I am a literary giant in Europe

Chapter 777 La Cinq
In 1986, a triumphant Berlusconi and French billionaire Robert Hersant co-founded a television station in France.

France 5 (TV5)
The Cinq
This television station aims to educate and disseminate knowledge.

Berlusconi hoped that this television station would help him expand his influence beyond Italy.

But the education channel...

To be honest, it's not very appealing.

Many people watch TV for entertainment and to kill time.

The results weren't very good; we've been losing money every year.

But Berlusconi was rich back then, and Robert Hersant wasn't short of money either. What did the TV station's losses matter? Influence and personal image were the most important things; if they lost money, so be it, they could afford it.

And so, twenty years passed.

In 1996, Robert Elsson, the founder of the Elsson Newspaper Group, passed away.

Since then, Elsun Group’s investment in La Cinq has been decreasing year by year, leaving Berlusconi to support the company on his own.

But it doesn't matter!

At that time, Berlusconi was in the prime of his career, and having another channel in France would undoubtedly be of great benefit to him.

However, after he reached his current position, La Cinq, France's Channel 5, became a liability.

He is now the most powerful person in Italy!

Moreover, he was extremely wealthy.

Where can we go if we keep going up?
Could they possibly take Italy with them to the moon?
The annual investment also made Lao Bei feel the pinch, and he became increasingly dissatisfied with the attitude of the TV station.

He already owns two Italian public television stations and one private television station.

So, what's the point of this French Channel 5?

How about you help me run for president of France?

In 06, he could still tolerate it.

But he couldn't stand it anymore starting last year.

Last year's financial crisis caused his financial investment company, founded in 1975, to lose over a billion dollars...

La Cinq's financial situation for the new year is also very poor.

To maintain this, nearly 100 million yuan needs to be invested... Berlusconi's assets are mainly concentrated in Finnwest Group, a media group; AC Milan club, since the Calciopoli scandal in 2006, he has been reducing the club's investment year by year.

The huge losses suffered by the financial investment company made his situation even worse.

He had tried to discuss with the heirs of the Elsang Newspaper Group, hoping that the Elsang family could contribute more funds.

Even the landlords didn't have any surplus grain!

In the last century, the Hersand newspaper group accounted for 26% of the circulation of local daily newspapers and 38% of the circulation of the Paris Daily. At that time, newspapers were the main channel for people to obtain information, and the Hersand Group enjoyed immense success.

However, with the passage of the anti-newspaper trust law, commonly known as the anti-Elsand law, by the French parliament, the expansion of the Elsand newspaper group came under restriction. After Robert's death, his successors seemed oblivious to the impact of new technologies on the traditional media industry, and its market share continued to shrink… After the turn of the millennium, the Elsand newspaper group had become a mouthpiece for right-wing political forces in France, serving conglomerates and the right-wing camp, and was further compressed.

After all, during this period, Chirac was in power, and although he was said to be center-right, he was mainly in the center.

Therefore, Old Berlusconi's request went unanswered.

Old Bei is tired of playing and wants to sell.

In fact, since last year, more than one television station has been seeking a sale.

La7, Italy's national general channel, is in talks with Cairo Communications.

Berlusconi was tempted, but the thought of taking on La7's €100 million debt immediately made him back down...

He might be interested in La7, after all, it's an Italian television station.

Berlusconi's base of support is also in Italy.

France……

What does it have to do with him?

He owns 61% of France 5 television, so of course he wants to sell it as soon as possible.

Last November, he negotiated with some organizations, but the results were not very good.

The French government’s COFRAC agency, a similar agency to America’s FCC, said that the French government’s SAE agency offered $1.5 million, but was unwilling to cover the operating costs for the year. In other words, Berlusconi would have to inject at least 30 million euros in operating funds upfront, otherwise he would not take over.

I need to come up with 30 million euros for 1.5 million...

You're blatantly robbing me!

La Cinq's assets must amount to tens of millions.

Three studios, plus playback equipment, recording equipment, etc... Yes, they're a bit old and outdated, but it shouldn't cost 150 million, in US dollars?
In a fit of anger, Old Bei stopped negotiating with the other party.

On January 9, SAE acquired a 50% stake in France24, a subsidiary of TF1, for 20 million euros.

