Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 1534 was nominated for a Golden Globe before it was released
"What William Bennett said makes sense. When our little Roger grows up, we must also prevent him from watching TV. You may not know that your son likes to press the remote control. He can find the Disney Channel faster than I can."

Diane saw William Bennett on TV, representing the Parents Television Council, calling for the installation of parental control chips on all cable TV. He mainly appeared on mainstream TV stations, and Ronald's connections in New York allowed him to appear on many prime-time programs as a guest and speak for a few minutes.

With his eloquent reasoning and Bennett's good looks, he has become an idol for many housewives and has helped them solve the problem of their teenagers secretly watching pay channels.

However, when Ronald saw little Roger crawling around on the sofa, skillfully turning up the volume with the remote control in his hand, he suddenly thought that this regulatory chip might not be understood by parents as well as by their children.

The Parents Television Committee has already begun lobbying outside the Capitol Hill in Washington. Ronald and Doug Jr. approved a large sum of funds and hired George Jr.'s lobbying team. With old connections and familiarity, things are going very well.

In addition, the Parents Television Council's proposal is much more moderate than that of the other two religious committees. It will not infringe on the fundamental interests of Hollywood, but will only tighten the television rating system.

If we follow the experience of Hollywood movie rating system, such strict rating may promote more "fist and pillow" type TV series to land on these pay channels. Anyway, after the lock is set, most families can only watch these channels in their parents' bedroom, and the TV in the living room still maintains Disney standards.

This will make the audience's orientation more specific, and cable TV stations like HBO and Showtime can specially produce some TV series that are convenient to watch in the bedroom to fill this blank market. Without the worry of public condemnation, they can hire more handsome tough guys and more beautiful women, which will expand the selection range of actors for Hollywood and is a great thing for reducing the production costs of film and television dramas.

"Please come back early when you go to New York this time. We are waiting for you to come back to buy a Christmas tree for little Roger this Christmas. He has been looking forward to it for a long time."

Ronald was going to New York soon, and Helen and her daughter Linda were looking forward to his visit. However, according to the Chinese, she was not the principal wife, so she could not participate in Christmas, when the whole family gathered together like the Chinese and Americans did during the Chinese New Year.

However, leaving them alone all the time would cause problems, so Ronald still had to go over to accompany them before and after the holidays and enjoy some family happiness.

"Of course, I'll just go to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Let Ed negotiate with Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Delaware. It's a pity for the two of us, the chairman and CEO, to have to run around for business before Christmas."

After formulating its strategy for acquiring local wireless TV stations, DDH began a nationwide investigation and acquisition offer.

After a quick investigation, Ronald and Bastian discovered that there was a company doing something similar in the Great Lakes region, mainly in Chicago. This company was called Forum Broadcasting.

They originally started out as a broadcaster in Illinois, and this year added a local Chicago cable news program.

As you can tell from their name, the owner of this TV station is the listed company Forum Group, which owns the Chicago Tribune. They are very fast and are preparing to acquire 5-6 strong regional TV stations in the Great Lakes region.

On the other hand, Forum Broadcasting is actually negotiating a broadcast agreement with Warner Bros., and they are just around the corner from finalizing the agreement and becoming the exclusive broadcast partner of Warner Television Network in the Great Lakes region.

Ronald also learned that their next target was Renaissance Radio, headquartered in Connecticut.

This overlaps with DDH's goal. DDH is relatively strong in local TV stations in the New York area, and has exclusive cooperation agreements with several TV stations such as NBC and ABC. However, because the most important TV areas, including Manhattan, are directly operated by TV stations, although DDH has a strong cooperation agreement, the actual number of viewers is still less than that of the TV stations under Forum Broadcasting.

Therefore, whoever can grab Renaissance Radio in Connecticut first will gain the upper hand in this enclosure movement.

Besides, Renaissance Radio happens to be a co-broadcaster of Warner Television and Fox Television, providing local news and weather forecasts for TV viewers in the Northeast for several weeks.

