Reinventing the Millennium

The situation on the field remains tense.

But Stringer had no intention of paying attention to the game.

He looked at Mr. Fang in disbelief, at this man who had huge room for cooperation with Sony in the fields of music, image sensors, and mobile phone systems.

Forgot about our lovely afternoon tea in New York?

Have you forgotten that we all denounced the Sony board of directors in Tokyo together?

Have you forgotten that we just formed the unbreakable alliance of Yike + Sony not long ago?

How could you say such blackmail words so lightly and even with a smile on your face?

Blackmail!

Absolutely blackmail!

Stringer quickly adjusted his mood, OK, OK. For some unknown reason, he often ignored the business success of the young man in front of him, and the character that was almost certainly behind this success.

But do you think that the decades of experience of the current head of Sony in the United States have really disappeared over the years?

The anger that emerged in Stringer's heart was fleeting, and instead he said kindly: "Fang, what did you say?"

His tone was so calm that Yu Hong, who was listening next to him, thought that the old knight really didn't hear what the boss said because of his old age and frailty.

However, the tone of Stringer's next sentence was suddenly harsh:

"You are threatening Sony!"

"You are blackmailing Sony!"

"You are blackmailing Sony!"

Stringer's eyes were fixed on Fang Zhuo.

After a few seconds, he softened his tone slightly: "Fang, how can you ignore your partners? Do you mean that BOE is more important to Yike than Sony?"

After Stringer said this, he shook his head slightly: "If this is the case, I will be very unhappy, and Sony will also be very sad."

From kind to harsh to regretful, mixed with toughness and threats.

As an important part of Yike's efforts to completely consolidate the moat of music players, the music copyright provided by Sony plays an important role that cannot be underestimated.

For Stringer, who is now in charge of the Sony Group, he has completed a huge leap in status. Sony Music's status has dropped by more than one level, but for Yi Ke, Sony Music still plays an important role.

Yu Hong has been dealing with business in the US market and is especially aware of this.

The market threshold for music players has gone from being low at the beginning to almost rejecting outsiders now, relying on the tightening of music copyrights. This has made Yike and Apple almost the only players in the market.

Because the latecomers can no longer obtain authorization from the new record company, and the two companies have accumulated more and more users, they naturally cannot form competitiveness. .

This is not to mention the business cooperation between Yike and Sony due to the personal friendship between the two leaders. Yu Hong knew that mobile phone patents and image sensors were things that the boss valued very much.

However, Fang Zhuo only listened to the old jazz counterattack with a smile on his face throughout the whole process.

He smiled calmly and said: "I understand that you are unhappy because of such a thing, but Sony is starting to feel sad. Sir, is the close cooperative relationship between our Yike and Sony so fragile?"

Fang Zhuo also shook his head: "It is precisely because plasma will have an impact on the prospects of liquid crystals that I ask this question out of our friendship. I don't want Sony's interests to be harmed. I am helping you, not blackmailing you. "

"But, since you said it for this reason, and since you don't agree with it, just pretend that I never said it."

"Watch the ball, watch the ball, my team is going to win today."

Fang Zhuozhen stopped abruptly and continued to watch the game with relish.

The Rockets have gradually gained an advantage on the court. The Nuggets' inside line cannot guard Yao Ming, and second-year Carmelo Anthony, who plays the same position as Carter, also has the upper hand.

But……

Fang Zhuo didn't mention it, but Stringer, who had no interest in basketball, had to think more about it.

Since taking charge of Sony, he has faced many more directions in the group's affairs, and the television business is an important one.

Sony was originally the overlord of color tube CRT TVs and had been making huge profits in the global market. Because of this, the giant's slowness prevented it from keeping up with the pace of new technologies. Last year, this business in 2004 fell into Serious losses.

At the same time, LCD TVs from Sharp, Samsung, LG and other companies are booming and conquering cities and territories, while Panasonic, Hitachi, Pioneer and other companies are betting on plasma and building production lines.

Compared with bulky CRT TVs, LCD and plasma have absolute advantages due to their thin and light appearance and advanced technology.

But, is it plasma or liquid crystal?

Sony initially chose plasma and bought some of Nippon Electric's patents, and then discovered that Panasonic had already consolidated its core patents in this field, and Panasonic's attitude was very conservative.

