Silicon Valley

Subsequently, CBS Broadcasting Company and NBC Broadcasting Company invited many experts and professors to analyze the negative impact of Henry's acquisition of the NFL.

The expert said: "As we all know, Henry Williams owns a TV station, and one of the purposes of his acquisition of the NFL is to obtain the broadcast rights of the NFL! Needless to say, everyone can imagine that Henry Williams will use Selling NFL rights at a low price!"

"Henry Williams' behavior is a monopoly, and he will certainly drive the NFL to its demise!"

"Refuse to acquire, refuse to monopolize!!!"

"..."

ABC Building headquarters.

Henry frowned, and asked in a deep voice, Robert, a well-known American lawyer who was proficient in monopoly, sitting in front of him: "Lawyer Robert, does my acquisition of the NFL really constitute a monopoly?"

Robert smiled and said: "Strictly speaking, it is not a monopoly. After all, the NFL is not the only organization that organizes football games. However, because the NFL has a huge influence, it can also be regarded as a monopoly. How to define this depends on the American people and What do you think of the 32 teams in the NFL! If most of them support your acquisition, there's no problem! It's just..."

Henry looked at him and motioned to continue.

Robert said: "League organizations like the NFL are not profitable by themselves, and the profits they get are eventually distributed to each team. And the reason for this is that the board of directors of the NFL league is composed of 32 balls. The owners of the team clubs are formed, that is to say, each team is the shareholder of the league!!!

At present, the NFL league implements a "income sharing" model, that is, each team receives the same amount of money. If you bought the NFL, it would definitely change this distribution of benefits! However, such a change will inevitably affect the income of each team, so the acquisition plan is difficult!

therefore. Generally speaking, they will not introduce new shareholders unless this shareholder can create greater benefits for them! "

Henry nodded. express understanding.

If you want to buy the NFL, you must let the team realize their value and make them more money!

Henry was silent for a while, and then said to Robert: "You help me make an appointment with the representatives of the major shareholders of the NFL. I am going to talk to them in person. In addition, you are fully responsible for the monopoly lawsuit!"

"Okay, Mr. Williams!" Robert nodded.

Henry then left the ABC building and went to the Nicholas Group headquarters.

Nicholas IMDB Corporation, a Real-Networks subsidiary.

Heard Henry is coming to Real-Networks. The CEO of IMDB, Marcy Fillimon, rushed over to accompany him to inspect the situation of Real-Networks. Real-Networks CEO Ethan Occam also rushed over!

Ethan Occam is about fifty years old, Chinese-American, graduated from California Berkeley, was originally the technical director of the IMDB website, and has been promoted to be the CEO of Real-Networks. Henry asked Real-Networks to develop the rmvb video The format as well as the RealPlayer video player is hosted by him.

"How is it? Has the development of rmvb and RealPlayer been completed?" Henry turned to look at Ethan Occam and asked.

"It's done!!!" Ethan Occam replied excitedly, "The rmvb video format, I dare say it is the best and most advanced video format in the world. We use the VBR technology (dynamic bit) that you mentioned earlier. The video definition can not only compare to the effect of DVD, but also compress the video file to a very small size! At the same time, the video in rmvb format can formulate different compression ratios according to different network speeds, so that it can be Real-time transmission and playback of image data can also be performed on the network with low network speed! Finally, the 'atomization' technology is used, even if the screen is enlarged, it is only blurred at most, and there will be no mosaic! As for the RealPlayer video player …”

Ethan Occam laughed: "With the support of Williams Lab technicians, P2P technology is perfectly applied in the RealPlayer video player! The more people watch online video, the smoother the video, even if It's a live broadcast of the Super Bowl, I believe it's all right!!!"

"Very good!!!" Henry praised. Subsequently. Let Ethan Occam show him how to watch movies on RealPlayer.

Ethan Occam responded, took a black IBM laptop, turned on the computer, and clicked on the RealPlayer player.

"Chairman, I now enter RealPlayer's 'Online Movie Library' to download a movie to watch!" Ethan Occam explained to Henry, "Because we have not officially announced our development products, the online movie library currently only has Galaxy movies. Company work!"

Henry nodded, indicating that he understood, and motioned him to continue with his eyes.

Ethan Occam found a movie "Jurassic Park", click to download and watch.

Then, Ethan Occam looked up at Henry and said, "Chairman, the Internet speed we are using now is 56kbps, which is about the same as the current Internet speed of an ordinary family! It takes about thirty seconds to download at the beginning. Cache time, so that the content at the beginning of the movie is cached first to ensure smooth viewing in the subsequent process!"

After 30 seconds, the movie begins.

Henry mainly observed the picture, and felt it was okay, the picture was clear, and there was no blurry appearance. Then the movie was played for more than ten minutes, and there was no delay!

