Reborn as a tycoon in Hong Kong

Chapter 595 Recruiting Barry Diller (two-in-one)

On Sunday afternoon, Lin Baicheng and Barry Diller were drinking coffee in a quiet place.

Before meeting Barry Diller, Lin Baicheng read Barry Diller's resume again.

Back then, Barry Diller even voluntarily dropped out of the University of California, Los Angeles in order to join the William Morris Agency. Five years later, Barry Diller gradually emerged and was promoted to assistant general manager of American Broadcasting Company (ABC), where he invented two enduring broadcast modes: TV series and TV movies.

When he was 32 years old, Barry Diller accepted the invitation to parachute into Paramount, which was facing bankruptcy. It has been six years now. Six years later, Paramount, which was about to go bankrupt, has been doing better and better, ranking among the top eight in Hollywood.

Today's eight major Hollywood studios, United Artists and Fox Pictures, are on the verge of bankruptcy. Columbia and Disney's performance is not very good, while Paramount, Universal, Warner and MGM have good performance.

MGM, which was very popular in the future, is now ranked among the top eight in Hollywood. It has diversified its development and is involved in real estate and hotel industry in casinos such as Las Vegas and Reno. Production is only the company's broad business scope. Just one of them.

In just six years, Barry Diller was able to pull Paramount back from the brink of bankruptcy and be ranked first, which shows Barry Diller's ability.

Furthermore, Barry Diller has been at ABC for a short period of time and has made impressive achievements. Coupled with his familiarity and enthusiasm for the TV network, he was recruited. Basically, there is no need to worry about the TV network not being able to run it. Worry about not being able to achieve results.

Lin Baicheng said to Barry Diller who was sitting across from him: "Mr. Diller, let's talk openly about anything we have to say today."

"good!"

Barry Diller nodded: "Mr. Allen, Mr. Harveys has told me your general situation. You have strong capital, which reassures me a lot. You know, the establishment of a TV network costs a lot of money." The funding will cost at least hundreds of millions of dollars, or even more than a billion dollars, and it will take several years to see results. I wonder if you are mentally prepared for this?"

There must be no shortage of money when building a TV network. It will definitely cost a lot of money to acquire TV stations in various states to form a TV network. A smaller TV network would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. To cover the entire United States and become a giant, it might cost more than a billion dollars.

The acquisition of TV stations and digestion and management also take time, so it will take several years, and both money and time are indispensable.

"Mr. Diller, don't worry. You don't have to worry about funding. I can still afford the investment of more than one billion US dollars in a few years, and I can afford to wait for a few years."

Lin Baicheng nodded and continued: "I have industries in Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States, so I am often too busy and need a team to help me manage various companies. Generally speaking, my employees are very responsible for each company. The companies all have a lot of control, after all, I can’t manage so many companies by myself, so Mr. Diller, you don’t have to worry about rights.”

Lin Baicheng knows very well that many excellent professional managers value not only their salary but also their control over the company. It's not that they want to be the masters of the company and let them have the final say, but they want to control certain rights and don't want to be puppets.

In this regard, Lin Baicheng can give these outstanding professional managers a certain amount of control. As he said, there are so many companies under his name that one person cannot manage them, so he must delegate power.

As long as these professional managers are consistent with him in the general direction and obedient, Lin Baicheng doesn't mind if they control power.

Bill Harveys also spoke up and said: "The chairman's career is huge, and our secretariat, together with the presidents and managers of each company, has always assisted the chairman in managing various enterprises."

Hearing what Lin Baicheng and Bill Harveys said, Barry Diller couldn't help but feel happy. A young talent like him who became the president of Paramount before the age of forty would never accept being a puppet. , I will not accept a position without rights no matter how high the salary is.

Barry Diller said aloud: "Mr. Allen, to be honest, I am a little very worried."

"Please say."

Lin Baicheng signaled.

