Reborn Tech Maniac

Chapter 362 How to report a war live

Lobbying President Reagan was not all smooth sailing. Although the other party had not yet launched the "Star Wars Plan" for an arms race against the Soviet Union, its various attack methods, including blockades and sales restrictions, had always been perfectly coordinated one after another. Naturally, high-tech products cannot be left behind.

"In fact, personal computer products from companies like Apple and Commodore are not uncommon in the Eastern European market." Tang Huan reminded Reagan with a smile that his company was treated differently.

"But your Fangyuan personal computer is the most powerful." Tang Huan's identity qualified Reagan to make a "great communicator" signature gesture.

"Actually, a personal computer is just an ordinary consumer product, just like a TV set. Could it be that TV sets are also included in the restricted sales list?" Tang Huan shook his head disapprovingly.

Reagan laughed, "Don, if you don't have a better reason, I think this topic can stop here. The dinner that Nancy has carefully prepared is about to begin."

Hearing this, Tang Huan couldn't help but raise his brows. As the president of the United States, Reagan's schedule is not usually tight. It is not easy to find such a relaxing period of time to discuss the issue of lifting the ban on the sale of Fangyuan personal computers. Thanks to Nancy, the first lady, for her mediation.

"Okay, let's talk about the powerful performance of Fangyuan PC." Tang Huan pondered for a moment, "Let me first talk about the desktop publishing system. Its emergence has greatly reduced the difficulty of the work of news publications, and even one person can do it. I run a newspaper. Your Excellency the President will definitely know what significance such convenience will have for freedom of speech."

Reagan thought for a moment, and finally nodded, "Don, I have to say that your reason convinced me, but it still needs to go through the necessary discussions before making a decision."

"Perhaps, I need to hire a dedicated lobbying team in Washington." Tang Huan sighed slightly.

Now that a breakthrough was found, the ensuing talks became more relaxed, but the atmosphere of the dinner later went a little wrong, disturbed by Reagan and Nancy's youngest son, the rebellious Ronald Prescott Reagan. It lost its original taste, and I don't know where the other party came from.

To put it into perspective, Ronald Prescott Reagan, the youngest member of the first family of the United States, is not even 25 years old this year. In pursuit of individuality, he is energetic and lively. The old Reagan, who is over seventy years old, is really Nothing can be done.

Tang Huan, who saw every detail of the real life of the first family, secretly found it interesting.In this state of mind, his interest was not affected. After the meal, he stood up and said goodbye calmly.

When he opened the car door, Ronald Prescott Reagan leaned over and asked with great interest, "Don, I heard that you and Woz, another founder of Apple Computer, sponsored hundreds of $[-] for a music festival?"

"There is such a thing." Tang Huan nodded slightly, and asked, "Why, are you interested in this?"

"Of course." Ronald Prescott Reagan scratched his hair, "but don't know what to do."

This child is rebellious, but he is still honest. After Tang Huan commented secretly, he took out a business card and handed it over with a smile, "Then try more, you can go to the organizing committee to observe."

"I will definitely go." Ronald Prescott Reagan took the business card happily.

……

After making arrangements in Washington, Tang Huan left for New York to visit his uncle Han Anyuan, who had entered Columbia University to study.

As the center of the eastern United States, Zheru, Fangyuan Computer, and EA have fully established their branches in New York. Tang Huan has a more convenient place to stay here. Han Anyuan, who is new to the country and is unfamiliar with the place, also follows. A lot of light.

"How about it, are you still used to the environment here?" Tang Huan joked.

"It doesn't matter whether you are used to it or not." Han Anyuan laughed lazily, "I don't know if you don't come out, your kid is doing well outside."

"Let's enjoy the scenery together." Tang Huan crossed his legs and said, "If you have nothing else to do, I will go discuss business."

"Let's go, I don't need you to worry about it here." Han Anyuan waved his hand.

Tang Huan was really busy on the east coast this time, and the schedule was fully arranged. The next stop was that he was invited by Ted Turner——Ted Turner, to Atlanta, Georgia, to visit CNN headquarters.

It has to be said that Ted Turner is a very story-telling person. In 1962, at the age of 24, he inherited the inheritance of his father who committed suicide. In 1970, he bought a television station in Atlanta and founded the Turner Broadcasting System——Turner Broadcasting The company started his road to the media kingdom.

Ted Turner had many purposes in inviting Tang Huan here this time.

Compared with the three traditional TV networks, the young cable news network is still very weak, for example, in terms of program sources, it is relatively scarce.

Although companies such as United Artists and MGM currently produce entertainment programs for it, it is far from enough.

As a result, Ted Turner focused on United Artists and MGM, especially the latter's huge film library, and came up with the idea of ​​​​packaging and acquiring them as a whole.

In response to this, Tang Huan just smiled and shook his head. He was not short of money. Moreover, the largest shareholder of MGM was the Kuwait Investment Authority. It was just reorganized from the Kuwait Investment Committee in London this year. It has strong financial resources. Naturally. There's no need to do something like this.

What's more, in the original time and space, MGM suffered a copyright disaster like this once, and it was very hurt.

Ted Turner's impression of Tang Huan was that his business strategy was very flexible, but he didn't expect it to be so rigid now, with no sign of letting go, and finally he could only shake his head helplessly, "Okay, let's forget about it first, we Let me talk about the next thing, CNN plans to set up a branch in San Francisco within this year, and you, a local snake, need a lot of help."

"It's nothing to worry about, everyone supports each other." Tang Huan nodded slightly.

"By the way, I heard from your marketing staff that in addition to cable data transmission solutions, you also have satellite transmission data solutions?" Ted Turner changed the subject and switched to this topic with great interest.

