Chapter One Hundred Forty-Seven: Not So Simple

This is not some smear campaign; it’s the plain truth. It baffles the mind—how could anyone spend seventeen years at an airport? It’s already been made into a movie, and the French, of all people, are oddly delighted by it. Such abysmally low work efficiency is truly perplexing.

Warner Bros. faced considerable challenges filming in Paris, made worse by the current wave of actor strikes, which have significantly driven up the production costs of Superman II.

William White couldn’t help but reflect on Warner’s struggles. The path of American comic adaptations is far from easy. They simply slap comic book stories onto the screen without finesse—failure was almost inevitable.

Who even remembers the plot of Superman III now?

Superman IV was even more absurd—nothing but cheap, tacky special effects that could only provoke laughter or disbelief.

Marvel and DC are alike in this regard. Captain America and Superman have been utterly mishandled. Without Iron Man, the American film industry likely wouldn’t have succeeded with superheroes.

The American comic audience differs greatly from others; it primarily targets minors, resulting in simplistic storylines suitable for children but utterly unsatisfactory on the big screen.

Why, then, is The Lion King an exception?

In truth, The Lion King is essentially an animal version of Hamlet, with little direct connection to comics.

William White had ambitions to acquire Disney and NBC in a package deal. While the idea was sound, executing it would be fraught with difficulty.

For one, the Disney family was unwilling. Such an acquisition would cost them everything.

Never underestimate their influence. Though their sway in capital markets is limited, internally, they command fierce loyalty. White wanted a smooth takeover without drastic upheaval.

NBC was even more complicated. Even General Electric showed interest, which was baffling.

Fortunately, the economy was sluggish, so the difference between wanting to buy and being able to buy remained significant.

Before matters could settle, a new disruptor appeared: the French utility giant, once known as Vivendi, also expressed interest in Disney and NBC.

This company, infamous as a ruthless capital predator, had devastated countless firms in the past.

“Raise the price? Pearson, we’re pulling out.”

“Understood, boss.”

As the chief strategist, Pearson advised against buying Disney. Acquiring it cheaply through capital maneuvers might be acceptable, but engaging in a bidding war was pointless.

William White was no fool; this could well be a probe from Morgan Stanley or perhaps that blasted utility company. White couldn’t fathom why they would want to venture beyond their stable, fixed-income utilities into unfamiliar territory.

White Studios withdrew completely, leaving many stunned. It seemed this was just the antics of a bunch of old-timers. Since the French were willing to lead, everyone might as well play along.

The French had a shrewd plan: hitch a ride without paying much. Their real target was the shares pledged at the bank.

“We’re not buying. Do as you please.”

Negotiations ended. White Studios continued acquiring small and medium-sized TV stations, with Fox’s television network also entering the fray.

This complicated matters. Wall Street hadn’t anticipated that White, a charismatic figure, would be so headstrong. Though Fox’s network was small, it was far stronger than other minnows. If acquired, they might well no longer need NBC.

When White bailed, the French were dumbfounded. Their holdings plummeted in value, and clearly, matters weren’t unfolding as they hoped.

Buy these two companies individually? Don’t be ridiculous. Setting aside funds, how would they manage operations? Would they entrust them to the same old teams?

After all these years with no progress and no signs of change, such companies weren’t worth the trouble.

Morgan Stanley had been smug, thinking participation in bidding was enough to play the “highest bidder wins” game.

Now, all efforts seemed wasted. The capital markets suffered significantly. Their indecision was truly exasperating.

“That bastard is really stubborn.”

“Boss, maybe the price scared him off.”

“Hmph, he’s too independent to be taken advantage of. If he wants a free ride, it won’t be so easy.”

“Boss, you mean he won’t give up?”

“Of course not. He’s spotted the French’s weakness. Even if they buy, so what? In two years, he can reclaim it for a pittance.”

“Ugh, so we’re just giving them a discount? Those damned French are utterly clueless.”

“Hmph, capital operations matter, but without a clear management plan, it’s all nonsense. Besides, how could such a large network ever be controlled by foreigners?”

While the others fretted, William White remained unfazed. He focused on consolidating his media empire, ignoring external doubts entirely.

Damn it, if I want to buy, I buy. If not, what’s this patriotic nonsense? It’s all rubbish.

As for his media holdings, they were indeed weak—no newspaper sold over a million copies. How disappointing that was need not be stated.

Integrating these failures was relatively straightforward. The chief editors would largely remain unchanged; each paper had its own character. Sudden changes might cause things to worsen.

However, the advertising, marketing, and distribution departments had no choice but to merge forcefully. Fortunately, his popular comics could absorb many employees; otherwise, the unions would stir trouble.

These troublemakers had already ruined two small newspapers.

“Absolutely oppose layoffs?”

“Fine, then I’m not buying.”

Those who accepted White’s terms were relieved; most found suitable roles. After all, with rapid growth underway, true talent cannot be ignored.

All this elaborate maneuvering was unnecessary. The best approach would be widespread layoffs and internal recruitment, despite its flaws.

But the current climate was unfavorable. White was still shaping his public image—being branded a bloodsucking villain was hardly desirable.

The unions understood his temperament well.

He responded only to softness, not threats. Don’t dare intimidate him—he’d walk away without hesitation. As for the two failing newspapers, no one wanted them even for free.

The TV station consolidation was even trickier. There were both broadcast and cable channels, all small, local stations.

White had no flagship station yet and had to maintain the status quo. His only demand was to prevent further deterioration.

“Boss, talks with Fox aren’t going smoothly. Their willingness to sell is weak.”

“Hmm, we’re only making a gesture, no need to seem desperate. Keep expanding in print; keep an eye on London and Paris—buy when opportunities arise.”

“Understood, boss.”