Reborn in Hong Kong as a Tycoon

Chapter 595 Recruiting Barry Diller ([-] in [-])

On Sunday afternoon, Lin Baicheng and Barry Diller drank coffee in a secluded place.

Before meeting with Barry Diller, Lin Baicheng read Barry Diller's resume again.

That year, in order to enter the William Morris agency, Barry Diller even dropped out of the University of California, Los Angeles voluntarily.And five years later, Barry Diller gradually emerged and was promoted to assistant general manager of the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), where he invented two enduring broadcast modes of TV series and TV movies.

At the age of 32, Barry Diller accepted the invitation to parachute into Paramount, which was facing bankruptcy, and now it has been six years.After six years, Paramount, which was about to go bankrupt that year, has achieved better and better performance, ranking among the top eight in Hollywood.

Today's Big Eight in Hollywood, United Artists and Fox Films are on the verge of bankruptcy, Columbia and Disney are not doing very well, and Paramount, Universal, Warner and MGM are doing well.

MGM, which will be very hip in the future, is now ranked among the top eight in Hollywood. It is carrying out diversified development, involving real estate and hotel industries in Las Vegas, Reno and other casinos. Production is only the company's extensive business scope. Just one of them.

In just six years, Barry Diller was able to pull Paramount back from the brink of bankruptcy, and ranked among the top, which shows Barry Diller's ability.

What's more, Barry Diller has been in ABC for a long time and has made impressive achievements. Coupled with his familiarity and enthusiasm for the TV network, he has been recruited. Basically, there is no need to worry that the TV network will not be able to run. Worried about failing to achieve results.

Lin Baicheng said to Barry Diller who was sitting across from him: "Mr. Diller, let's talk about what we have to say today."

"it is good!"

Barry Diller nodded: "Mr. Allen, Mr. Harveys has told me about your general situation. You have strong capital, which makes me feel relieved. You know, the establishment of a TV network will cost a lot of money. Funding, at least hundreds of millions of dollars, even more than one billion dollars is possible, and it will take several years to see the results, I wonder if you have such mental preparations?"

The establishment of a TV network must not be short of money. The acquisition of TV stations in various states to form a TV network will definitely cost a lot of money.A smaller TV network would cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and it would cost more than a billion dollars to cover the entire United States and become a giant.

It also takes time to acquire a TV station and digest management, 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 the funds. I can still afford the investment of more than one billion dollars after a few years, and I can afford to wait for a few years."

Lin Baicheng nodded, and continued: "I have industries in Xiangjiang, Japan, and the United States, so I am often too busy and need a team to help me manage various companies. Generally speaking, my employees are responsible for each The company has a lot of control, after all, I can't manage so many companies alone, so Mr. Diller, you don't have to worry about rights."

Lin Baicheng is very clear that many excellent professional managers not only value salary, but also value their own control over the company.It's not that they want to be the masters of the company and let them have the final say, but that they want to control certain rights and don't want to be puppets.

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 can be obedient, then Lin Baicheng doesn't mind them taking power.

Bill Harveys also said aloud: "The chairman's career is huge, and our secretariat, together with the president managers of each company, has always assisted the chairman in managing various companies."

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 40 would never accept being a puppet. A position without rights will not be accepted no matter how high the salary is.

Barry Diller said aloud: "Mr. Allen, to be honest, I am a little worried."

"Please say."

Lin Baicheng signaled.

Barry Diller organized the language and said: "Mr. Allen, you are from Xiangjiang, not the people of your country, and the TV network represents the media propaganda. To a certain extent, it can affect the election of politicians, and even the presidential election depends on the media. "

"I said this to tell you, Mr. Allen, that media companies such as TV networks are very important. If it is just a small-scale TV station, as long as you do a good job in 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-ranked media in your country."

"Therefore, if you don't solve this problem, Mr. Allen, your TV network will not be able to develop at all. And if the development of the TV network is inherently restricted, I have no intention of being in charge. Since I want to be a TV network, I will do it America's number one television network."

Barry Diller expressed his concerns. In his opinion, if the development of the TV network is restricted and unable to grow, there is no need to accept Lin Baicheng's invitation, and it is meaningless to give him a higher salary.

"Mr. Diller is really thoughtful!"

Lin Baicheng admired that he had already considered these before deciding to establish a TV network in the United States or even set up a media group in the future. He knew that his identity as a foreigner or even a yellow race would inevitably become an obstacle, so he also considered countermeasures.

Lin Baicheng does not think that his foreigner status will allow him to develop a media group controlled by him in the United States. You must know that media tycoon Murdoch had to change his nationality to the United States in order to enter the American media industry.

Murdoch has many advantages over Lin Baicheng. For example, Murdoch is white, and the country where Murdoch was previously located in Australia is the 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 obtain permission to enter the media industry. How could Lin Baicheng become the controller of the American media group by virtue of his foreigner status? This kind of thing is simply impossible. Even if he has a good relationship with the elephant party, it doesn't matter.

