Rebirth of the Tech Madman

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Compared with the original time and space, Sony's defeat in the videotape format war can be described as a complete defeat - not only betamax in the field of home video recorders for mass consumption, but also the VHS that Tang Huan instructed; even broadcast TV for high-end applications Betacam in the high-level field is also struggling.

At this stage, Sony's well-known business scope includes consumer electronics and professional electronics products including single-gun three-beam color picture tube trinitron, walkman, videotape format betamax, etc.

Seeing the loss of betamax and betacam in the market, Sony, unable to recover, said that it is heartbroken.

In order not to be completely eliminated by this market, Sony began to officially produce VHS video recorders this year. One can imagine the embarrassment.

In the process of learning from the pain, unlike most people in Sony who review the hard technical indicators such as picture quality, sound quality, and duration of the video tape format, Akio Morita, the chairman, believes that Tang Huan owns movies, TV, records, sports, etc. The entertainment content provided by such soft resources as VHS provides crucial support in addition to conventional technologies and channels.

In other words, after careful consideration, Akio Morita intends to set foot in the entertainment content production industry in a similar manner, so as to inject fashionable vitality into his own products, so as to further grasp the market.

After making up his mind, Akio Morita set out to promote the plan with all his strength.

In terms of funds, the current economic situation in Japan is booming, and Sony, which has an excellent performance, will not worry about money; but the acquisition target really makes Akio Morita a lot of thinking.

There is no doubt that if Sony wants to buy a film company, it will definitely target Hollywood. The choice outside the United States is meaningless at all. Moreover, the current Hollywood film companies are all expanding horizontally towards television and other fields.

But the problem is that the structure of Hollywood has been turned upside down by Tang Huan. Lianmei, MGM, 20th Century Fox and other easy-to-obtain equipment have all been collected by him, and the remaining major film companies are all Hard bones.

Paramount, the giant of the former Hollywood giants, need not think about it. Although many excellent works have been cut off by Tang Huan, they are still in a stable state of continuous success. The Japanese, who appear as outsiders, are not prepared. If it's $10 billion, it's better not to talk about it.

Warner, who performed equally well, should also be excluded. The fact that Steve Ross is flirting with Time Group cannot be concealed from Akio Morita, who has long established contacts in the United States.

The unsatisfactory Disney also has little hope. After barely escaping the hostile takeover by Saul Steinberg in 1984, Roy Disney of the Disney family changed the members of the board of directors in a coordinated and long-sleeved way, and reappointed management to enhance control.

Universal Pictures, a subsidiary of MCA, may be the eight member of Hollywood that Tang Huan cut off the most, but its joint venture with Paramount - United International Pictures, is still operating very successfully.

More importantly, Universal Pictures, which once fought a copyright lawsuit with ea because of Donkey Kong, also had a similar embarrassment with Sony-it had a dispute with Sony in 1984 over whether the betamax video recorder infringed the copyright of the film. Go to court. Fortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court finally ruled to allow the private use of video recorder equipment, which allowed Sony to escape.

With such a historical rift between Sony and Universal Pictures, it is naturally difficult to sit together.

In this case, the only choice left for Sony is Columbia Pictures, and if you want to acquire this company, you cannot avoid Coca-Cola and Tang Huan.

Akio Morita, who had a good understanding of the Hollywood landscape, arrived in San Francisco and happened to be in time for the press conference with Norio Ohga.

After seeing the demonstration of the multimedia functions that this graphical user interface operating system gives to personal computers,

Akio Morita became more and more worried.

In the choice of the PC standard camp, Sony did not have such problems as the wrong videotape format, not because of its foresight, but because the choice is very simple. Just let ibm-pc have no appeal in Asia.

However, the Fangyuan personal computer compatible machine made by Sony is not as good as the trinitron and the walkman.

The failure of the videotape format competition, coupled with the mediocre performance of personal computer products, made Ohe Norio couldn't help feeling impetuous, and complained in a low voice: If I knew this, I would have rejected Tang Huan to join the CD alliance.

That may be even worse. Tang Huan, who was full of confidence at the time, may really be able to create a new technology that can threaten cd. Akio Morita said calmly: Let Tang Huan join the cd alliance, So that no matter how bad the situation is, we will not be squeezed out.

While speaking, Andy Grove was sent out with a happy face. Akio Morita and Norio Oga met Tang Huan at the right time, and everyone was able to sit down and communicate.

Fangyuan Computer's support for VCD is becoming more and more perfect, and the price of dedicated VCD players is also gradually decreasing. In particular, the available content of VCD programs is becoming more and more abundant. The first example of successful commercial use of digital video standards will soon be in Tang's hands. It was born. Akio Morita complimented with emotion.

Tang Huan laughed and said modestly: The most obvious product affected by VCD is the laser disc with a small market share, and the market that is most likely to accept VCD is those emerging economies where home video recorders have not yet been fully popularized. VCD's industry status Still very limited.

But no matter what, the trend of digital video applications was finally led by Tang. Akio Morita may not have noticed it himself, and there was a faint sense of disappointment in his tone-Sony was in the videotape format war. After retreating, digital video has fallen behind again, and it is becoming more and more passive.

Even if VCD can be fully recognized in the world's most important markets such as the United States, Europe, and Japan, the standards are friendly and open, and Sony always has the opportunity to participate in depth. Tang Huan gave the other party a reassurance with a smile.

Akio Morita couldn't say that Sony wasn't used to this kind of passive status in the industry. Fortunately, the topic was guided smoothly, so he turned to ask calmly: It can be seen that Hollywood's attitude towards VCDs is still very friendly. This has helped its promotion. However, I heard that Tang directly owns three members of the 'Hollywood Eight' and indirectly controls the huge influence of another one, which has raised more and more doubts about the monopoly.