In the original time and space, on August 1995, 8, CNN launched its own news website——, which is also known as the first news website on the Internet.

This shows how keen this media is on high-tech applications.

"This solution was developed to allow Wal-Mart's branches and headquarters to establish more timely data connections." Tang Huan smiled playfully, "Do you want to use it too? In essence, it is data transmission, allowing cable TV It is completely possible for the text news of the news network to flow between the headquarters and branches. The digital method has such advantages. After the press release is transmitted from one place to another, it can be edited on the original manuscript using a Fangyuan computer. Editing is far more efficient than fax mode.”

"I'm really moved." Ted Turner laughed, "You always have something that is both advanced and practical."

After discussing Ted Turner's needs, Tang Huan asked casually: "CNN is under a lot of pressure to survive and develop in the gap between the three traditional TV networks."

"In my opinion, this is instead a driving force for progress." Ted Turner showed a proud expression on his face, "The news interview seat in the White House has already been won, and this is a proof."

Tang Huan smiled noncommittally, "I still appreciate CNN's news reporting method, but it still lacks an iconic brand established through heavyweight interviews and reports."

"The President's assassination incident last year was reported intensively by CNN, and the response was good. Doesn't this count as building a brand?" Ted Turner asked disapprovingly.

"Of course not, because it lacks the on-site news characteristics that CNN has always advertised." Tang Huan replied bluntly, "After all, the incident happened suddenly, and the cable news network, which was just established, was far away at that time due to its shallow qualifications. It is far from doing as well as the traditional three major TV networks.”

"Then, CNN's continuous reporting on your treasure hunting fleet going out to sea to search for the Titanic is considered to meet the requirements." Ted Turner joked, "Of course, if you can find that big ship as you wish, then It’s even more sensational in the news coverage.”

"But this kind of reporting is not difficult at all. If you switch to other media, they will do the same job." Tang Huan expressed his opinion unceremoniously, "Being able to do what others cannot do is called having your own brand. .”

Ted Turner was a little stunned by Tang Huan's words, "Then according to your standards, what should CNN do? Do you have any good suggestions?"

"Whether the suggestion is good or not depends on what you want." Tang Huan said leisurely, "What do you think will happen if CNN participates in a live news report of a modern war?"

Ted Turner was dumbfounded for a moment, and then he muttered to himself: "Time Magazine is indeed right, you are really a whimsical person."

"Why, do you think it's too difficult and not very operable?" Tang Huan shrugged.

"That's not exactly..." Ted Turner pondered for a while, and then asked, "What is the goal? Don't talk about the Iran-Iraq War and other conflicts in the Middle East. For many people, this is nothing new."

Tang Huan asked Ted Turner to find a world map, and then pointed at the lower right, "This is it."

Seeing Ted Turner's doubts, Tang Huan explained carefully: "My friend has a lot of business in Argentina, so I learned a lot about the situation there."

"Is that the Greek ship queen Christina?" In an instant, sparks of gossip flickered in Ted Turner's eyes.

"By tracking other people's privacy, CNN has no way to compete with the traditional three major TV networks." Tang Huan knocked on the table angrily.

"Go on." Ted Turner hurriedly smiled and made a gesture of invitation.

"In the past 1981, Argentina's inflation rate was as high as 600%, GDP fell by 11.4%, manufacturing output fell by 22.9%, and wage growth was only 19.2%. Under such a severe economic situation, the national policy The government’s satisfaction naturally decreased accordingly, while the Federation of Trade Unions received more and more support in Argentina, so it decided to launch a long-term general strike.”

Speaking of this, Tang Huan's eyes shone brightly, pointing to the map again, "In order to cope with the serious domestic economic situation and social conflicts, the Argentine military government headed by President Galtieri has a great possibility to Choosing to compete for the Malvinas Islands war with the United Kingdom, with its victory, to divert the public's focus, just like the collective honor brought by the Argentine national team in the 1978 World Cup when they won the championship at their own gate It's like diverting the public's attention."

"Is that so..." Ted Turner's eyes flickered, and he seemed to be distracted.

"Are you listening to me?" Tang Huan knocked on the table dissatisfiedly again.

"Of course I am." Ted Turner laughed, covering up his embarrassment. "I was thinking just now that your analysis was so reasonable. It seems that I can do something in the investment market."

"As long as you want, I can take you to play a few games in the international futures market." Tang Huan snorted, "Of course, you have to be willing to bear the corresponding capital risk."

"So, you've already taken action." Ted Turner's eyes lit up, "No wonder you're so rich, there are so many ways to get money."

"We can talk about this topic later, let's discuss the possible live news reports of CNN first, okay?" Tang Huan knocked on the table angrily for the third time.

"Of course." Ted Turner, who nodded repeatedly, finally returned his gaze to the map. "If such a war really happened, and CNN would report the whole process live, it would naturally be a blockbuster."

"Then prepare secretly in advance as soon as possible. Even if the war does not break out, you can't afford this expense." Tang Huan urged impatiently.

In the early 1990s in the original time and space, CNN's live coverage of the Gulf War attracted the attention of the world, and its international reputation was significantly improved.

Tang Huan felt that he was applying a successful model to help CNN break out of the tacit encirclement of the three traditional TV networks, but Ted Turner was a bit weak, which really made him unhappy.

After discussing for a while, Ted Turner stared at Tang Huan and asked earnestly, "It's too late for nothing, it's impossible for a smart person like you to help CNN while not getting some benefits for himself." , you have to tell me honestly, otherwise, I'm a little uneasy."

(End of this chapter)