Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 575 Acquisition of CBS
This summer, Aaron's biggest focus is Lucasfilm's "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace," a film with even greater influence than the spring blockbuster "The Matrix"!
At night, in the bedroom, Sophie Marceau lay on top of Aaron. "By the way, there's been some news about this year's Cannes International Film Festival."

"Oh, what news?" The Cannes Film Festival opens in the middle of next month, and Aaron hadn't paid much attention to it.

Chinese director Zhang Yimou wrote an open letter to Cannes Film Festival president Gilles Jacob, expressing his dissatisfaction and withdrawing his two films, *Not One Less* and *The Road Home*, from the festival.

"This matter has caused quite a stir!"

Sophie Marceau explained.

Aaron paused for a moment, then stroked the sexy woman in his arms. "What exactly is the reason?"

Aaron knew very well that those Chinese directors were incredibly enthusiastic about the Cannes Film Festival!

"Uh, it seems there's a scene of raising the national flag in the movie 'Not One Less,' and Giles Jacob thinks it's helping the Chinese government with propaganda, right?"

Sophie Marceau is also unsure.

Aaron chuckled dismissively. "Boring. It seems this NATO war against Yugoslavia has already affected the entertainment industry."

“Gilce Jacob, short-sighted fellow.”

The war between NATO and Yugoslavia intensified, and those countries that were not very supportive were met with hostility from NATO!

Who is the president of this year's Cannes Film Festival jury?

"Canadian director David Cronenberg!"

"Forget it, he's just a nobody," Aaron shook his head. At this point, Dawn doesn't even care about the Oscars, let alone European film festivals.

Different positions require different approaches and pursuits. Aaron used to need a platform, but he doesn't need one anymore!

Sophie Marceau smiled and said, "You Hollywood and the Cannes Film Festival really don't respect each other."

Hollywood looks down on the pretentiousness of the Cannes Film Festival, while the Cannes Film Festival has always looked down on Hollywood's commercialism!

Aaron was quite casual, saying, "The commercial atmosphere at the Cannes Film Festival is getting stronger and stronger these days; it's just that the European film industry, especially France, always likes to flaunt it."

"Look at Luc Besson now, with films like *Léon: The Professional* and *The Fifth Element*, they're basically Hollywood formula films."

"His film 'Joan of Arc,' which he made last year, will also be released this year, and it received a lot of investment from the French film industry!"

As he spoke, Aaron flipped over and pinned Sophie Marceau down. "Tell me," he said, "does the French entertainment industry like Luc Besson more, or hate him more?"

“Well, let’s say half and half!” Sophie Marceau knew Luc Besson’s status in France, despite some newspapers saying he had betrayed artistic cinema and only focused on Hollywood commercial films.

But Luc Besson's influence in the French film industry is undeniable!
Aaron smiled without saying a word, then lowered his head and kissed the alluring woman beneath him.

"Mmm," Sophie Marceau said urgently, hugging the man tightly after the kiss ended, "Are you confident about the acquisition of CBS Television?"

"Of course! At that time, Dawn will own CBS, one of the three major American wireless broadcasting networks; and I will become one of the top figures in the American media industry, with Dawn possessing its own vast publicity channels!"

Aaron stroked the woman's ample bosom, his eyes gleaming. Once they controlled the CBS television network, Dawn's status would be incomparable to what it was before.
Time Warner and Disney, needless to say, control CNN and ABC respectively. News Corp. is certainly no match for Dawn, but Dawn owns FNC, giving it more influence in the US.

In the future, once Aaron acquires CBS, Dawn's only competitors will be the two media empires, Time Warner and Disney. Others will no longer pose a threat to Dawn!
“Ah, congratulations,” Sophie Marceau said, pressing her lips to Aaron's in a passionate kiss…

New York, Manhattan, Times Square, neon lights flashing, the night view dazzling.

At Viacom headquarters, Sumner Redstone sat silently in his office, his cigar tasteless.
"Westhouse Electric, do you really not have any confidence in Viacom?"

"They've officially rejected our merger?"

Sumner Redstone's eyes sharpened as he looked at his assistant, Philip Dorman, standing beside him.

Philip Dorman said with some helplessness, "They can't refuse the price Dawn offered: 10% of AOL's shares, plus 10% of Dawn's shares!"

Sumner Redstone's original plan was to merge Viacom with CBS, with Viacom jointly owned by the shareholders of both companies.
Of course, as Viacom's chairman, Sumner Redstone will continue to maintain control, since it was Viacom that acquired CBS, not CBS Television that acquired Viacom.

The silence made Philip Dorman's breathing become much lighter, and finally, only Summer Redstone's sigh could be heard, "Never mind!"

Sumner Redstone, who has always championed "content is king," also knew Dawn's strengths. As a dominant force in Hollywood film and television production, he knew how attractive Dawn was to television stations.

He glanced up at Philip Dorman. "Go and meet with Shirley Lansing. Paramount's development is crucial for Viacom."

"Furthermore, have her continue to strengthen her cooperation with DreamWorks!"

Shirley Lansing, president of Paramount, has been in charge of Paramount for the past few years, focusing on cost reduction and revenue generation, and strengthening cooperation with other major studios.

However, Paramount also reduced its profits while saving money.

Philip Dorman nodded. "Understood. I will return to Los Angeles and meet with Shirley Lansing in person!"

Then, Sumner Redstone waved his hand...

On the last day of April, Aaron Anderson and Michael H. Jordan jointly announced that Dawning and Westinghouse Electric had reached an acquisition agreement;

Sugon acquired Westinghouse Electric's CBS wireless broadcasting network group with a 10% stake in AOL and a 10% stake in Sugon.

The announcement of this nearly $300 billion acquisition immediately shocked Hollywood!

As the dominant force in Hollywood film production, Dawn finally had its own wireless broadcasting network, expanding its advertising and distribution channels.

On the day the news was announced, the share prices of Sugon and Westinghouse Electric rose by 10% and 6%, respectively.

Once the deal is completed, it will create a media behemoth with a market value of over $700 billion, surpassing Disney and becoming the world's second-largest media group after Time Warner!

(End of this chapter)