Hey, prime members, you can listen to Business Wars Add Free on Amazon Music. Download the app today. 213 Plus an Apple Podcasts or the Wondery App to Binge all four episodes of the Battle for Paramount, Early and Add Free. Download the Wondery App in your Apple or Google Play mobile app store today.
December 21, 1993 Paramount headquarters Manhattan. In the boardroom, Chairman Martin Davis silently stews as a financial advisor briefs him and the other board members on QVC's latest takeover offer. And the remaining stock would be swapped for QVC stock, a board member interjects. So what's the total value of QVC's offer? Based on current stock prices, QVC's bid stands at $10.3 billion.
That's more than buy a com, right? Yes, buy a com's offered $9.6 billion. Also the stock part of this bid is mostly non-voting stock. Buy a com's offering Paramount stockholders less money and less say in the post-merger company than QVC. What do you think about that? Davis stays mom as the board discusses QVC's new offer. His initial shock at being forced by the courts to sell to the highest bidder has decayed into resignation. He no longer controls the company. He dedicated his life to.
Davis notices that the board members are waiting for him to move the meeting forward. He says the only thing he can. As the courts made clear, it's our legal duty to accept the highest offer. So unless anyone objects, we should endorse QVC's offer. Davis nearly chokes on those words. He hopes to retire on a high. Now his career seems destined to end in humiliation. When his old foe Barry Diller buys his company, he will surely fire him. None of the board members object. So it's agreed. We endorse QVC's offer and wait to see a Viacom response. Board member races his hand.
What if Viacom doesn't improve their offer? Can we just go with QVC and be done with this? Paramount Chief Counsel Don Orsman replies, We're obligator to give Viacom a chance to respond. Since the holidays are upon us, I suggest we give them until January 7th to submit a new offer or withdraw. Davis nods. I second that. All agreed. January 7th. I said that sounds alright.
Three months ago, they thought they'd be merging Paramount with Viacom. Now, Paramount is QVC's to lose. But Viacom's 70 year old owner, Sumner Redstone, isn't done yet. He's chasing a deal that could change everything, a fast track merger with Blockbuster, that'll let Viacom snatch Paramount back from Diller. But Redstone's only got 17 days to do it. And if he fails, he will miss his one and only shot at fulfilling his dream of owning his favorite Hollywood studio.
Hi, I'm Sarah Haggi, co-host of Wonderree's podcast Scample Inswers. In our recent two-part series, Three Weddings in a Funeral, we dive into the story of a German con man who built an entire life on fake names, lies, and schemes, and the unlikely true time twist that brought this decades-long charade crashing down. Listen to Scample Inswers on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.
From Wonderree, I'm David Brown and this is Business Wars. On the last episode, QVC Chief Barry Diller gait crashed Paramount in Viacom's merger. The courts smacked down Paramount Chairman Martin Davis and Blockbuster through Sumner Redstone a lifeline. Now, Viacom and Blockbuster are out to grab Paramount from Diller. But to even stay in the race, they must first overcome their own disagreements and finalize their own multi-billion dollar merger.
This is Episode 4, Down to the Wire. December 23, 1993 Midtown Manhattan. In the offices of law firm Sherman and Sterling, Viacom owner Sumner Redstone sits in a windowless conference room with his negotiating team. It's almost two in the morning and he and his team have been locked in talks with Blockbuster for days. But 20 minutes ago, the talks collapsed yet again. So the two sides agreed to take a short break to talk among themselves.
Now, Redstone and his people are waiting for Blockbuster's team to return to the negotiations. Viacom's CEO Frank Biondi pours the last of the now-tepted coffee into his cup and looks at the team. What do you all think they'll do this time? A belly dropper or a walk out? Viacom's colleagues chuckle. They've grown wise to Blockbuster's CEO Wayne Heisinga's negotiation tactics. The belly drop is their nickname for Heisinga's ploy of letting deals get all the way to the point of signing and then suddenly demanding another concession. Redstone rubs his eyes. I anticipate another walk out.
Biondi nods. Yeah, I bet that worked real well when he was buying up video rental stores. He probably had the store owners running down the street after him clinging on to his leather coat, begging him to come back.
Yes, but we know mom and pop. Viacom's talks with Blockbuster began well. Blockbuster agreed to be bought in a deal that would leave Redstone in total control of Viacom. Then, Viacom would use Blockbuster's cash to keep fighting for Paramount. But now Heisinga wants Blockbuster's shareholders to get extra stock if Viacom's stock price dips below $55 after the merger.. And Redstone won't go there.