"Chairman, if the network speed is better, we can see a clearer picture!" Ethan Occam added, "56kbps is only a standard mode, the resolution is average, the higher the network speed, the better There are two modes: normal and high-definition!"

"Well, very good!" Henry nodded with satisfaction, and then he thought of something and asked, "How big is the RealPlayer?"

"Since only rmvb format video is currently supported, it is only 5MB!" Ethan Occam paused. Asked, "Chairman, Microsoft has released avi format video. Do we want to be compatible with avi format?"

The products released by Microsoft have always been supported by many third-party software vendors. Coupled with the fact that Microsoft has an operating system, there must be a lot of people willing to make video files in avi format! Henry hesitated. In the end want to be compatible with avi format video. However, thinking that rmvb currently has absolute technical advantages, it can completely crush it, so there is no need to be compatible with avi.

rmvb should take advantage of its technological advantages to form a monopoly position and suppress avi.

in addition. The current internet speed is too slow. RealPlayer should not add too much code. The smaller the software, the better. When users download, they don't need to wait too long!

So, Henry said to Ethan Occam: "Incompatible!!!"

The rm format in the previous life has already beaten avi, and the evolved version of rmvb is even stronger, just like Ultraman fighting little monsters.

Hearing this, Ethan Occam nodded and replied, "Well, okay." Immediately. He asked again, "Oh, Chairman, when will our product be released?"

"The sooner the better!"

Henry thought for a while, and immediately said to Ethan Occam: "However, before that, some film and television copyrights need to be purchased! RealPlayer's 'Online Movie Library' needs to enrich more online movies!!!" Henry immediately looked at Marcy Fremont, said: "In terms of funds, the parent company of Nicholas IMDB should give them full support!!!"

Marcy Fremont and Ethan Occam looked at each other and nodded!

Henry said lightly: "At present, film companies and TV companies do not pay attention to the copyright of film and television networks, so this time, we must buy enough excellent film and television works!"

"Okay, I understand!" Marcy Fremont nodded.

Henry used the RealPlayer player himself at this time, and while experiencing it, he said to Ethan Occam: "The RealPlayer 'online movie library' needs to be classified to make it more convenient for users to use, thereby enhancing the user's experience! Therefore, the movie Separated from TV, and then subdivided into sci-fi, action, horror, drama, and more!"

"Well, ok, I'll have the technicians make improvements then!" Ethan Occam said.

After Henry closed RealPlayer, he stood up and said to the two of them: "That's about it, if everything is ready, RealPlayer can be released!!!"

...

...

After Henry left, Marcy Fremont went to prepare to buy film and television works, and Ethan Occam went to improve the RealPlayer player. At this time, lawyer Robert called Henry to inform him that the NFL shareholders agreed to meet him at 9:00 am three days later, at the NFL headquarters in Manhattan, New York.

The next day, Marcy Fremont went to buy film and television works, which did not go well.

Film companies will lose a lot if they can also watch movies on the Internet, considering that they can also make money through videotape and TV reruns.

Marcy Fremont sent people into five teams to run more than 20 film companies, but the responses they got were all the same.

In the end, Marcy Fremont can only buy film and television works whose videotapes are no longer available for sale!

Later that day, Marcy Fremont reported the situation to Henry. Henry thought to himself that although film and television companies do not pay attention to online copyrights, it does not mean that they are stupid. If you can watch movies online, the income of natural video tapes will decrease accordingly!

Henry suddenly thought of something and laughed suddenly.

Before the development of the rmvb format, a movie video was very large, but the Internet speed of netizens was not strong, so there was no breeding ground for pirated videos.

But now it's different. If a one-and-a-half-hour movie uses the rmvb format, it can be compressed to a minimum of more than 100 MB. It is conceivable that the conditions for making pirated videos are already ripe, and they must not grow everywhere like bamboo shoots after a spring rain? !

Henry replied: "Buy as much as you can, it doesn't matter if you can't! Maybe when the time comes, they will beg us to buy it..."

"I beg us to buy it?" Marcy Fremont was stunned. When he went to buy film and television copyrights, he didn't know how difficult it was, especially for some of the more popular films, which were like treasures in the town store. Not for sale.

Henry didn't explain it to him, and hung up the phone after a few words.

Next, Henry called Ethan Occam. Tell him to arrange for a skilled technician to bring the RealPlayer player software to follow him to Manhattan, New York tomorrow morning.

The next day, the people sent by Ethan Occam arrived at the airport to meet Henry, a young and steady technician. His name was Jim Berkeley, and he was a very talkative, eloquent man in a neat suit. Be confident!

After Henry met him, he explained the mission this time.

