Chapter 285: Rupert Murdoch

Wan Chai, Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, Hong Kong.

Arthur sat in a window seat at the hotel restaurant with Rupert Murdoch, who had come to Hong Kong, enjoying lunch together.

"Surprised to see you in Hong Kong, Arthur. The battle in Hollywood is pretty intense right now, aren't you worried at all?" Rupert Murdoch smiled.

Arthur calmly took a sip of wine, "Mrs. Doubtfire just premiered with an opening weekend in North America bringing in $21 million over three days, receiving an overwhelming positive response.

As for Speed, both its reviews and box office performance were a double win. Galaxy's performance this summer is quite good!"

Rupert Murdoch's mouth twitched. Of course, Galaxy's performance was excellent. Besides Universal's Jurassic Park, Galaxy's Speed performed exceptionally well.

Unfortunately, 20th Century Fox's summer release was the sequel Hot Shots! Part Deux. It's been a month and a half since its release, and the North American box office is only $35 million, which is terrible!

Naturally, Arthur knew that 20th Century Fox's performance this year wasn't good. The highly anticipated Hot Shots! Part Deux failed, largely due to the scandals surrounding its leading man, Charlie Sheen.

"What's your view on Paramount?" Rupert Murdoch shifted the conversation.

Arthur wiped his mouth, "I heard Viacom is acquiring Blockbuster. Sumner Redstone has big ambitions and has been preparing to enter Hollywood's content industry for years.

This time he won't give up easily. Barry Diller will have a hard time competing; he was also the former chairman of 20th Century Fox and helped set up Fox Broadcasting Company. Mr. Murdoch, you should be familiar with him.

Unless Comcast's Brian Roberts steps in himself, otherwise, it's hard for Barry Diller to compete with Sumner Redstone's wealth!"

Rupert Murdoch sighed, "From the late '80s until now, only Disney and Paramount haven't changed ownership.

Now it looks like Paramount is at that point too. It seems only Disney remains the final sanctuary."

Arthur started to feel cynical inside but managed to ask, "Is News Corporation also interested in Paramount?"

"Why not?"

"Come on, News Corporation acquired 20th Century Fox, set up the Fox TV network, merged with British Sky Broadcasting, and they won't even let the Asian market go." Arthur raised his glass and clinked it with Rupert's.

"America, Europe, Asia, this approach is too obvious. Where does News Corporation have the funds to acquire Paramount? Unless investors on Wall Street have lost their minds, no one would support News Corporation with that terrifying debt ratio."

Rupert Murdoch laughed, "News Corporation has brought in new investors. Liberty Media is interested in us."

"Liberty Media, John Malone?" Arthur knew all too well. "Isn't John Malone selling TCI to Bell Atlantic? Didn't it get blocked by regulatory authorities due to monopolizing the telecom business?

Now TCI's stock has dropped significantly. Most of Liberty Media's shareholders are TCI investors. How much money can John Malone have to support News Corporation?"

Shaking his head, Arthur said, "Forget it, that's not my concern." Then he looked at Rupert Murdoch and couldn't help but ask, "FOX is aggressively advancing in wireless broadcasting, cable TV, and satellite TV. Where do you get the confidence?"

Rupert Murdoch stared at Arthur for a while. "I approached you to talk about Galaxy Television. FOX needs shows and dramas. I like Galaxy Television and want to sign a partnership agreement with you!"

"No problem, Galaxy Television is a TV production company anyway."

"What about exclusive content?"

Arthur quickly shook his head, "Galaxy currently has its own USA Network. Galaxy Television also needs to provide content for its own network.

When Galaxy Television's production scale upgrades in the future, we will provide content to other networks as well. It's impossible to sign an exclusive partnership with any one network!"

USA Network has several channels under its belt, airing series, movies, variety shows, and talk shows. Galaxy Television is a major support to USA Network.

Exclusive partnership? Why don't you just say Fox Broadcasting Group is going to acquire Galaxy Television?

It's probably because the pilot of The X-Files has already aired and satisfied ABC, and the first season of The X-Files would soon be aired directly.

Otherwise, Rupert Murdoch wouldn't have had this idea before Galaxy Television's first series even officially aired.

"That's really a pity." Rupert Murdoch remained calm. FOX benefited greatly from The Simpsons. A high-rated TV show is crucial for a network to attract audiences.

The script for The X-Files, adapted by Chris Carter, was rejected by FOX's top brass and then picked up by Galaxy for development.

Rupert Murdoch didn't think Arthur would take Galaxy Television's first project lightly, and The X-Files, already ordered by ABC, likely wouldn't perform poorly.

After lunch, Arthur stood up to see Rupert Murdoch off at the hotel entrance. "See you in America, Arthur!"

Arthur nodded, preparing to leave the hotel as well, when he suddenly saw Joey Wong walking in.

She also saw Arthur and smiled at him, "Mr. Smith, you're here too!"

"Yes, good afternoon, Ms. Wong. How about a coffee?" Arthur gestured.

She nodded, and once they settled into a booth, she asked, "When did you arrive in Hong Kong, Mr. Smith? Are you on vacation?"

"Just arrived a few days ago. More or less, it's a vacation." Arthur smiled.

Because Vivian Chow went to Canada, Arthur stayed in Hong Kong waiting for news from Japan. He then began dating Joey Wong and learned that her future didn't seem that bright either.

At the restaurant of Hong Kong's Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, Arthur and Joey Wong enjoyed dinner together, admiring the Victoria Harbour view through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Arthur handed Joey Wong a box and said, "A gift for you!"

"This," Joey Wong seemed a bit embarrassed, "The gift you gave is too valuable."

Arthur smiled, walked over, and opened the box to reveal a Tiffany pearl necklace. "This is what the designer from Tiffany recommended to me. He chose it specially after seeing your face and figure."

"Come, let me put it on you!"

Saying that, Arthur picked up the necklace and put it on Joey Wong. "It's really beautiful," he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you," Joey Wong also kissed Arthur's cheek. 

Arthur put his arm around Wong's shoulder. "You should be happier. How about I take you to Europe or Southeast Asia for a holiday?"

"I plan to move to Canada!"

"It's okay, after moving to Canada, I'll arrange everything for you," Arthur said, then kissed Wong directly on the lips.

"Okay," Wong responded proactively.

After the kiss, Arthur suggested, "Let's go to a bar later for some leisure, to relax."

"Did you come to Asia for work? Can you really go on a holiday?"

"Of course, do you know who I am?" Arthur laughed and put his hand on Wong's thigh. Wong's legs were unparalleled.

"Recently, I have some business deals in Japan," Arthur thought for a moment and then reminded,

"My Galaxy Studio is collaborating with Golden Harvest in Vancouver to shoot a Jackie Chan action film. If you want, you can visit the set!"

Wong's big eyes blinked, "I know about that. It was reported a lot in the newspapers. I also participated in a Jackie Chan action comedy City Hunter last year. I also heard that two of Jackie Chan's films were bought by Hollywood companies. Is that by Galaxy as well?"

"Yes," Arthur had Galaxy acquire two films, Operation Condor and Police Story 3: Super Cop, although they hadn't been released yet.

After the North American release of the film Rumble in the Bronx, Galaxy would decide the release of Jackie Chan's other works based on the market response.

*****

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