, television and game adaptation rights for US$12 million."

Xu Liang nodded.

Although Image Comics is not as good as Marvel and DC, it is also a relatively well-known comic company in the American comics industry.

"The Walking Dead", "Spawn", "Witch Blade", "Invincible" and "Bulletproof Monk" are all under its banner.

If the price hadn't been too high and he already owned Marvel, he would have wanted to buy the company.

Counting the revenue of Hongmeng Animation and Hongmeng Film and Television.

The entire Hongmeng North America company achieved net revenue of US$1.35 billion and a net profit of US$397 million in the third quarter of 2004.

Put the finished report aside.

"Remember the problem I just explained, and get to work first."

"Don't worry, I will definitely resolve the copyright of "A Song of Ice and Fire" as soon as possible."

"Um."