"Sir, Europe does have a technological promotion plan, spearheaded by the French and Germans."
"Tsk, what about the Brits?"
"They don't seem too keen on it."
"Heh, does that make them dead weight on the team?"
Europe had witnessed America's Star Wars plan and the Russians' plan. From their perspective, if they didn't catch up soon, they'd really become a technological desert.
William White had his reasons for paying attention to this matter. From the information he had, computers and communications were their main focus.
He couldn't do much in computers, but he could not ignore communications. His Bell Labs couldn't compete against combined forces.
William White knew full well that companies like Ericsson and Nokia eventually joined this plan.
He didn't want to disrupt things, nor did he have the means. Yet, asking for a piece of the pie wasn't too much, was it?
"Filson, ignore that plan and have the lab speed up the development of the communications project. File the patents as soon as possible."
"Sir, should we set up a company in London?"
"It's pointless. It's clearly their toy, and they won't let us play. The Brits don't even have much chance."
"From the info we have, this plan seems massive."
"Heh, it's no wonder those Silicon Valley folks mocked Europe as backward land. It's puzzling. They can produce everything we can, and with better quality. How are they backward? It's far from being a technological desert."
The exchanges between Europe and America have never stopped. These folks mocked Americans for lacking culture, and of course, Americans wouldn't take it lying down.
This time, both sides clearly had a new play.
Militarily, America obviously couldn't protect them. The Russian big fireworks really scared them. Depending on others wasn't reliable, so it was time to rely on themselves.
...
NBC was relisted on the stock market, and even with a $6 billion valuation, the enthusiasm of investment banks was unstoppable.
The stock opened high and went higher, closing at a peak of $28. Corresponding market value soared to $8 billion.
William White was satisfied with the price. If he weren't, the fund managers of Wall Street might have gone berserk.
The standing of television media was notably rising, and there was no longer any doubt about it.
Though print media was doing alright, its timeliness was far inferior to television. The world was too big, and by the time a newspaper reached the consumer, TV would have already ignited the second wave of hype. Over time, people preferred to understand the world through TV news.
Of course, TV couldn't cover in-depth topics; that was the strong suit of print media.
Despite various issues, the rise of television media was undeniable and undisputed.
Just look at NBC's hit shows, with tens of millions in viewership. Newspapers couldn't match that. A circulation of three to five million was considered impressive for a newspaper company.
As for tens of millions, the only print media reaching that level was the magical comic weekly.
Accusations of Americans lacking culture didn't hold much ground for Europeans anymore. Movies had become an essential cultural medium. No need to say more, White Films alone wiped the floor with them.
Nowadays, the Oscars, which were once a legitimacy booster, had been diminished. Whether in Europe or the States, the prestige of the awards was dropping significantly.
White Films clearly refused to participate in the Oscars. They were having a field day in Europe, bagging various awards without breaking a sweat.
Oscars? Play with them all you want!
The old timers were fuming but helpless. They finally realized the meaning of a media conglomerate.
...
"Sir, the next one on the list is Disney, right?"
"Heh, did the kid really straighten things out in Paris?"
"This guy is so rich, he doesn't care about the compensation."
"Tsk, to turn such a mess around, it's quite something."
"Sir, the initial team did have issues. If the Paris and Tokyo plans were swapped, there'd be no problems."
"Heh, that's all about having the right vision, something the Disney family lacked."
The current Disney was vastly different from what they acquired initially. Michael Eisner had sorted out the personnel structure, ensuring no more internal rebellions.
Wall Street didn't bother with sentimentality, they were after results. The current Disney Park had a valuation of over $6 billion.
No need to say more; with such a short time for its valuation to triple, it spoke volumes. Most importantly, the two park projects in the States started turning profits.
With such a record, tradition was just nonsense.
Those waiting to see them fail were disappointed. William White wasn't bogged down by Disney, instead making a hefty profit.
...
"Sir, those banks want to trade loans for equity."
"Heh, what are they thinking? I want more shares myself. When dealing with someone who isn't short on cash, all those schemes are just fluff."
"Heh, true. This guy seems displeased with the valuation, so the shares for this listing are quite limited."
"Yeah, his control is overwhelming, it's a one-man show."
"Not entirely, as he's reducing stakes in the comic and gaming companies. His mindset has changed, now resembling a conglomerate."
Old-timers at Morgan Stanley didn't know it wasn't really William White's mindset that changed. He was wary of the Department of Justice.
This bunch would soon lose their patience, without a doubt. The comics were easy to handle, with Stan Lee living well enough. Their reckless endeavors were about to start.
Yet, for now, although not unmatched like Viking Comics, they were a formidable comic company.
Gaming was tricky; the American gaming companies were practically finished, and those creating gaming software weren't doing much better.
*****
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