Top of the Great Era

Chapter 3158 Support is mutual
Zhou Buqi sighed, "Lao Zhang, I have helped you a lot in running Sohu Video. You want to cooperate with Netflix to make movies, that's fine, but I have to tell you, this can't save Sohu Video. IQiyi, Youku, LeTV and others lose 30 to 40 billion yuan a year. Can Sohu afford it?"

Zhang Chaoyang said: "I want to go for the boutique route, less but better."

"To put it bluntly, it's just a transfer of interests, isn't it?" Zhou Buqi was helpless. "For the same high-quality content, why don't they cooperate with Youku Penguin instead of Sohu Video? It's easy to explain once or twice. But you have to know that the US is different from China."

Zhang Chaoyang nodded.

Zhou Buqi said, "In China, everything is easy to say. The boss says what he wants to do. Netflix and Ziweixing Global still have many small shareholders. If I keep making decisions that harm the interests of small shareholders, it will be easy to get into trouble. Also, at Netflix, I only have the right to make suggestions, not the right to make decisions. If my suggestions are good, they will accept them. If my suggestions are not good, at most they will accept them to save my face."

Zhang Chaoyang said with a sigh: "If it's inconvenient for you, then forget it."

A bold idea suddenly popped up in Zhou Buqi's mind, "Why don't Ziweixing acquire Sohu? After the two companies merge, I will reorganize Sohu Video and invest a lot of money to develop this business."

"Ah?" Zhang Chaoyang firmly disagreed, "That's impossible!"

Zhou Buqi said: "Small companies are not qualified to do film and television streaming in China. Although LeTV is very popular now, it will be finished in two or three years. Except for the four major Internet giants, Alibaba, Baidu, Penguin and Ziweixing, anyone else who enters will die."

Zhang Chaoyang sighed: "Now this business is getting more and more difficult."

Zhou Buqi suggested: "If you ask me, you should shrink your business quickly. Sohu is outdated. It is almost impossible for you to make a comeback with this brand. If you want to replicate Yahoo's miracle with Sohu, I advise you not to even think about it."

"Ah."

"My suggestion is to shrink the business and keep Sohu.com and Sohu Video. It is unlikely to make a lot of money. Just make a little money to maintain your identity and social status as an Internet entrepreneur. Anyway, you have Changyou, so you are not short of money."

"So, are we going to film the co-production or not? Don't worry, the support is mutual. Even if Ziweixing didn't acquire Sohu, wouldn't all the existing resources of Sohu be freely allocated by Ziweixing? Have I ever treated you unfairly?"

"Okay, okay, let's shoot, shoot, shoot." Zhou Buqi couldn't bear to refuse. "Just shoot one. If it's good, we can shoot more. If it's not, there won't be a second time. You go find a project. I'll tell Netflix. Look for a crime thriller."

At this time, a venue staff member ran over, accompanied by two followers, who looked like a small leader.

He looked to be in his forties, and he was very humble. He bent over and said, "Mr. Zhou, I have something to trouble you with."

Zhou Buqi looked at the name tag on his chest, which had his name and job title, Deputy Director of the Development Zone, and said with a smile, "Director Sun, I will do whatever I can to help you."

Director Sun said, "We have a distinguished guest, a big shot from Silicon Valley, who is on his way here from the airport. He will arrive at the venue in five minutes. If it is convenient, could you go out to greet him? We are the host, so we'd better show some enthusiasm."

"From Silicon Valley? Who?"

Zhou Buqi is very curious.

Director Sun said excitedly: "Apple."

The standard of this Internet conference is very high, but it is all supervised by a formality. The real execution still falls on the local level. It is mainly relying on the face of Boss Ma to invite IT professionals from all over the world to participate.

Zhou Buqi raised his eyebrows, and became interested. "Cook is coming? We should welcome him!"

"No no, not Cook."

Director Sun's expression changed slightly and he quickly explained.

Zhou Buqi was ready to stand up and go to greet him along with Lao Zhang.

If Cook came, given his position in the industry, it would be necessary for him to go to the door to greet him. Moreover, the two had clashed in the United States before, and it was necessary to make peace when they met in China this time. Unexpectedly, it was not Cook. Zhou Buqi asked: "If it's not Cook? Then who is it?"

