American Gossip King

Chapter 243 New Cooperation

New York, CBS headquarters building.

At the board meeting, a group of bigwigs sat there expressionless.

They were dressed in suits, and they looked melancholy!

In the chairman's seat, James Pely rubbed his temples, looking troubled.

He looked at Ian with an apologetic expression: "I really didn't expect you to sign such an agreement with China, Ian. You didn't tell me beforehand."

Ian spread his hands and glanced at everyone present.

He said calmly, "You could have told me what happened, and then I could have told you how serious the harm this will cause me."

One board member said helplessly, "CBS would never support China."

"This isn't support, it's just a deal!" Ian said seriously. "What was supposed to be a profitable transaction has resulted in me suffering huge losses!"

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone knew what Ian meant.

You have to make amends!

How can we make up for it?

I'll give you 100 million?

No, we'd kowtow to you a hundred times, and we'd even let our wives or daughters sleep with you, no problem.

Money won't do!

Businessmen are meant to make money, not lose money!

Ian didn't expect these guys to actually give him money. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I want Channel Two."

Everyone shook their heads in unison: "That's impossible."

Channel 2 is CBS's most profitable channel right now, and they can't just give it to Ian like that.

This is no longer about money; it's about the core, the backbone.

James Perry said, "Ian, Channel 2 belongs to CBS, so CBS is essentially yours. You don't need to take it over."

Ian shook his head slightly: "I used to think that way too, but not anymore."

Seeing that no one was saying anything, Ian smiled and said, "It's okay, if you don't want to sell, that's fine too. I won't force you."

As he spoke, he got up and walked outside.

Watching him walk away, James Perry called out, "Ian!"

Ian stopped and looked back at him.

"We're still friends," James Perry said seriously.

Ian smiled.

He didn't answer, but just walked out.

Then James Pelly understood.

He looked at the board members and sighed, "The honeymoon period is over. Everyone should be careful from now on, and don't let him find any fault with you."

………………

As Ian walked out of the CBS headquarters building, he sat in his car, lost in thought.

The car drove along the long street toward Manhattan.

After arriving in Manhattan, the car continued inwards and came to a manor surrounded by green hills and clear waters.

The iron gate slowly opened, and the car continued moving forward.

We walked along the tree-lined path through the flowerbeds and stopped in front of a mansion.

As Ian stepped out of the car, a well-dressed and refined butler approached to greet him: "Mr. Murdoch is waiting for you in his study. Please come with me, sir."

Ian responded softly and followed the butler into the courtyard.

As we walked uphill, we came to a spacious bookstore, where thousands of ancient books were displayed.

Rudolf Murdoch was standing on a ladder, taking a book from the bookshelf and flipping through it.

He glanced at Ian standing by the door and smiled, "Wait for me, kid."

Ian smiled as he entered the study, which was larger than two living rooms in other people's homes, and sat down on the sofa.

A waiter respectfully asked him, "Sir, would you like wine, coffee, or dessert?"

"Tea."

"Yes, sir."

Rudolf Murdoch leaned on a ladder, flipping through the book in his hands, looking serious and focused.

Then he climbed down the ladder with the book in his hand and sat down next to Ian: "The Chronicle of the British Empire, a very old version, a unique copy, now worth two million. It's not bad to collect it in your spare time."

Ian smiled: "I'm a nouveau riche; there's hardly anything with historical significance in my house."

Murdoch laughed. "That's not surprising. You're young, Ian. You've poured all your money into development; you're confident and ambitious. But has anyone told you that sometimes investing in yourself is also an investment?"

Ian nodded: "Gasker said that's why I wear $30,000 clothes and a $1 million watch... I don't really think mechanical watches are anything special; they're essentially just accessories."

Murdoch shook his head repeatedly: "What kind of investment is that? I suggest you try collecting, famous paintings, antiques, old books, anything. It can cultivate your mind and body, let you know that life is not just about making money, and also let you not be so impatient in doing things."

Ian raised an eyebrow: "Sounds like you're not planning on going to CBS?"

Murdoch chuckled.

He sat in his seat, looking intently at Ian.

The latest novel is first published here!

Although this old man did not have Ian's cheat codes or his prophetic abilities, he was still wise, even cunning and ruthless.

He said softly, "I know what you did to CBS. Without you, CBS's value would plummet... and even Fox's would suffer."

Ian chuckled: "They were all bought with real money. I couldn't have gotten them without the board's permission."

Murdoch sighed, "I don't know how you did it, but you seem very persuasive. You got Fox Entertainment to sell some assets it shouldn't have, and you did the same with CBS. Your departure will be a huge blow to both companies."

Murdoch eventually found out that Ian had bought Blue Sky Studios, but it was too late.

Ian shook his head slightly: "It hasn't come to that."

"But at least I know you didn't intend to fulfill the bet... You've always won bets, I never thought you'd plan to lose in a bet with me!" Murdoch sighed.

The old man was shrewd, but he was still fooled by Ian this time.

Fortunately, the old man was cautious enough, which meant that although Ian took some of Fox's assets, it wasn't fatal.

Ian thought for a moment and said softly, "I can use some of my shares in CBS and Fox to exchange for shares in British Sky Broadcasting. This will allow you to combine two major media outlets and become the largest media company in the United States."

Sky Broadcasting is the UK’s largest digital pay-TV operator, headquartered in London. The company was formed in 1990 by the merger of Sky Television and BBC Satellite.

The company's current market capitalization is approximately $240 billion, while News Corp. owns 40% of the shares, which is $96 billion.

Murdoch laughed: "And then lose Britain?"

"You still have your newspaper business; that's your foundation in England," Ian replied casually. "Our previous agreement still stands. I'll continue to provide you with exclusive breaking news, but this time it'll be just for you."

News Corporation also started in the newspaper industry, and they had an extremely powerful newspaper business. However, due to the decline of the newspaper industry, the size of News Corporation subsequently decreased significantly.

Of course, Ian wouldn't say that.

What's it to me?

Murdoch shook his head slightly: "Unless you let me hold shares in Carl Media."

That old man is so cunning!

I can give you Sky Media, but I want Carl Media!

Ian thought about it seriously for a moment and replied, "Carl Media will soon be divided into three parts. One part is Carl Media, another part is Carl International, which focuses on international media, and the third part is Carl Investment. Carl Media will only own LANN for now."

"But you'll develop it, won't you?" Murdoch laughed. "LANN is your own child; you won't abandon it."

Ian was deep in thought.

After a long pause, he said, "I need your agreement to sell Fox News back to me, and 20th Century Fox can be returned to you."

Murdoch asked in surprise, "You don't have a good outlook on 20th Century Fox?"

"No, it's just that my main job is media. The entertainment industry is just icing on the cake. I own the copyrights, so I can make them obey." This was Ian's explanation for buying the important copyrights to Fox.

Murdoch smiled too.

After a long pause, he said, "That depends on how many shares you can give me. Also, Sky Broadcasting's shares must be under Carl Media, and I can't get less than a third. Furthermore, you must promise not to attack CBS; I don't want to buy a future sitting duck. This is also good for you… your NewsLAN can be used too, your own precious child; overtraining is abuse!"

Ian smiled.

He tilted his head back and thought for a long time before saying, "It's possible to take the first hit and then buy back the second, at least you can buy it for a lower price, but I can't lower the price of my part... unless you give me some concessions on the Fox part."

The old man laughed: "Then it seems we only have the price to consider."

(End of this chapter)