The Viacom team perks up. It's a conference room door opens. Heisinga enters, followed by his team. As they take their seats, Redstone notices a green folder in Heisinga's hands. He imagines Heisinga will pretend to accidentally leave the folder behind so he's got an excuse to call Viacom if he walks out. Each team is quietly assessing the other, looking for clues for where this is headed.
Heisinga sits opposite Redstone. Both men know they need each other. Neither of them can win Paramount alone. But if they don't reach a deal by January 7th, it'll be too late to stop QVC from taking Paramount. Heisinga ends the silence.
Have you reconsidered your position? Redstone shows no emotion. I thought you were reconsidering yours. My position is unchanged. If we did what you ask in Viacom stock fell below $55, we'd have to issue new stock to your stockholders. That would further depress Viacom stock price, triggering more share issues to compensate your stockholders again. It would put Viacom in a death spiral.
Heisinga stares at Redstone. He still can't read the guy. He gives nothing away, not even the nearest twitch. It's like he's car from rock. Then Sumner, we're at an impasse. Heisinga stands. I'm sorry we couldn't work it out. Good luck with Paramount.
Heisinga heads to the coat rack and puts on his long black leather coat. His minions follow his lead. Heisinga reaches for the door handle. Goodbye then. And happy holidays. Redstone nods. Yes, you too. The blockbuster team leaves and closes the door behind them.
The Viacom executives look at the table. Heisinga has taken his green folder with him. This is no staged exit. It's the real deal. Beyondy turns to Redstone. Should I go after them? Redstone waves his hand dismissively. No. There's a point where the price crosses the line of rationality. What they want takes us beyond that line. I won't move. They won't move. There's no more to say.
Three months ago, Redstone had Paramount in his grasp. Then, QVC chief Barry Diller barged in and stole the deal. A merger with Blockbuster was his last chance to stage a counter strike. He thinks that it's all over. But the investment bankers tried to engineer the takeover, have other ideas.
Christmas Day, 1993. New Jersey. Michael Leavitt pulls his Jeep Cherokee onto the highway with his bulky car phone pressed to his ear. Leavitt is a 35-year-old hot shot at Smith Barney's Shearson. The investment bank advising Viacom on its efforts to buy Blockbuster in Paramount. He spent the morning tracking down Blockbuster President Steve Barard to a golf resort in Arizona.
Not that Barard's happy about that. Michael, it's Christmas Day. I'm on my first vacation in six years. You better have a good reason to be calling. I do. I've been talking with a Viacom, guys. I think we can resurrect the talks.
Michael, I know how this works. Okay. You haven't spoken to anyone. Your boss is on your back and he's yelling at you to get us back in the room with Viacom so you can reel in your big fat, juicy, 12 million dollar fee. Well we're all here to make money and you're about to let a great opportunity slip away. Come on, what's the harm in talking more? It's a waste of time. Viacom won't budge.
Yeah, they will. They need you. Without Blockbuster, they don't get Paramount. You're arguing over small details. You pushed a little too far but I think if you ease back just a bit, they'll meet you in more than half way.
Let's say I buy that. All right, what's the rush? Why call me on Christmas Day? Because I'm Santa delivering the ultimate present and because Viacom's Frank beyond he's spending Christmas at his vacation home in Scotchdale. You know he's only a few miles away from you. You two should have dinner.
You want me to have Christmas dinner at Frank's? Yeah, he's game if you are. What am I supposed to tell my wife? Take her with you. Come on. What do you say?
Look, Michael, even if Frank and I restart talks, we only have until January 7th to counter QVC's bid. The idea that we'd agreed to merge Viacom and Blockbuster by then is a total hail Mary. Heh, a hail Mary is better than no play at all. Okay, okay. It's against my better judgment but let's try this.
After that day, Barard and Beyondy repair trust over plates piled with Christmas ham and agreed to reopen the talks after the holidays. But while Viacom and Blockbuster prepare to try again, QVC chief Barry Diller reassesses his own plans for Paramount.
Late December 1993. Off the coast of the Caribbean island of St. Bartz, a bright white super yacht cuts through the blue tropical waters. On the deck, a crew member brings another cocktail to the bald multi-millionaire who's renting it for the holidays.
You're negrony, Mr. Diller. Can I bring you anything else? Diller doesn't look up from his apple power book laptop. He can't tear himself away from the spreadsheet on the screen. No, that's all.