Among them, TF1 channel was valued at 1200 million, and a 7-year program supply contract was retained...

Why? Why?
Old Berlusconi raged in frustration several times, but there was nothing he could do. After all, SAE's partner was the French AB Group, which was considering a full acquisition of TF1, and the negotiations were reportedly going very smoothly.

Besides TF1, which is being sold, a French television station is also preparing to be sold.

"Take care of your own people first. La Cinq's investors are Italian, and Elsin newspapers have no intention of continuing to hold shares. If I acquire your radio station, wouldn't that be giving Berlusconi a free ride? Don't even think about it..."

It was at this time that Lao Bei received news that Liu Jin's funds had begun to return.

These people are rich!
He's even richer than Berlusconi was at his peak.

Furthermore, Liu Jin has sufficient prestige in France, so if he were to make the acquisition, it shouldn't be too difficult.

However, Liu Jin never revealed this need.

Even Berlusconi wasn't sure if he was interested!

Whether there are dates or not, let's shoot a couple of times.

Incidentally, he also hoped to take this opportunity to get to know Liu Jin.

After all, a gunfight had occurred under his command during the New Year, and Old Bei felt it was necessary for him to get to know Liu Jin, which was also a sign of his respect for Franklin.

Everyone who owns a Franklin deserves respect!

Old Bei is actually quite gentlemanly, but he shows a slight sycophantic side when he's around Mara.

However, Mara wasn't very interested in him.

“If Mr. Amos is willing, I can discuss with the Elsan family a package deal of 120 million for all of La Cinq’s shares.”

To be honest, Liu Jin was a little confused when Lao Bei told him about this.

What does he know about TV stations? How do you run one?

Even if he doesn't understand, he knows that an educational TV station is worthless, 120 million is just asking for the moon.

When Liu Jin was in France, he watched La Cinq's program.

Honestly, it's really good!

Of course, this also involves the French government, specifically the Comité franais d'accréditation (COFRAC), which restricts foreigners from operating television stations in the country. Everyone knows that these are important channels for ideological export. What are you, an Italian, trying to export to France by starting a television station in France?
If it weren't for Robert's efforts, Berlusconi's France 5 television network wouldn't have even been able to obtain a license.

However, even if you get it, it's a trap!

In the entire La Cinq, the most valuable thing is probably the license plate.

But it's also a trap, directly restricting you to only education and knowledge dissemination... Think about it, what good can come of that?
Liu Jin looked at Old Bei, smiling but saying nothing.

However, my mind was racing, weighing the pros and cons.

Personally speaking, I'd definitely lose money!

Don't even think about it, you'll lose a fortune...

And as a Chinese person, how could he control a French television station?
If it were ten years from now, they could confiscate it or force you to withdraw from the business under the pretext of 'national security' at any moment.

But it's not without its benefits.

The biggest problem for China's exports is the lack of platforms and channels.

Let alone external affairs, even domestically... it's debatable whether those few platforms in China have actually taken care of their own issues.

Fallacies and heresies are rampant, while those with sound values ​​will have their accounts banned.

Just think, even the official account of a certain organization has been banned by the platform...

Having such a television station is actually a good thing for the country!
Just like Legal Daily, it's willing to report... even scenes from the underworld, which might not be a bad thing.

The oppressive aura of our great China still instills fear in many people... People fear power but not morality! Look at those foreigners, they all shout about wanting to start a war and intervene, but when it comes down to it, how many of them dare to actually take action?

They will never forget the glorious history of the peninsula fighting against seventeen others.

Hmm, is this promising?
After weighing the pros and cons, Liu Jin said to Lao Bei, "To be honest, I'm not interested in TV stations."

The main problem is that I have no idea how to operate a TV station... Also, I'm Chinese, so will there be any restrictions?

Mr. ZL, how about this, this matter is indeed a bit sudden.

Give me some time to think about it, and I also need to find someone to understand the specifics of La Cinq.

Most importantly, I hope that if we have the opportunity to continue discussing this matter, you can offer me a suitable price.

He said with a forced smile.

One hundred and twenty million? That's outrageous!
How much is your La Cinq's annual advertising revenue plus all your fixed assets worth? You dare to ask for 120 million?

Old Bei's eyes lit up, and he smiled somewhat awkwardly.

There is a play!

……

(End of this chapter)