When the business grows, it's inevitable that some boring guys will jump out and make noises, and it won't have much impact for the time being. Tang Huan replied with a smile. He has analyzed that Akio Morita will eventually lead Sony into Hollywood.

As expected, Akio Morita went on to say: Although this kind of opposition does not pose a substantial threat to Tang at present, it will eventually form a market that cannot be ignored if it accumulates for a long time. We must plan ahead.

Tang Huan frowned, and asked modestly: So, does Shengtian have any good suggestions for me?

Akio Morita coughed lightly and said slowly, Sony also has a plan to combine fashionable entertainment content with high-end hardware products. How about this, Tang resold the shares of Columbia Pictures in his hand to us, the beauty of adults At the same time, it can also eliminate those voices who question monopoly.

Does Sony want to enter Hollywood, too? Tang Huan made a surprised expression, and then said earnestly for the other party: The water in Hollywood is too deep, maybe Sony will bear a burden because of it.

Hearing Tang Huan's rambling heart-to-heart, Akio Morita snorted inwardly, It's no wonder you believe me. Didn't you also break into Hollywood as an outsider, and your business flourished? The real intention of these remarks I'm afraid it's worried that Sony will also get Hollywood's content support, which will threaten your industry.

After receiving the wink from Akio Morita, Norio Ohga took over the words with an attitude of being taught: Tang's personal experience is very valuable. If Columbia Pictures can be successfully acquired, Sony will definitely use it as a lesson and hire senior of Hollywood filmmakers.

Tang Huan shook his head with a smile, as if he was defeated by the stubbornness of Akio Morita and Norio Oga, so he dissuaded Sony's strategy from another angle, or more precisely, found a new excuse to decline, saying: In the past few years , Many Japanese companies came to invest in the United States on a large scale, which was exaggerated by various media as 'Japan bought the entire United States', which caused panic among the American public. If Sony successfully acquires Columbia Pictures, the investment of billions of dollars is bound to Set a record for the largest merger and acquisition of a Japanese company in the United States, and be careful not to become the target of such negative emotions.

Greedy guy! Is this using 'the largest M\u0026A record' to imply that Columbia Pictures is expensive? Think about the difficulties you may encounter.”

“However, in my view, the United States is currently in the midst of a recapitalization wave.”

Among the mergers and acquisitions that have been brewing recently, Philip Morris America's acquisition of Kraft Foods involves at least 13 billion US dollars; Kohlberg Kravis Roberts' leveraged acquisition of tobacco company Reynolds More than 25 billion U.S. dollars will be used; think about the 1982 acquisition of Pacific Bell by Tang and many consortiums, which also used more than 10 billion U.S. dollars.

Compared with these big moves, Sony's acquisition of Columbia Pictures is obviously eclipsed by a lot. Even if the media wants to exaggerate, attention will soon be attracted to more sensational capital operations.

Tang Huan seemed to be exhausted by the eloquent Akio Morita's words. He waved his hand and couldn't find any reason to refuse, so he practiced Tai Chi, Since Sony has fully prepared for all possible situations. Of course, I have no reason not to be beautiful. However, I am not the only important shareholder of Columbia Pictures. Have you contacted Coca-Cola?

We had a smooth contact with Coca-Cola, the only remaining question should be the price. Akio Morita replied confidently.

Okay, okay, then on my side, the only problem left is the price. Tang Huan laughed loudly, Well, your plan is really beyond my expectation, and I also need to make some preparations on my side, why don't you wait How about formally launching negotiations when I go to Japan later?

Tang Huan's excuse for procrastination was reasonable, and Akio Morita couldn't continue to force him, so he nodded and agreed. After talking about some topics, he politely declined the richest man's banquet on the grounds that he still had to travel, and stood up to leave.

After getting into the car, Dahe Norio asked worriedly: Tang's intention to delay is obvious, so there will be no other accidents.

Akio Morita analyzed with determination: Of course Tang doesn't want to see Sony learn from his successful experience. However, he has always valued his own reputation. Since he has expressed his attitude, he will not regret it. We need to make preparations. It’s how to PR and negotiate.”

This is a very convenient breakthrough point. That Miss Wada Masako is quite trusted by Tang. Many Japanese companies and their companies started their business through her. Ohga Norio's easy-to-use, let just now After a painstaking lobbying, they laughed knowingly and relaxed.

However, Tang also did his best as a friend. I don't think the reminders he said are completely alarmist. Norio Oga pondered. The plan to enter Hollywood was led by Akio Morita. Although he agreed, he had to help the other party fully assess the risks involved.

Akio Morita nodded approvingly, This problem is also easy to solve, just like Tang. For professional things, let those professional people do it.

...

After Akio Morita and Norio Ohga left, Zhuang Menghua, who came to report on the IPO of Datang Mobile Communications, asked suspiciously, I can see that you don't really object to selling Columbia Pictures to Sony, so why? Pretentiously performing a scene where you want to refuse and welcome? Isn't it hard work if you take so much trouble?

Tang Huan rubbed his nose and said with a dry smile: The utility value of Sony is not a one-time consumable. I'm here to vaccinate in advance for the future, lest they be tricked into turning their heads and resenting me.

Zhuang Menghua rolled his eyes, You are a monk who has become a monk halfway, and everyone can see the success in Hollywood; the wily Japanese, even if they are worse, can it be so bad?

Tang Huan said leisurely: You don't understand, my smooth sailing in Hollywood has an exclusive secret recipe, which Sony cannot copy.