Diller stares at the numbers on the spreadsheet. There are dozens of columns and rows slicing and dicing the financial implications of his plan to buy Paramount. He spent his vacation tweaking numbers and altering formulas on this spreadsheet in an attempt to divine Paramount's true value.
QVC is offering $10.3 billion for Paramount. But until this moment, the need for speed drove QVC's furious bidding war with Viacom. It's only now that Diller's got time to ask himself if Paramount is really worth it. He wants Paramount. He sees it as the foundation of the media empire he wants to build. But he doesn't want to make a reckless decision either.
He was at Fox when Rupert Murdoch overstretched himself and nearly lost everything. He doesn't want to make that mistake. And that's why he's re-examining the numbers. And no matter how he looks at them, the conclusion he reaches is always the same. Paramount is worth $10 billion. QVC is already offering $300 million too much.
He picks up the phone by his side and calls the investment banker advising QVC's bid. It's Barry. Listen, I've run the numbers over and over and Paramount's not worth another cent. I'm sticking to our current bid come hell or high water. What if Viacom bids more? They won't. Viacom's taking on more debt than us to fund its bid. Going higher makes even less sense for them. For them to bid more would be a pure ego move. Maybe that's enough. Ah, come on, redstone's not stupid. If the numbers don't work, he won't go there. And even if he does, I'm not going to outstupid him.
Diller hangs up, shuts his laptop, and reaches for his cocktail. He's comfortable with his decision, and convinced that he's done enough, maybe too much, to win Paramount. Besides, word is that Viacom's talks with Blockbuster ended in failure. Redstone's got nothing more to give. Diller sinks into his chair and turns his face to the sun. Content in believing he has nothing to fear. Paramount is his. But the calm waters are about to turn rough.
Hey there, I'm Josh Muccio, host of The Pitch, a show where real-onchpreneur's pitch real tech investors for real money. And this season gets a little saucy. We knew that we were not going to join the same old sauce game. We were going to disrupt $130 billion industry. We're coming after Hines. We meet founders pitching everything from a better ketchup to a solution for one of the biggest problems today. Energy. In the future, the vehicles in Garage is going to be like a giant power plant that could be used to reinforce a power grid, substitute fossil fuel power plants, and allow more renewable energy on the network. This season, 14 founders with 12 ideas big enough to change the world, if the investors invest.
I would like to invest in this round $300,000. New episodes every Wednesday. See in the pitch room.
我想投资这个轮次的$300,000。每个星期三都会有新的剧集出现。在展示房间里见。
2 a.m. January 7th, 1994. The Carlisle Hotel on the upper east side of Manhattan. Biocom 70-year-old Sumner Redstone emerges from his bathroom in a white bathrobe, fresh from a long hot shower. He pads across his hotel apartment, leaving a trail of wet footprints behind him. He catches himself in the mirror.
He feels reinvigorated from his shower, but the dark rings under his eyes tell a different story. The story of how he spent 48 hours in non-stop talks with Blockbuster. Those talks are still grinding on through the dead of night without him, but time is short. Biocom is sweetened its offer for Paramount today, or can seed defeat.
But he won't have the money to do that until he buys Blockbuster. Redstone heads to his desk and calls his team. Biocom CEO Frank Biondi steps out of the talks to answer the call. Hey boss, I thought you were getting some sleep. How can I sleep when so much is at stake? So how are the talks going?
Well, Heisinga is doing his usual tricks. He just did another belly drop on us. He wants another concession before signing. Rage courses through Redstone's body. He's sick of Blockbuster's CEO Wayne Heisinga's negotiating stunts. He used to laugh them off, but now there's a maker-break deadline bearing down. He's still playing games? That's it. No more concessions. If he pulls any more of this garbage telements over and walk out.
For real? As for real, he takes the deal as it stands right now or it's over. Redstone hangs up. It's down to Heisinga now. If he doesn't cave, Biocom won't get Blockbuster. No Blockbuster? No money? No money? No new bid for Paramount? No new bid? No Paramount? Everything is at stake. But Heisinga does cave.
He's not about to miss out on the chance to hitch Blockbuster to Viacom in Paramount. And now that he's unable to squeeze anything more out of Redstone, he stops haggling. Before sunrise, the two sides reach a deal and their lawyers leap into action to hastily draft the contracts that need to be signed.
