Chapter 308: Content is King

"Sharon Stone is already 35, but she's still so charming. You mean Steve Bing has been staying at the Bel Air Hotel for years?" Arthur and Nicole Kidman left the Bel Air Hotel and drove back to the nearby Bel Air Estate.

Arthur was still thinking about that rich third-generation heir.

Going to college is to make a lot of money and enjoy life afterwards, but he is already a billionaire, so why go to college? So, he dropped out of Stanford University to enjoy life, getting straight to the point. Arthur couldn't argue with that idea at all!

Back at the estate, Arthur took off his coat and leaned on the sofa. "Hollywood has seen quite a bit of action lately. Not only was Paramount acquired... Other independent film companies are also getting picked up!"

Nicole Kidman sat beside Arthur, propping her head with one hand and gently stroking Arthur's chest with the other. "Are you talking about Disney's acquisition of Miramax?"

"You're tickling me," Arthur chuckled, trying to move Nicole Kidman's hand away.

"Don't move," Nicole Kidman leaned in and kissed Arthur. "You're still as attractive as ever. You've never stopped exercising, have you?"

She then unbuttoned Arthur's shirt and traced her fingers along his abs. "What do you have to worry about with Galaxy Films nowadays? Every year there's a blockbuster. Who would dare confront you?"

Arthur embraced Nicole Kidman, his hand caressing her thigh. "In some areas, it's incomparable. The Big Six have more movies and agreements with major cinema chains. Their promotional resources exceed Galaxy's, their library is huge, and thus, they have better bargaining power for videotape rights."

Nicole Kidman kissed Arthur's chest and lifted her head, "You just need time. Give it a few more years."

"The MPAA is also troublesome," Arthur remarked, feeling irritated. Fortunately, Galaxy had previously bought shares in Carmike Cinemas, and Galaxy Theatres' multi-screen model thrived.

Otherwise, Galaxy's North American distribution system would have been targeted by the Big Six with their exclusive distribution agreements.

The new TV policies also made media companies eager to act, and a wave of mergers in Hollywood was coming.

Turner Broadcasting was getting closer to New Line Cinema, and Castle Rock Entertainment, which had always partnered with Galaxy, was now in Turner's pocket.

Nicole Kidman unbuckled Arthur's belt. "How about relaxing in Australia with me for a few days during New Year's? You won't have any worries there!"

Arthur smiled, kissed Nicole Kidman, picked her up, and sat her on his lap, feeling the softness as he undressed her.

"So, will you go?" Nicole Kidman asked, holding Arthur's head.

Arthur looked up from kissing her chest, "We'll see. It's only November now."

He then carried Nicole Kidman straight to the bedroom...

...

The Viacom acquisition of Paramount reshaped Hollywood's landscape, challenging the media giant Time Warner.

Since Gerard Levin became the Chairman and CEO of Time Warner, he replaced the former Hollywood number one, MCA Universal Chairman Lew Wasserman.

After selling MCA Universal to Panasonic, Lew Wasserman became merely a manager, with Panasonic behind MCA Universal.

In New York, Manhattan, in Gerard Levin's office at Time Warner, Warner Bros. Co-Chairmen Bob Daly and Terry Semel sat on the sofa watching an interview with Sumner Redstone on TV.

After Warner Bros. former chairman Ted Ashley retired, Bob Daly and Terry Semel took over the film and television entertainment operations!

"Content is king," Gerard Levin disagreed with Sumner Redstone's philosophy, "Viacom's cable movie channels aren't few either. A Boston Jewish mob family member who rose through chain cinemas values content so highly? It's indeed unexpected."

Terry Semel frowned, "Blockbuster wants to renegotiate videotape royalty sharing with Hollywood film companies. Their attitude seems quite tough."

Gerard Levin smiled, "Let's unite other film companies and apply pressure together. Although Blockbuster is the largest videotape rental chain, it can't ignore the interests of film companies. When new image storage technology emerges, videotape markets will be eaten up!"

Time Warner produces the most films and television shows annually, with substantial videotape revenues. A higher share for Blockbuster means less money for Time Warner.

Now, it's a standards battle between the Sony-Philips camp and the Toshiba-Panasonic camp.

Bob Daly, who hadn't spoken much, added, "We have Time Warner Cable, and HBO's earnings from pay-TV are considerable. Maybe we should invest more in the cable TV sector!"

"I've approved the application to establish the WB Television Network. Plan it well," Gerard Levin valued TV networks too. The Comedy Central channel, co-operated with Viacom, was a merger product from years ago.

Time Warner launched The Comedy Channel (TCC) at the end of 1989. Two years later, TCC merged with Viacom's HA! to form the present-day Comedy Central, with each holding 50% of the shares.

Bob Daly and Terry Semel had wanted to establish their own WB Television Network under Warner Bros. Entertainment for some time!

*****

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