Reborn Xiangjiang as a Tycoon

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 through Barry Diller's resume again.

At that time, Barry Diller even voluntarily dropped out of the University of California, Los Angeles in order to enter the William Morris Agency. Five years later, Barry Diller gradually emerged and was promoted to the assistant general manager of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC).

There, he invented two enduring formats: television series and television movies.

When he was 32 years old, Barry Diller accepted the invitation to parachute into Paramount, which was facing bankruptcy. It has now been six years. And after six years, Paramount, which was about to go bankrupt, has performed better and better, ranking first in Hollywood.

The forefront of the Eighth National Congress.

Nowadays, the eight major Hollywood companies, 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 Las Vegas, Reno and other casinos. Production is only the company's broad business scope.

Just one of them.

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

What’s more, Barry Diller has stayed at ABC for a long time and made impressive achievements. Coupled with his familiarity and enthusiasm for the TV network, we recruited him. Basically, there is no need to worry about the TV network not being able to run it.

Worried 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?"

Building a TV network must not be without money. It will definitely cost a lot of money to acquire TV stations in various states to form a TV network. A smaller TV network will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. To cover the entire United States and become a giant, it will cost more than a billion dollars.

It's all possible.

It also takes time to acquire TV stations and digest and manage them, 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 funds. I can still afford the investment of more than one billion US dollars in a few years, and I can afford to wait in 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 each enterprise. Generally speaking, my employees are very responsible for each enterprise.

The company has a lot of control over it. 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 in addition to salary and remuneration, many excellent professional managers also value their control over the company. It does not mean that they want to be the masters of the company and let them have the final say, but that they want to control certain aspects of the company.

rights and don’t want to be a puppet.

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 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'm a little worried."

"Please tell me."

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, then there is no need to accept Lin Baicheng's invitation, and there is no point in giving him a higher salary.

"Mr. Diller really thought everything through!"

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 does not think that his foreign status can be developed in the United States by a media group controlled by him. 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 a 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, 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 thought 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 participate in a share, I wonder if it is 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 this, 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 had to pay for the 10% of the shares, he did not have enough capital. He would never be able to set up a TV network by himself. He had to find someone.

Cooperating with Lin Baicheng, who cannot control the TV network, is a very good choice for him.

Barry Diller couldn't help but think about it at this moment. If he could develop the TV network and develop 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.

, has a pivotal position in the United States, and becomes a big capitalist in one fell swoop, at least it will save several 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 would no longer hold back. For this, he was willing to pay a certain price. If he holds back for a while, he is very likely to negotiate a better deal.

A good annual salary package, but this may make Lin Baicheng unhappy, which will not be conducive to his taking over the shares from Lin Baicheng in the future. He does not 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 Barry being able to develop the TV network."

"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 cannot leave immediately. Fortunately, the contract I signed with Paramount no longer restricts me.

As a free agent, 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 doesn't mind delaying the time by three months. Anyway, the establishment of a TV network cannot be completed overnight, it will 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 was US$100 million, and Barry Diller could contribute 1,000 US dollars.

Ten thousand US dollars accounts for 10% of the shares. His treatment is similar to his current treatment at Paramount. Management, including him, can receive up to 5% of the option rewards.

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

That’s the option reward.

The reason why Barry Diller's salary has not been improved is mainly because he also has to contribute 10 million US dollars to occupy 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.

In Barry Diller's view, these sacrifices are worth it. Compared with the possibility of controlling a television network, the current salary and benefits are nothing at all.

After what was necessary to talk about, Lin Baicheng and Bill Harveys left together.

Traveling in a stretch Lincoln.

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 whether 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 feel like I'm giving him too much credit."

Bill Harveys couldn't help but be a little jealous. This may 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 only a professional.

He is just a 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. Whoever gives the control to him will have a negative impact on him

If the benefit is greatest, then he will give up control to whomever.

For Lin Baicheng, this will be at least a few years later, and there is no need to consider it now. To put it bluntly, maybe the TV network has not developed at all, but now he is considering the issue of giving control to whom, how can

It feels funny even looking at it.

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

(End of chapter)