The all stock deal will see Viacom pay $8.4 billion for Blockbuster. Blockbuster also commits another 1.25 billion in cash to Viacom's fight for Paramount. Viacom uses that money to revise its offer. The new offer reaches Paramount headquarters just minutes before the deadline. By the skin of their teeth, Redstone and Heisinga are back in the race.
Late evening, January 7th, 1994. Inside a hawker 700 executive jet bound for Fort Lauderdale, Heisinga pops open a bottle of dump perignon as champagne fizz gushes from the bottle. The Blockbuster team cheers. They're all running on fumes after almost 72 hours of round the clock talks. Only the adrenaline high of making the biggest deal of their lives is keeping them going now.
Heisinga addresses the team as the champagne flutes are handed out. It's been a hairy ride, but we got there. We can be proud of the deal we got our stockholders today. Seven years ago, Blockbuster was worth $7 million. Today, we sold it for $8.4 billion. All right, well done. So, a toast to us.
Armed with champagne, the team sinks into the plane's soft leather seats. One of the attorneys sits forward. "So how long until the first shareholder lawsuit?" Another executive peers over the back of his seat to reply. "I bet it'll be there waiting for us when we land." But as his team kicks back, Heisinga stares out the window into the dark clouds. A realization's dawning. He's no longer the boss of an independent company. He now answers to Sumner Redstone, an executive notices the solemn look on Heisinga's face. "You okay there, Wayne? Not having second thoughts, are you?" Heisinga forces a smile. "No, no, I'm just tired. The deals are right thing to do. We're locking in the gains for shareholders and making Blockbuster better place to adapt to the future of video." Besides, he knows the deal's done, and it's already too late to walk away.
January 12, 1994. Paramount headquarters, Manhattan. Paramount's board listens as their financial advisor breaks down Viacom's new offer. Viacom has increased the cash portion of their offer to $6.5 billion. That's one billion more cash than QVC. But it's not all good news. The board members who've been nodding all along look concerned. The markets have reacted badly to Viacom's merger with Blockbuster. Viacom stock price is plunged and that's dragged down the value of the stock portion of its offer. So taken as a whole, Viacom's offering $9.4 billion. Therefore, QVC's bid remains superior at $10.3 billion.
Paramount chairman Martin Davis absorbs the news without emotion. Viacom's new offer also makes clear that there's no place for him after the buyout. Blockbuster's people will now be getting the jobs once set aside for him and Paramount's top team. Whoever wins, Davis knows he's finished.
He looks at the financial advisors. "Thanks for your assessment. On that evidence, I believe we should continue to recommend QVC's offer to stockholders." Looks like it is a sign. The board murmurs an agreement. There's nothing to debate. The courts have ordered them to accept the highest offer.
Davis sits forward in his chair. "I propose we set a deadline for QVC and Viacom to submit their final offers so this auction doesn't drag on. How's the close of business on February 1st sound?" "Yeah, I'd like to answer the answer." The board agrees. Davis feels relief. At least he'll be put out of his misery soon.
The Paramount board's rejection of Viacom's revised offer is a hammer blow for Redstone. He gambled on Blockbuster, hoping to snatch Paramount back from Barry Diller. But Wall Street's sour reaction to the merger has crippled his plan. Now Viacom's got just 20 days to find a new way to sweeten its offer.
January 16th, 1994 Midtown Manhattan. On the 49th floor of investment bank Smith-Barnie Shearson, Viacom's top executives and advisors are trying to find a way forward. One executive can't stop pacing the room. "We need a Diller killer of an offer. Something QVC can't match." Viacom CEO Frank Beyondy looks up. "Well, I'm all ears if you have an idea. We can only offer a little more cash and extra stock will only further depress our stock price." "What about warrants? We could offer warrants to redeem later for Viacom's stock." Beyondy shakes his head. "Nah, some don't go there. Anything else?" There's no response. Everyone's out of ideas.
1994年1月16日,位于曼哈顿中城的投资银行Smith-Barnie Shearson的第49层,Viacom的高管和顾问们正在试图找到一条前进的道路。一位高管不停地在房间里走来走去。“我们需要一份杀死Diller的报价。QVC办不到的东西。”Viacom的CEO Frank Beyondy抬起了头。“如果你有想法,我全听着。我们只能提供一点点现金,额外的股票只会进一步压低我们的股价。”“那套权证呢?我们可以提供权证以后换回Viacom的股票。”Beyondy摇摇头。“不行,有些人不会接受这个。还有其他的想法吗?”没有回应。每个人都没有更多的主意了。
But then, Michael Levit, the banker whose Christmas Day intervention got Viacom and Blockbuster back into talks, speaks. "We could issue a contingent value right, a collar." The pacing executive stops. "What the heck's a collar?" "It's a guarantee to paramount stockholders. Basically, Viacom promises that its stock will reach a certain price within three years of the buyout.". And if it doesn't, then Viacom has to make paramount stockholders whole by covering the shortfall.