This also makes up for DDH's biggest shortcoming in broadcasting agreements. They do not have long-term broadcasting agreements with Warner Bros. and Fox, so they can rely on acquisitions to complete the puzzle.

Another company that is also undergoing a similar expansion is the Sinclair Broadcast Group in Baltimore, Maryland.

This company has a similar development trajectory, starting out with broadcasting, then obtaining construction land with the approval of the FCC, and with the management skills of its owners, the Smith family, it has now developed into a major local TV station operator in Maryland and Washington DC area.

They are also looking out of state, targeting several stations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in several mid-sized state capitals, including Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Kansas City.

Ronald could tolerate Sinclair Broadcasting acquiring those TV stations that were not the most populous, but Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania were both places he had to acquire. As for the large tracts of farmland in the middle, he would just give them to the other party.

……

"Ronald."

Ed Bastian took two suits in his hands and boarded Ronald's private plane. Time was tight and many things had to be done quickly. Anyway, Ronald approved a quota of 200 million US dollars for Bastian to go to the south line to take over the target TV station.

Ronald went to Renaissance Broadcasting in Connecticut, and Ronald himself prepared a price of $500 million for the acquisition.

In short, before raising funds for Tribune Radio in Chicago and Sinclair Broadcasting's IPO, DDH must first take over the 20 DMAs (television broadcasting areas) in the United States where local TV stations in large cities have the largest audiences and the most commercial value. As for the remaining 180 DMAs, they will be left to other competitors to fight for, and DDH can also avoid the attention of antitrust laws.

Regardless of the number of DMAs or the TV viewing population in the United States, these TV stations of DDH are still below 20% no matter how you calculate it, and it is impossible to touch the anti-monopoly red line.

Of course, according to Ed Bastian's calculations, the advertising revenues earned by these TV stations and the subsidies from cable TV networks may account for more than 30% of the profits of all local wireless TV stations.

Of course, this is all due to DDH's good management and unique vision, as well as Daydream Pictures, a fellow Hollywood group company that can provide very cost-effective film sources.

No matter who questions it, this is also because Ronald chose a great CEO in the great free competition market.

The unfounded rumors about lobbying to influence congressional legislation and gaining monopoly benefits for oneself are simply nonsense.

"The back is a Christmas present for your children. I have prepared them all for you, from pandas to dinosaurs to the Lion King, everything..."

Ronald pointed to a large bag at the back of the cabin. Ed Bastian and his wife were very loving, and Ronald asked him to go on a business trip before Christmas, and he had to solve other people's worries.

……

The two parted ways after the plane landed in Philadelphia. Ronald flew straight to the airport in New Jersey and drove directly to Helen's home.

"Bang bang..."

Helen decorated the house very warmly, and the Christmas tree that Ronald had someone send took up the space next to the fireplace. There were many bells and gifts hanging on it, which was considered an early Christmas for Linda.

Helen was also happy to be able to take time to accompany them. After spending a night with Ronald, she entrusted little Linda to her mother and accompanied Ronald on a business trip to the northeastern states.

Perhaps it was because of the company of the beautiful woman, or perhaps it was because the local TV stations had not yet discovered that the must-carry policy had opened up new sources of revenue for these local wireless stations, the negotiations between Ronald and Bastian went quite smoothly.

Ed Bastian bought the most popular local TV stations in two cities in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, for $6300 million and Pittsburgh, respectively. The price was slightly higher than expected, probably due to competition from the Sinclair Group.

However, the Sinclair Group had just submitted an application for listing to the New York Stock Exchange, and of course it could not compare with DDH in terms of sufficient funds. After two rounds of bidding, it surrendered and turned back to cause trouble for Forum Broadcasting, raiding their bases in Cincinnati and Milwaukee.

The funding for Forum Broadcasting needs to be approved by the parent company Forum Group before it can be put in place. How can Ronald be so responsive when he has the final say?

Ronald also found William Bennett and asked him to go on Renaissance's TV station to promote the benefits of safe TV viewing. In addition, Doug Jr. called several congressmen in Washington in person, which immediately convinced the cousins ​​in Connecticut of DDH's strength.