Barry Diller organized the speech and said: "Mr. Allen, you are from Xiangjiang, not the people of this country, and the TV network represents media propaganda. To a certain extent, it can influence the election of politicians, and even the presidential election depends on the media. "

"I say this to tell you, Mr. Allen, that media companies such as TV networks are very important. If it is just a small TV station, then as long as you do good public relations, I think even if you are a foreigner, Mr. Allen, there will be no problem. big."

"But if you want to develop the TV network into a giant, then your identity, Mr. Allen, is a major issue. The White House and other capital will never allow you, Mr. Allen, to control the top media in this country."

"Therefore, if this problem is not solved, Mr. Allen, your TV network will not be able to develop at all. And if the development of the TV network is inherently limited, I have no intention of taking charge. Since I want to be a TV network, I have to do it. America’s No. 1 television network.”

Barry Diller expressed his concerns. In his opinion, if the development of the TV network is restricted and unable to grow, there is no need to accept Lin Baicheng's invitation, and there is no point in giving him a higher salary.

"Mr. Diller is really thoughtful!"

Lin Baicheng praised that he had already considered these before deciding to set up a TV network in the United States or even establish a media group in the future. He knew that his status as a foreigner or even a yellow race would inevitably be an obstacle, so he also considered countermeasures.

Lin Baicheng did not think that his foreign status could be developed in the United States by the media group he controlled. You must know that in order to enter the American media industry, the media tycoon Murdoch had to change his nationality to the United States.

Murdoch has many advantages over Lin Baicheng. For example, Murdoch is white, and Australia, the country where Murdoch was previously located, is the younger brother of the United States. But even so, he still had to change his nationality in order to enter the American media industry.

Murdoch, who has many advantages over Lin Baicheng, had to change his nationality to get permission to enter the media industry. How could Lin Baicheng become the controller of an American media group by virtue of being a foreigner? This kind of thing is simply impossible to happen. It doesn't matter if he has a good relationship with the Xiang Party.

"Mr. Diller, please rest assured, I have actually considered all of these."

Lin Baicheng did not hide his plans from Barry Diller, saying: "I plan to find friends to build a TV network together. When the TV network develops, there will definitely be no shortage of capital participation. At that time, I will reduce my shareholdings and lower my holdings." Share ratio. As long as the TV network is not controlled by me alone and I only hold a certain share, I think there will be no problem."

"This method is possible. As long as you introduce Wall Street capital and reduce your shareholding ratio, Mr. Allen, then there will be no problem with the development of the company. But in this way, Mr. Allen, your influence on the TV network may It won’t be too big, you have to be mentally prepared for this.”

Barry Diller couldn't help but nod after hearing this. He felt that Lin Baicheng's method was good. At least it didn't seem to impose ceiling restrictions on the TV network.

Lin Baicheng immediately said: "As a foreigner, I never thought that controlling a leading television network in the United States would have a certain influence and be of great help to my career. It is enough."

"Mr. Allen, if I also want to take a share, is it possible?"

Barry Diller thought for a while and said, since Lin Baicheng is mentally prepared to give up control, he doesn't have to worry about Lin Baicheng being afraid of holding shares.

Lin Baicheng pondered for a moment after hearing the words, and then said: "Yes, yes, but I can only give you 10% of the shares at most, and you have to contribute in proportion, and the option rewards for your personal treatment will be reduced."

"Thanks!"

Barry Diller did not bargain, he knew that the conditions given by Lin Baicheng were already very good. Although he has to pay for the 10% of the shares, he does not have enough capital. He will never be able to set up a TV network by himself. He must find someone to cooperate. Lin Baicheng, who cannot control the TV network, is a very good person for him. choose.

Barry Diller couldn't help but think about it at this moment. If he could develop the TV network and build a good relationship with Lin Baicheng in the process, he might be able to take over the shares to be reduced from Lin Baicheng and become the controller of the TV network. .