Director Sun said: "Mr. Bruce Sivir, he is Apple's global senior vice president."

"Who?" Zhou Buqi frowned, "Bruce Sivir? Never heard of him!"

"How could that be?" Director Sun was a little anxious. "He is the second most powerful person in Apple after Cook, and he has a lot of say." Zhou Buqi laughed and said, "Director Sun, you may have misunderstood. Apple has an absolutely flat organizational structure, and more than 20 vice presidents report directly to Cook. If you are talking about the second-in-command, there may be dozens of second-in-commands at Apple, and they have no subordinate relationship. If you are talking about the COO, I know him, it's Jeff Williams. I have never heard of this Bruce you are talking about."

"is it?"

Director Sun was slightly stunned.

Zhou Buqi sat there calmly, with no intention of getting up to greet him. He smiled and said, "How about this, Director Sun, when this guy named Bruce Sivir comes, you ask him to come to see me and tell him that I am here to invite him for tea. That will be considered a welcome."

Director Sun is a small cadre at the bureau level. He dare not make any mistakes in such matters. He is a little worried and asks, "Is this okay?"

Zhou Buqi said, "It's okay. Let him come to see me. I'll talk to him first. This is the first time that the Internet Conference is held. Many forums and speeches will be broadcast live. These foreigners are outspoken when they speak, especially those who are engaged in technology. They may be straightforward and say some politically sensitive topics. I'll meet him and talk to him. Don't say some things that shouldn't be said, so as not to affect the order of the conference and Director Sun's management."

"Yes, yes, yes! Mr. Zhou is still very thoughtful!"

Director Sun finally understood.

Mr. Zhou’s wrist is too big!
A senior vice president of Apple is not worthy of him to greet him. He should take the initiative to visit him.

In large domestic forums, foreigners are particularly cautious when speaking. Once they say something sensitive, the responsibility will definitely fall on executives like Director Sun. In serious cases, they may even lose their jobs. It would be great if Boss Zhou was willing to help.

A few minutes later, this Apple vice president named Bruce Sivir arrived.

Originally, he had a dull expression and seemed not very interested in the hosts who welcomed him.

After seeing Boss Zhou, his attitude immediately changed, he smiled widely, walked over from a distance and shook hands with him, "Mr. Zhou, I'm so glad to see you again!"

Zhou Buqi didn't even stand up. He sat down and shook hands with him, then pointed at the sofa next to him and asked curiously, "Have we met before?"

Bruce smiled and said, "I have met you several times. You may have forgotten. I just moved from Intel to Apple and I am mainly responsible for global legal affairs."

"Legal affairs?" Zhou Buqi raised his eyebrows. "Then why did you come to China this time?"

Bruce cleared his throat and said, "There are some patent issues. Many mobile phone manufacturers are infringing Apple's patents on a large scale. I hope that we can impose institutional constraints here and conduct fairer trade competition."

Zhou Buqi said: "What I mean is to stop when enough is enough, don't be too stubborn."

"what?"

"Report to Cook and tell him what I mean. Apple has huge interests in China, so don't lose the big picture for the sake of small gains. If the intellectual property rights issue is not too serious, try to handle it lightly. Many mobile phone manufacturers here only do domestic business and will not compete with Apple for the market overseas."

"Okay, I'll convey your message."

Bruce dared not neglect this true God.

Who inside Apple doesn’t know the reputation of Boss Zhou?
Half a month ago, Apple was able to resolve a public opinion crisis in the United States only after Cook was forced to give in and pay $1.8 million in "donations." This was the case in the United States, so who dares to mess with him in China?

Zhou Buqi smiled and said: "The sales of iPhone 6 in the mainland market are really enviable. I must congratulate Apple for such a good result."

Bruce said repeatedly: "Thank you, your products are also very good."

Zhou Buqi said: "Apple's interests in China are constantly expanding, and this is all thanks to Cook. If it were Jobs, Apple would definitely not have achieved such good results here. Support and understanding are mutual. I have always admired Mr. Cook's attitude of embracing the market."

"Yes, I know."

Bruce Sivir nodded, knowing what Boss Zhou was talking about.