Beyondy points a finger in Levit's direction. How much will that cost? Where's the case scenario? Viacom would have to pay a billion dollars. A billion dollars? Yeah, but if Viacom stock hits or beats the collar price, there's nothing to pay. This way you get to put another billion on the table, even though you don't have the money. Ha, sounds like a high risk gamble to me. I don't think this is going to fly with Sumner.
Levit's boss, investment banker Robert Greenhill, interrupts. Frank, do you want paramount? Yes. Then this is the only option you've got. Without a collar, there's no way to win. You've explored every other option. This is the only way.
Beyondy knows Greenhill's right. Yeah, I know. I know. But how the heck do we sell this to Sumner? Just tell him the truth that this is the only option with legs.
Beyondy reaches for the speakerphone sitting in the center of the meeting room table and calls Redstone. Yes, it's Sumner. Sumner, it's Frank. We've looked at everything twice over and the only option is to offer paramount a collar. It's a... I know what a collar is. Are you certain it's the only way? Yes. Then let's do it. I want to win this.
But the Viacom team knows it might still not be enough. Even with the collar and a little more cash, Viacom will only just squeak past QVC's bid. Barry Diller wouldn't have to increase QVC's offer by that much to win. And the Viacom crew are certain he's going to do exactly that. And with the February 1st deadline for final offers closing in, this fight is going to go down to the wire.
February 1st, 1994. Paramount headquarters, Manhattan. Paramount legal chief Don Orzman watches the second hand on the clock that hangs on his office wall. It's 4.58 pm and QVC and Viacom must submit their final take-over offers by 5. But so far, there's nothing. Orzman stares at the facts machines across the room and mutters to himself. You're both cutting this very close.
Orzman looks at the binoculars on his desk. He's going to miss birdwatching from this perch 42 stories above Central Park. When the deal's done, both him and Paramount chairman Martin Davis will get fired.
The facts machine earmarked for Viacom's final offer comes to life. Orzman rushes over. He checks the time. It's 4.59 pm. The second facts machine bursts into action. QVC is also submitting a new bid. Orzman waits as the facts machines slowly print the two incoming offers.
Davis centers the room. Are those the new offers? Yes, yes. Orzman scoops up Viacom's offer and starts reading. No extra cash from Viacom. Collar's still there, though. Lots of tweaks to the stock portion, including more protection at Viacom's stock falls after the merger.
Davis moves nearer. What about QVC? Orzman checks QVC's offer. QVC's increase the cash, but still less than Viacom. Stock portion's been paired back. It's rebalancing, but the total value is unchanged. What about a collar is QVC offering one? Orzman hunts for any sign of a collar. He reaches the last page and looks at Davis. There's no collar. We need to check the detail, but these offers are more or less equal in value.
The only difference Davis interrupts is the collar. And since QVC doesn't have one, Viacom's bid is now superior. Davis smiles with satisfaction. Davis might be going down, but at least he knows. Dillard is going down with it.
It's a photo finish between the two rivals. Despite pressure from his partners and the news of Viacom's game-changing deal with Blockbuster, Dillard stuck by his decision not to improve QVC's offer. As a result, both Viacom and QVC's bids are worth just over $10 billion. But with the collar guaranteeing stock price rises within three years for Paramount Stock holders, Viacom is now ahead. And on February 14th, Paramount Stockholders cast their votes and crowned Viacom the victor.
February 15th, 1994, the morning after Viacom's win. In his office in Viacom's headquarters in Times Square, Sumner Redstone feels another call from a well-wisher. I'm so honored that you made the time to call me.
Redstone smiles as Vice President Al Gore congratulates him on buying Paramount. Yesterday, Redstone was a billionaire cable TV and cinema owner. Now he owns one of Hollywood's greatest movie studios. And he's set to become a true media titan, a culture-shaping power broker on par with Rupert Murdoch and Ted Turner. Yes, it was a hard battle, but nothing great comes easy. You know that. And yes, my people will let you know when I'm next in Washington.
Truth is, no one emerged from the battle for Paramount unscathed. Redstone won, but paid $2 billion more than he originally expected.
