Eddie Murphy made great movies for a decade, and then started to slowly wear down his fan base. Fortunately, he didn't self-destruct and is still doing alright.
"Boss, it seems RCA doesn't intend to sell NBC."
"Ugh, what did Morgan Stanley say?"
"They're still actively negotiating, hoping that stubborn old man will make concessions."
"Alright, Filson, keep an eye on this. Let's not appear too eager. A business that's handed to us isn't worth the chase."
Morgan Stanley didn't expect that RCA would offer an olive branch. The valuation of William White's company has always been criticized, but it seems they didn't care much about it after all.
RCA, the Radio Corporation of America, had quite an unusual approach. Despite this being the golden age of television, their NBC wasn't doing well, failing to keep up with the times.
They were hoping instead for a strategic partnership and not a full acquisition.
Being content provider? William White hated those.
Since it wasn't easy to acquire, they needed to cast a wider net and perhaps buy up TV stations if the plan failed.
As long as you had enough dollars, you could buy them one by one. Although it would be a hassle, it wasn't a huge problem if you had patience.
...
A bunch of old folks from the CCA finally reached a consensus. The American version of comic book grading finally had a conclusion.
Everyday Americans could finally buy this comic book.
At the same time, sales were rapidly increasing.
With weekly sales of six million copies, they sold out in just about two days. The rave reviews suggested that sales could rise even further soon.
This was just a comic magazine, and Americans seemed to prefer standalone volumes, so the sales of single editions were bound to be impressive.
While the sales were good, they were still within expectations. What Marvel couldn't figure out was why they sold so much in Japan.
They seemed to understand that the headquarters in Australia wasn't because of the CCA. The Asia-Pacific region was their focus all along, not America.
They were only interested in how many copies they could sell. Marvel had sales channels in important markets like Japan, but outside of the military persons stationed there, no one seemed to care much for their comics.
...
White Studios planned to acquire a TV station, which was no surprise, as the big Hollywood studios owned TV stations. These stations were just not very big.
But the problem was that they aimed to acquire NBC.
Even though NBC wasn't at its peak, it wasn't cheap either. Calling it America's most important network wasn't an exaggeration.
Given the news leak, the acquisition probably failed. The reasons could be many, but it's usually about asking sky-high prices.
RCA hadn't been doing well these past few years.
It was another case of failed diversification. Sticking to semiconductors would have been fine, so why dive into media?
With this development, William White's strategy was crystal clear: everything else was just a smokescreen. Entertainment and media were his true targets.
...
In recent times, William White faced setbacks; his TV station acquisitions hit roadblocks, as did print media. The reasons were often bizarre, with William White's age even becoming an excuse for rejection.
"Tch, do they really think they can hold out? The economy can't just magically improve. They're kidding themselves," William White mused about the stubborn old guard.
"Filson, change the plan. Rome wasn't built in a day. Let's start by acquiring smaller TV stations and newspapers from Texas."
"Sure, boss. I'll amend the plans right away."
"Tell Morgan not to rush. I have the patience. Hopefully, they'll have good luck."
William White knew Morgan Stanley wasn't playing nice; their forte was hostile takeovers.
Could you really say no to a sale?
That's a joke. Where else would they collect their commission?
Unless your financials are solid, you'd be in serious trouble, which was how they worked.
Fortunately, the movies were doing well at the box office, or he'd be quite frustrated.
...
If a director wasn't happy, his team would feel the heat, and the tyrant of the set reputation would spread.
Those guys had to endure. They were envied, and if the box office cashed in well, they'd certainly make a tidy sum.
Those who left for Warner Brothers now deeply regretted it. Away from White Films, they realized they were nobodies.
Leaving was easy, but coming back was impossible. Those blacklisted were never hired again.
*****
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