"Mr. Diller, don't worry, I have actually considered all of these."

Lin Baicheng did not hide from Barry Diller, and told his plan: "I am going to find friends to build a TV network together. After the TV network develops, there will definitely be no shortage of capital to participate. At that time, I will reduce my shareholding and reduce my shareholding. Shareholding ratio. As long as the TV network is not controlled by me alone, and I only hold a certain share, I think there will be no problem."

"This method is possible. As long as you introduce Wall Street capital and reduce your shareholding ratio, Mr. Allen, there will be no problem with the company's development. But in this way, Mr. Allen's influence on the TV network may be It won’t be too big, you have to be mentally prepared for this.”

Barry Diller couldn't help nodding after hearing this, and felt that Lin Baicheng's method was good, at least it didn't seem like the TV network would have ceiling restrictions.

Lin Baicheng immediately said: "As a foreigner, I have never thought about controlling a leading TV network in the United States. It is enough to have a certain influence and help my own career a lot."

"Mr. Allen, if I also want to participate in a share, I wonder if I can?"

Barry Diller thought for a while and thought, since Lin Baicheng is mentally prepared to give up control, then he doesn't have to worry about being feared by Lin Baicheng for holding shares.

Lin Baicheng pondered for a while when he heard the words, 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."

"Thank you!"

Barry Diller did not bargain, he knew that Lin Baicheng's offer was already very good.Although he has to pay for the 10% of the shares, he is not rich in capital. He can never form a TV network on his own. choose.

At this moment, Barry Diller couldn't help thinking about it. If he can develop the TV network and build a good relationship with Lin Baicheng, 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 achieve this. After all, Barry Diller does not have strong capital. He needs the support of Lin Baicheng and Wall Street, and he may not be successful.But if he succeeds, he will become a media tycoon, occupy a pivotal position in the United States, and become a big capitalist in one fell swoop, at least he can save 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 is no longer making decisions, and he is willing to pay a certain price for this.If he decides for a while, it is very possible to negotiate a better annual salary, but doing so may make Lin Baicheng unhappy, and it will not be conducive to his taking over shares from Lin Baicheng in the future.

"Then I'll call you Barry. Just like Bill and the others, call me Chairman."

Hearing Barry Diller's name, Lin Baicheng couldn't help but smile: "I'm very glad that we can work together in the future. I look forward to Barry, you can develop the TV network."

"I will try my best!"

Barry Diller nodded solemnly, and then said: "But I am still the president of Paramount, and I have a contract with Paramount, so I can't leave immediately. Fortunately, my current contract with Paramount no longer restricts My free agency, 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 didn't mind delaying the time by three months. Anyway, the establishment of the TV network could not be completed overnight, and it would take at least a few years.

Afterwards, Lin Baicheng and Barry Diller had a general discussion and decided to start the formation of the TV network after Barry Diller resigned in three months.The initial investment is 1 million US dollars, and Barry Diller can contribute 1000 million US dollars to account for 10% of the shares. His treatment is compared to his current treatment at Paramount. The management including him can get up to 5% of the shares. Option rewards.

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

The main reason why Barry Diller's treatment has not been improved is because he also has to contribute 1000 million US dollars to account for 10% of the shares, which means that he is also the boss of the company, and he is no longer simply working for Lin Baicheng, so he must do a good job in terms of salary and treatment. Make a certain sacrifice.

And these sacrifices are worth it in Barry Diller's view. Compared with the possibility of controlling a TV network, the current salary is nothing at all.

After the talk was over, Lin Baicheng and Bill Hawes left together.

Driving in a stretched Lincoln.

Bill Hawes said to Lin Baicheng: "Chairman, Barry Diller is the president of the TV network. If you let him participate in the shares, once your shares are diluted too much, the control of the TV network may eventually fall into his hands. superior."

Lin Baicheng said indifferently: "If he has the ability and has a good relationship with me, I don't mind giving him the control of the TV network. As I said before, it is impossible for me, a foreigner, to control a national TV network. For a top-ranked TV network, it doesn’t matter if the control is handed over 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.”

"I just feel that he is too cheap."

Bill Harveys couldn't help being a little jealous. This might be a leading TV network in the United States. Once Barry Diller controls the TV network, he will immediately become a famous media tycoon.The point is that Barry Diller is currently just a professional manager, no different from him.

"It's too early to say this. 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 up, because Lin Baicheng has never thought about changing his nationality, but he can still decide who to give it to, and he can benefit for himself through this.He gives up control to whomever benefits him the most.

For Lin Baicheng, this is at least a few years later, and there is no need to think about it now.To put it bluntly, maybe the TV network has never developed at all, and now it is ridiculous to think about who will give up the control.

After hearing Lin Baicheng's words, Bill Hawes felt a lot better, so he didn't say any more.

(End of this chapter)