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 the betamax in the field of home video recorders for mass consumption, but also the vhs that Tang Huan points out; even the broadcast and television for high-end applications Betacam in the high-level field is also struggling.

At this stage, Sony's well-known business scope is consumer electronics and professional electronic products including single-shot three-beam color picture tube trinitron, walkman walkman, video tape format betamax, etc.

Seeing the loss of betamax and betacam in the market, Sony, who is unable to recover, can't be overstated.

In order not to be completely eliminated from this market, Sony has officially produced vhs video recorders this year. One can imagine the embarrassment.

In the painful experience, the hard technical indicators such as picture quality, sound quality, and duration of the videotape format are different from those of most people in Sony. As the president, Akio Morita believes that Tang Huan owns movies, TVs, records, and sports. The entertainment content provided by other soft resources provides vital support for vhs in addition to conventional technologies and channels.

In other words, the well-thought-out Akio Morita intends to get involved in the entertainment content production industry in every way, so as to inject fashionable vitality into his products and further master the market.

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

In terms of funds, Japan’s economic situation is now bullish, and Sony, which has already excellent performance, is less likely to worry about money; it is the acquisition target that really makes Morita think about it.

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. Moreover, the current Hollywood film companies are expanding horizontally toward television and other fields. Once they are in the bag, they can do many things in one fell swoop.

But the problem is that the pattern of Hollywood was turned upside down by Tang Huan. The easy-to-get equipment such as United States, MGM, and 20th Century Fox was collected by him, and the remaining major film companies are all Hard bones.

Paramount, a giant among Hollywood giants in the past, need not think about it. Although Tang Huan has cut off a lot of excellent works, it is still in a stable state of continuous success. The Japanese who appear as outsiders are not prepared. If it's more than 10 billion US dollars, it's better to avoid the dignity.

Warner, who performed equally well, should also be excluded. The secrets about Steve Ross and Times Group can’t hide the secrets of Akio Morita, who has long established contacts in the United States.

The unsatisfactory Disney also had little hope. After barely escaping the hostile takeover by Sol Steinberg in 1984, Roy Disney of the Disney family changed the members of the board of directors in a straightforward manner and reappointed them. Management to strengthen control.

Universal Pictures under the mca may be the eight most brutal Hollywood members by Tang Huanhu, but its joint venture with Paramount, United International Pictures, still operates very successfully.

More importantly, Universal Pictures, which once fought a copyright lawsuit for "Donkey Kong" and ea, also had a similar trespass with Sony-it disputed with Sony in 1984 over whether the betamax video recorder infringed the copyright of the film. Court the case. Fortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court finally ruled that the private use of video recorder equipment was allowed, which allowed Sony to escape.

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

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

Morita Akio, who has investigated the Hollywood pattern similarly, arrived in San Francisco and coincided with the press conference with Norio Oga.

After seeing the demonstration of the multimedia functions given to personal computers by this graphical user interface operating system, Akio Morita became more and more worried.

In the choice of the personal computer standard camp, Sony did not have problems similar to the videotape format squad error. It is not because of how far-sighted it is, but the decision is very simple. Fangyuan personal computer not only natively supports Japanese, but also has powerful functions. Just make ibm-pc unattractive in Asia.

However, the Fangyuan PC compatible machine made by Sony is not as good as the single-shot three-beam color picture tube trinitron and the Walkman Walkman. It is not an exaggeration for everyone to say.

The unsuccessful videotape format competition and the mediocre performance of personal computer products made Oga Norixiong become impetuous, and complained in a low voice: "I knew this before, so I refused Tang Huan to join the CD Alliance."

"That might be even worse. Tang Huan, who was confident at the time, might really be able to come up with a set of technologies that threaten CD." Akio Morita calmly said, "Let Tang Huan join the CD Alliance. So that no matter how bad the situation is, we will not be squeezed out."

While talking, Andy Grove was sent out with a breezy face. Akio Morita and Norio Oga greeted 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 complete, and the price of special vcd players is gradually decreasing, especially as the content of available 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 feeling.

Tang Huan made a haha ​​and said modestly: "The most obvious product affected by vcd is the laser video disc with a low 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, and the industry status of vcd It's still very limited."

"But no matter what, the trend of digital video applications was eventually led by Tang." Akio Morita might not have noticed it himself. There was a faint loss in his tone-Sony's full line in the video tape format war. It collapsed and digital video lags behind, 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, its standards are friendly and open, and Sony always has the opportunity to participate in depth." Tang Huan smiled and fed the other party a reassurance.

Akio Morita couldn't say that Sony was not used to this kind of passive industry status, but fortunately the topic orientation was very smooth, so he calmly turned to ask: "It can be seen that Hollywood is still very friendly to vcd. This in turn helped its promotion. However, I heard that Tang directly owns three "Hollywood Eight" members and indirectly controls the huge influence of the other one. The monopoly questioning raised by them is getting louder and louder."

"When the business grows, it is inevitable that some boring guys will come out and shout, and it will not have much impact for the time being." Tang Huan replied with a smile. He has already analyzed that Akio Morita will eventually lead Sony into Hollywood.