Therefore, after repeatedly weighing the situation on both sides, Sony changed its track and chose to cooperate with Samsung to build an LCD production line.

Unlike Panasonic's Gossip Sosou, Samsung is very generous when it comes to cooperation with Sony. The production line built by the joint venture is the world's first mass-produced 7th generation line, which can be regarded as allowing Sony to gain a foothold in the LCD camp.

Just this month, this production line, with a total investment of US$2 billion, achieved mass production as scheduled, with a monthly production capacity of about 60,000 LCD panels.

This also means that Sony can vigorously launch its own LCD TV products this year.

However, although the LCD camp has the upper hand with the addition of more manufacturers, this does not mean that the inferior plasma camp has been defeated.

Which technical route will ultimately dominate the market?

This is an answer that no manufacturer is sure of and needs to go through fierce competition to give.

Like Samsung itself, it not only builds LCD production lines, but also builds plasma production lines, but it invests more in the former.

Stringer is very clear about these things, and this is what he has focused on since taking over as head of the group. The revival of Sony TV is also a high-profile task for the new leadership.

The action on the field was intense and the enthusiasm in the gym was high.

But what the old jazz heard was that it was extremely noisy.

He thought about Mr. Fang's request over and over in his mind, but still felt that it was a wave of blackmail.

Can different TV manufacturers in China come together to carry out technological transformation? Judging from Sony Group's global market analysis report, the Chinese market is basically in the LCD camp.

Is this something that can be transferred at a moment’s notice?

Even if Mr. Fang is a rich man, even if Mr. Fang has energy, this still sounds unbelievable, because it will not involve one or two TV manufacturers, and there will inevitably be various conflicts of interest.

This conflict of interest is almost irreconcilable.

Stringer breathed a sigh of relief. He had been doing this for decades and was not afraid of it.

The whistle sounded on the court and it was time for halftime. The Rockets were leading the Nuggets and needed halftime to win for the first time.

"Fang, do you think you can convince me with just a few words?" Stringer said seriously to Fang Zhuo.

Fang Zhuo was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said: "Oh, the intermission is over, are you still thinking about the TV? Didn't I just say I won't talk about it anymore? Sir, let's stop here, don't hurt your kindness."

Stringer sneered twice, this was just a gesture.

He didn't believe what Mr. Fang said.

The whistle blows again.

competition is over.

The Rockets defeated the Nuggets and won the first round of the playoffs.

"Hey Jazz, let's go."

Fang Zhuo stretched. He had already happily greeted the coach and players and encouraged them. In addition to the honor on the court, the Rockets' overall endorsement would be legal income in addition to salary, which is quite a lot for role players. For considerable.

Stringer sat stubbornly in his seat and said slowly: "Fang, I have been in the United States for decades. Do you think those few words can threaten me and Sony?"

Yu Hong: "..."

How to put it, well, it’s hard to say.

The game is over, the audience has left, and the team has gone to be interviewed!

I'm really afraid that the old man will die!

Fang Zhuo smiled and bent over: "Stringer, what do you want me to say? I told you that you don't believe it. If you don't believe it, I won't say anything. If I don't tell you, you still have to worry about this matter. What do you want? "

He took two steps, picked up a ball, dribbled a few steps, and shot a long three-pointer.

boom.

The ball missed the mark and hit the outside of the court.

"Good shot." Stringer said slowly, "The quality of your shot is just like you just said that your domestic manufacturers are turning to plasma. How can you believe me?"

"You don't have to believe it." Fang Zhuo blinked.

"I don't believe it." Stringer nodded, "but considering our friendship, I am willing to listen to your suggestions."

"I don't want to suggest it." Fang Zhuo refused.

"I want to hear it," Stringer insisted. "I'll see how you can blackmail me."

Yu Hong: "..."

Why do you go to Mingzhi Mountain when you know there are tigers in the mountain?

Old man, you have to die in Mingzhi Mountain!

"The head of Sony is blackmailing me every time. It almost made me laugh." Fang Zhuo finally spoke up after Lao Si's repeated request, "The thing seems to me very simple. Chinese domestic manufacturers are not willing to go upstream in the production chain. We have always been controlled, and this time we unite to look for opportunities for normal competition from the outside world. If the LCD track cannot be normalized, then go to plasma."