Of course, it is very difficult to do this. After all, Barry Diller does not have strong capital. He needs the support of Lin Baicheng and the support of Wall Street, and he may not succeed. But if he succeeds, he will become a media tycoon, occupy a pivotal position in the United States, and become a big capitalist, and at least he will be spared decades of struggle.

Lin Baicheng asked: "Mr. Diller, so you have decided to accept my invitation and work for me now?"

"BOSS, just call me Diller or Barry."

Barry Diller immediately said that in order to establish a good relationship with Lin Baicheng and prepare for the future, Barry Diller no longer hesitated, and he was willing to pay a certain price for this. If he figures it out for a while, he is very likely to be able to negotiate a better annual salary package, but doing so may make Lin Baicheng unhappy, which will not be conducive to his taking over the shares from Lin Baicheng in the future. He doesn't want to lose a lot for a small amount.

"Then I'll call you Barry. Just like Bill and the others, call me Chairman."

Hearing the title of Barry Diller, Lin Baicheng couldn't help but smile: "I'm glad that we can work together in the future. I look forward to your ability to develop the TV network, Barry."

"I will try my best!"

Barry Diller nodded solemnly, and then said: "But I am still the president of Paramount. I have a contract with Paramount and I can't leave immediately. Fortunately, the contract I signed with Paramount no longer restricts me. I am free, as long as I resign three months in advance, I don’t need to pay liquidated damages.”

"Three months is not too long, there is no problem."

Lin Baicheng didn't mind delaying the time by three months. Anyway, the establishment of a TV network could not be completed overnight, it would take at least several years.

Lin Baicheng and Barry Diller then had a rough discussion and decided to wait until Barry Diller resigned three months later to start the formation of the TV network. The initial investment is US$100 million. Barry Diller can invest US$10 million to hold 10% of the shares. His treatment is similar to his current treatment at Paramount. Management, including him, can receive up to 5%. Option rewards.

Barry Diller's salary has not been improved, and not all of the 5% option awards are given to him. All management can receive option awards based on performance. It's just that if the TV network develops well, as president, he will definitely get the most option rewards.

The reason why Barry Diller's salary has not been improved is mainly because he also has to invest 10 million US dollars to hold 10% of the shares, which means that he is also the boss of the company and no longer just works for Lin Baicheng, so he must do something in terms of salary and benefits. Make certain sacrifices.

These sacrifices are worth it to Barry Diller. Compared with the possibility of controlling a television network, the current salary payment is nothing at all.

After the necessary conversation was over, Lin Baicheng and Bill Harveys left together.

A stretched Lincoln on the move.

Bill Harveys said to Lin Baicheng: "Chairman, Barry Diller is the president of the TV network. If you let him take shares, once your shares are diluted too much, the control of the TV network may eventually fall into his hands." superior."

Lin Baicheng said nonchalantly: "If he has the ability and has a good relationship with me, I don't mind giving him control of the TV network. As I said before, it is impossible for me, a foreigner, to control a national television network." It doesn't matter if the control of a top-ranked TV network is given to him or to anyone else, it mainly depends on the relationship between that person and me. As long as I can maintain my influence on the TV network, that's all."

"I just felt like I was giving him too much credit."

Bill Harveys couldn't help but feel a little jealous. This might be a leading television network in the United States. Once Barry Diller controls the television network, he will immediately become a famous media tycoon. The key is that Barry Diller is currently just a professional manager, no different from him.

"It's too early to say now. I don't know if the TV network can develop. Even if it develops, it may not necessarily fall into Barry's hands. I may transfer control to others along the way."

The control of the TV network must be given away, because Lin Baicheng has never thought about changing his nationality, but he can still decide who to give it to, and through this, he can benefit himself. He will give up control to whomever benefits him the most from giving up control.

For Lin Baicheng, this is at least a few years away, and there is no need to consider it now. To put it bluntly, maybe the TV network has not developed at all, but now it is considering to whom to give control. It is ridiculous no matter how you look at it.

After hearing Lin Baicheng's words, Bill Harveys felt a lot better and said no more.