Sure enough, Akio Morita continued to say: "Although this kind of opposition is not yet a substantial threat to Tang, it will eventually form a market that cannot be ignored if it accumulates for a long time. You must plan ahead."

Tang Huan raised his brows and asked humbly, "So, does Shengtian have any good suggestions for me?"

Morita Akio, who was broken by his thoughts, coughed slightly and said slowly: "Sony also has plans to combine fashionable entertainment content with high-end hardware products. Instead, Tang resells the shares of Columbia Pictures to us. It’s an adult beauty. At the same time, it can also eliminate voices that question monopoly."

"Does Sony want to enter Hollywood too?" Tang Huan, who made a surprised expression, said with earnest thought for the other side: "The water in Hollywood is too deep, maybe Sony will be burdened by it."

Hearing Tang Huanxu's "push heart to heart", Morita Akio coldly snorted in his heart, "You are the only one who believes it. Didn't you also break into Hollywood as an outsider and have a successful business? The true intention of these remarks? I’m afraid that Sony will also be supported by Hollywood’s content, which will threaten your industry."

After receiving the wink from Akio Morita, Norio Oga took over with an educated attitude and said: "Tang’s personal experience is very valuable. If it can successfully acquire Columbia Pictures, Sony will definitely take this as a lesson and hire a senior. Of Hollywood filmmakers."

Tang Huan smiled and shook his head, seeming to have been defeated by the stubbornness of Akio Morita and Norio Oga, so he discouraged Sony’s strategy from another angle, or more accurately, found a new excuse for refusal, and said: "In recent years , Many Japanese companies came to the United States to invest in large numbers, which was rendered by various media as "Japan bought the entire United States", which caused panic among the American public. If Sony succeeds in acquiring Columbia Pictures, the investment of billions of dollars is bound to Set a record for the largest scale of Japanese companies' mergers and acquisitions in the United States, and be careful to become a target for such negative sentiment.

"Greedy guy! Is this using the'record with the largest acquisition scale' to imply that Columbia Pictures is expensive?" Akio Morita, who was slanderous, said with a smile: "Tang is worthy of our best friend, for Sony Think about all the difficulties you may encounter."

"However, in my opinion, the United States is currently in the midst of a recapitalization tide."

"In the recent mergers and acquisitions, Philip Morris America’s acquisition of Kraft Foods involved at least 13 billion U.S. dollars; Kohlberg-Kravis-Roberts’ leveraged acquisition of tobacco company Reynona Bisko was even more important. More than US$25 billion will be spent; think about the acquisition of Pacific Bell in 1982 when Tang and many consortiums also spent more than US$10 billion."

"Compared with these big moves, Sony's acquisition of Columbia Pictures clearly overshadows it a lot. Even if the media wants to render, attention will soon be drawn to more sensational capital operations."

Tang Huan seemed to be overwhelmed by the eloquent Morita Akio’s reasoning, and he waved his hand, and could no longer find a reason to refuse, so he started Tai Chi, "Since Sony has done enough for all possible situations. Of course, I have no reason not to be beautiful. However, I am not an important shareholder of Columbia Pictures. Coca-Cola, have you contacted?"

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

"Okay, okay, then there is only the price issue on my side." Tang Huan laughed loudly, "In this way, your plan is really beyond my expectation. I also need to make some preparations on this side. It's better to wait. When I go to Japan later, how about officially launching negotiations?"

Tang Huan’s excuse for procrastination made sense. Akio Morita was not good at continuing to persecute, so he nodded and agreed. After talking about some topics, he declined the banquet from the richest man and got up to leave.

After getting in the car, Oga Norio asked worriedly: "Tang's intention to procrastinate is obvious. No other changes will happen."

Morita Akio calmly analyzed and said: "Of course Tang doesn't want to see Sony draw on his successful experience. However, he has always valued his credibility~www.wuxiaspot.com~ Since he has expressed his beauty in adulthood, he will not regret it. , What we need to do is how to prepare for public relations and negotiations."

"This is a very convenient breakthrough. Ms. Wada Masako is quite trusted by Tang. Many Japanese companies and her subordinate companies started contacting her business." Norio Oga came in handy, letting him just now. After a time-consuming lobbying, they knowingly let out a relaxed laugh.

"However, Tang did the best of his friend's morals. I think the reminders he said are not entirely alarmist." Dahe Norixiong said in a deep voice. Morita Akio’s plan to enter Hollywood was led by him. Although he agreed, he must also help the other party to fully assess the risks involved.

Akio Morita nodded deeply, "This problem is also easy to solve. Just like Tang, let those professional people do professional things."

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After Akio Morita and Norio Oga left, Zhuang Menghua, who came to report on the ipo of Datang Mobile Communications Company, asked suspiciously: "I can see that you don't really reject the sale of Columbia Pictures to Sony, so why? Acting pretentiously in the last scene that you want to refuse and welcome? Is it so troublesome, doesn't it feel hard?"

Tang Huan touched his nose and smiled dryly: "Sony's use value is not a one-time consumable. I am vaccinated in advance for the future, lest they get turned their heads and resent me."

Zhuang Menghua rolled his eyes, "You are a monk who is a monk halfway through, and you can see the breeze in Hollywood. Even if the scheming Japanese are worse, are they so bad?"

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