“We in China have a saying that adding icing on the cake is not as good as providing help when it is time.”

"Today is different from the past. Plasma is weak. Although it has always been thinking about occupying the majority of the benefits of this track, now it is time to supplement its teammates."

"Panasonic is the 'Father of Plasma,' Sir. To be honest, I'm already looking for someone to contact Panasonic."

"You in the LCD camp want to do things so decisively and create a monopoly, so what can we do?"

"This is not a challenge initiated by us, but a counterattack after being bullied."

Fang Zhuo talked eloquently.

Stringer pondered, the motivation is there, but the problem is that it is a difficult process to convert motivation into behavior.

It's just superficial blackmail!

He shook his head and pointed out one point: "Panasonic will not easily agree to license key patents. This is something that even Sony cannot do."

Fang Zhuo said calmly: "That's because Sony is too strong and will become a direct competitor to Panasonic. Your two businesses have many overlaps, but BOE in China is different."

"Even if you get a patent, it will take a long time to develop. It will not compete for the position of leader, it will just be a follower."

"Even if one day BOE can compete for the leading position, how many years will it take? Five years? Ten years?"

He sneered: "In five or ten years, you have no idea whether Stringer will be the chairman of Sony."

Stringer was not annoyed and said: "I'm afraid you don't know enough about the stubbornness of Japanese manufacturers. Panasonic's door is not that easy to open."

Fang Zhuo took out his cell phone, opened the call history, pointed to a person's name, and said, "This is Yotaro Kobayashi."

Stringer looked at Mr. Fang's expression that he didn't need any explanation, and wondered, "Who is he?"

Fang Zhuo: "..."

He showed a weird smile and introduced: "He is the chairman of Japan's Fuji Xerox, a famous Japanese entrepreneur, and the Japanese chief member of the 'China-Japan Friendship 21st Century Committee'. He has a friendly attitude towards China."

"And, he is also a foreign director on our Sony board of directors."

Stringer's expression froze for a second: "Japanese names are always very complicated."

Fang Zhuo understood: "So, it is easier to remember that there is a Chinese on the board of directors."

After all, he is a foreign director who rarely appears, and his name is complicated. Lao Si is also old and can't remember it. It's normal.

Stringer's smile was somewhat awkward. He shifted his attention, pointed to another name on the phone screen that showed a lot of call records, and asked, "Who is this?"

Fang Zhuo said calmly: "It's Mr. Su, the vice president of Yike Domestic."

Yu Hong glanced silently.

"Kobayashi Yotaro promised me to mediate." Fang Zhuo continued, "Will Panasonic just watch Plasma fall into a disadvantage like this?"

Stringer was silent, and it seemed that there was indeed some action, and it was easy to verify, but...

Just ordinary blackmail!

He thought for a while and then said: "Fang, your words have some truth, but your request cannot be realized by me with just a few words of truth. There are still ninety-nine steps from your words to your request. distance."

"If based on what you say, Sony will try to share or help find patents. This is unrealistic. As a decision-maker, I will also become a joke."

Stringer said seriously: "You know, China will definitely be a vast market in the future. I don't have any objections to China, but this is not enough to push me to convince Sony's partners."

Fang Zhuo didn't show any disappointment at all: "So there's nothing to talk about? No problem."

"Young people are always so passionate and competitive." Stringer paused, "If you really want to help your friends get something from Sony, you can't just let me listen to you. Your words will not let Sony's Damage to the interests of."

Fang Zhuo narrowed his eyes: "You mean...what do you want to see?"

"It's not for me to see it, it's for Sony to see it, it's for the people in the LCD camp to see it." Stringer's face was serious, "Blackmail always needs something practical."

Fang Zhuo said calmly: "Once many things get started, the development momentum becomes uncontrollable."

Stringer stood up and said decisively: "If you hurt Sony, please hurt the LCD camp too, so that everyone will be better off."

He stared at the Dongfang CEO in front of him, thinking about the blackmail he heard today, and added: "If you really have the ability."

Fang Zhuo nodded: "Okay, I'll give you what you want."

Domestic television alliances can no longer just watch themselves do things and only think about others to take care of everything. It is time for them to show their subjective initiative.