事实是,没有人在争夺派拉蒙的战斗中幸免于难。雷德斯通获胜了,但支付了比他最初预期多20亿美元。
Now, Viacom's loaded with debt and he's got to sell Paramount assets like Madison Square Garden to repair the company's balance sheet.
现在,维亚康姆负债累累,他必须出售派拉蒙公司的资产,如麦迪逊广场花园,以修复公司的资产负债表。
Martin Davis thought the Paramount Viacom deal would be the crowning achievement of his career. Instead, he found himself stripped of power and cast aside.
Wayne Heisinga's regrets about selling Blockbuster kept on growing. Dazzled by the prize of Paramount, he surrendered the video rental chain to Redstone for a fistful of non-voting stock.
Cable Tycoon John Malone got burned too. His decision to dump QVC to sell his empire to Bell Atlantic, backfired. Two weeks after Redstone got Paramount, Malone's deal with Bell Atlantic unraveled.
Malone found himself right back where he started. In need of programming to help his cable systems adapt to the multi-channel age, but with his chance to win Paramount. Gone.
His launch for Paramount might have caused the downfall of his nemesis, Davis. But that's cold comfort. After all, he didn't get to pull the trigger himself.
But as he strides toward the airport building, he sees two familiar figures approaching. Ralph and Brian Roberts, the father and son duo that run the cable giant Comcast.
Diller smiled. If it wasn't for them, he wouldn't even be running QVC. And without their rock-solid backing, he'd never have had a shot at buying Paramount.
Ralph, Brian! Haha! What a coincidence to cross paths like this.
我好像碰巧和你们遇到了。Ralph啊,Brian啊,哈哈!
Ralph steps forward. There's a letter in his hand.
拉尔夫向前迈了一步,手里握着一封信。
Barry is no coincidence. Ralph gives Diller the letter. Diller eyes it with suspicion.
Barry 不是巧合。Ralph 给了 Diller 信件,Diller 怀疑地看着它。
What is this?
这是什么?
It's a letter informing you that Comcast is making a takeover bid for QVC.
这是一封信,告诉您康卡斯特正在为QVC进行收购要约。
Diller looks at Ralph and Brian. But I'm about to buy CBS.
迪勒看着拉尔夫和布赖恩。但我即将购买CBS。
Barry, we're not interested in CBS. We put you in charge of QVC so you could buy Paramount and make programming for cable systems.
巴里,我们对CBS不感兴趣。我们让你掌管QVC是为了让你购买派拉蒙并为有线电视系统制作节目。
I told you to bid higher for Paramount and you refused. Now you're after CBS. Exactly the kind of company that's going to lose out in the multi-channel age.
Diller smirks. I think we all know that's not going to happen. My car is waiting.
迪勒嘴角上扬。我想我们都知道那是不可能的。我的车在等着。
If you want to ride with me, you're welcome.
如果你想和我一起乘车,欢迎加入。
Diller leads Ralph and Brian Roberts to his car and spends the journey putting on a brave face. It's another crushing blow.
迪勒引领拉尔夫和布赖恩·罗伯茨上车,始终保持勇敢坚强的表情。这是又一次沉重的打击。
He's lost Paramount. Now he will lose CBS and QVC. His attempt to build his own entertainment empire has failed.
他已经失去了派拉蒙,接下来他将失去CBS和QVC。他建立自己的娱乐帝国的尝试已经失败了。
But as the lights of Manhattan come into view, his spirits lift.
但是当曼哈顿的灯光映入眼帘时,他的情绪一下子变得更加愉快了。
After all, Comcast's takeover offer will turn the 25 million he invested in QVC into 75 million. Maybe this is a chance to regroup and return with a bigger, better plan. And he will.
A year later, Diller reunites with John Malone to take over QVC rival HSN. He then uses HSN to build IAC, a vast internet conglomerate with stakes in Expedia, match.com, and more.
But even as he builds IAC into a multi-billion dollar galaive and amasses a personal fortune of more than four billion dollars, you will always be haunted by one thing.
Next time on Business Wars, we're speaking with Journalist and Podcast host Matthew Bellany to find out if Paramount Pictures is still the shiny object it once was.
A quick note about recreations you've been hearing. In most cases, we can't know exactly what was said. There seems to be dramatizations, but they're based on historical research.
I'm your host David Brown, Tristan Donovan wrote this story. Karen Lo is our senior producer and editor. Edited and produced by Emily Frost. Sound designed by Jason Freeman. Our producer is Dave Schilling.