The entire merger and acquisition will be carried out in the form of cash and stock swap, and will be submitted to the SEC for approval after the New Year holiday.

This made Michael Finkelstein, the owner of Renaissance Broadcasting, who had long sought to go public but failed because it did not meet the standards, very satisfied.

Michael Finkelstein had ambitions to run a multi-state television network, but his previous acquisitions ran into problems the year before last. The several TV stations he bought in Miami lost their cooperation licenses with NBC and Fox due to a major reshuffle in the industry.

This time, Ronald's acquisition still allowed him to manage the TV stations in Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut. After the acquisition, he also owned some DDH shares, and as a shareholder, he also completed the feat that he had not completed that year.

There are not many Hollywood actresses in Connecticut, and Helen Slater's arrival also made Michael Finkelstein quite popular in the social circle. The last time New Haven people saw a live Hollywood star was when Jodie Foster and Jennifer Beals went to Yale University.

The people of Hartford are even worse off. The last time they saw a living Hollywood star was Katharine Hepburn, who was born in Hartford.

After the signing, everyone sat in Michael Finkelstein's old house and socialized at a ball-style party that was out of fashion in big cities.

Ronald also understood that this was Michael Finkelstein's way of showing off. Although he sold the business, he wanted people in his social circle to think that he had made a good deal.

Ronald was of course very cooperative and became the focus among the neighbors and celebrities. He patiently answered everyone's questions about the mysterious Hollywood and responded to many gossips with either admitting or denying them.

Everyone was very satisfied with the party, and Michael Finkelstein had the greatest night of honor in his Connecticut social circle - chatting and laughing with Ronald Lee, a famous wealthy man, Hollywood director, and son of a New Yorker.

What made him happiest was that Ronald praised Michael Finkelstein's management ability many times, and said many times how lucky he was to have Renaissance Radio join him. He also let his youngest son, Michael Finkelstein Jr., work at DDH.

Finally, both the host and the guests had a great time, and the last part was watching the live broadcast of the Golden Globe Award nomination announcement with all the guests at Finkelstein's home.

Although the Golden Globe Awards are not considered a big award in Hollywood, and most stars can get a nomination just by agreeing to attend, for the people of Connecticut, the Golden Globe Awards are the only acting award that is televised like the Oscars.

In their minds, the Golden Globe Awards is just a smaller version of the Oscars plus the Emmy Awards.

When the host announced that Forrest Gump had received seven nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay, everyone applauded according to etiquette.

Ronald really felt the sincerity of these guests. Helen next to him was also very happy. This kind of upper-class atmosphere made her, as an actress, very adaptable. She dreamed directly back to the golden age of Hollywood and regarded herself as Katharine Hepburn.

I guess this is what it felt like when Katharine Hepburn attended a cocktail party in her hometown with director John Ford, with whom she had a relationship.
"Brad Pitt also won Best Actor, Drama for Falling for the Golden Globes."

Ronald frowned slightly. This pretty boy was finally able to get into Hollywood.

"What? Do you think his acting skills are not worthy of a Golden Globe nomination?" Finkelstein next to him saw Ronald's expression.

“Ah… eh…?”

Ronald was caught off guard. He couldn't admit this in public. Brad Pitt's face was not suitable for the big screen. In the stills of Legends of the Fall, he had long hair, which just covered his huge cheeks. The photographer was able to find the right angle to make him look handsome.

But this is not a good reason.

After hesitating for a long time, Ronald suddenly had an idea. "This movie hasn't been officially released yet. Today's awards, including the Golden Globe and the Oscar, have become part of marketing. They are not as good as they were when they were originally established to recognize outstanding performers in the industry in the past year.

"Yeah, we think so too. We only watch many movies after they win awards."

Ronald also frowned. His own excuse seemed to make sense. Many of the nominated films for this year's Golden Globe Awards did not even meet the Oscars' two-week release standard, and would have to wait until next year to be officially released. What kind of fun was this?