"Mr. Williams, don't worry, I will show the power of our RealPlayer in front of the major shareholders of the NFL!!!"

"Yeah!" Henry nodded lightly, and then said, "Get on the plane. Arrive in Manhattan this evening. Then take a night's rest, and contact them at 9 am tomorrow!"

"OK, all right!"

In fact, the RealPlayer player is very simple, but Henry is not a technical person. If he tells a lot of technical problems to the NFL board, his credibility is not strong enough. If it is told by professional and technical personnel, it is naturally more convincing!

In the evening, Henry and Jim Berkeley arrived in New York. Then live at Rockefeller Center. In the strange electrical building, the largest building in Rockefeller Center, Henry deliberately left a few suites for himself! After enjoying a rich dinner, Henry returned to his room to rest. Jim Berkeley is in another suite.

The next day, Henry and Jim Berkeley had breakfast and immediately set off for NFL headquarters.

When we got there, the lady at the front desk had already recognized Henry's identity without having to report his name. She hurriedly stepped forward and said hello to Henry.

"Mr. Williams, President Smith has already told me that if you come, let me lead you directly to the reception room." The front desk lady smiled and said, "Mr. Williams, please come with me!"

"OK!"

After a while, Henry came to a reception room that could accommodate forty or fifty people.

At this time, the front desk lady gave Henry and Jim Berkeley a glass of water, and then said: "Please wait a moment, I have informed President Smith, and the NFL League board members will arrive later."

"it is good!"

Henry waited for four or five minutes, and a group of people filed in.

"Hello, Mr. Williams!"

"..."

The people who came in couldn't help but greet Henry one after another. Henry didn't know any of them, but he knew that these people should be members of the NFL board of directors.

"Hello, Mr. Williams, my name is Kyle Smith, the commissioner of the NFL."

"Hello!"

Kyle Smith is an outsider hired by the NFL to help manage the league. He smiled and began to preside over the negotiation meeting.

"Mr. Williams, I heard that you are going to buy the NFL League. Are you here to convince us?" Smith asked straight to the point.

Henry nodded: "Yes, that's right!"

Smith laughed: "But, Mr. Williams, you need to know that the NFL is a league composed of 32 teams, and the league's profits will belong to the teams! If you buy the NFL league, the nature of the league will change. If you buy the NFL, how should the money earned by the league be divided?”

Henry has already thought about this question, so he doesn't have to think about it, he can answer it right away.

"It's simple, the league needs to spend money to hold events, publicity, operations, etc. It's not an exaggeration to charge 5%!"

As soon as Henry spoke, there was an uproar in the reception room.

"Last year NFL revenue reached $3 billion, 5% is $150 million!!!"

"Don't think about it, we definitely don't agree with this!"

"..."

Smith looked at Henry and said, "Look, everyone doesn't agree with the distribution method you said, even if it's 5%..."

Henry smiled faintly: "What if I bought the NFL and raised the NFL's revenue to $5 billion, or even $9 billion? Don't you agree?"

"How is that possible!" Someone immediately questioned, "Mr. Williams, you are talking a lot! Although the NFL's income in recent years has been stable and rising, it is probably impossible to soar so much!"

"What you can't do, I can!" Henry smiled confidently, "I acquired ABC Broadcasting Company and TBS Broadcasting Company, and owned the largest television media in the United States. In addition, the world's most popular Internet companies are also controlled by In my hands, if I help the NFL to promote, how can the income not increase? In addition, in Asia, I have bought the Asia Television Company, which has become the largest TV station in Southeast Asia and other places. If the NFL wants to open the Asian market , I can't do it without my help. In Europe, although I don't have a TV station, I have the money to buy it, and I can buy TV stations around the world. With my support in the NFL, wouldn't the development be much faster than now? In addition, I I'll show you something!" With that, Henry looked at Jim Berkeley.

Jim Berkeley understood, he stood up and said loudly: "Everyone, first of all, let me introduce myself, my name is Jim Berkeley, and I am a technician at Real-Networks, an industrial company under Mr. Williams' name. Here, I will give Let's show you the latest product developed by our company - the RealPlayer video player!"

Jim Berkeley took out his IBM laptop and said, "You might think, what a great video player, there are so many online! But our player is great! Because it can watch movies online. , that is, watching while downloading, and the resolution is not worse than DVD!!!"

As soon as Jim Berkeley finished speaking, there was a sudden discussion in the parlour.

"How is that possible? Being able to download and watch at the same time has surprised me, and the clarity is not worse than DVD?!!"

"Yeah, I don't quite believe it!"

"..."

At this point, Jim Berkeley motioned everyone to be quiet, and then began to talk about the advantages of the technology: "Because we use VBR dynamic bit rate technology..."

After speaking for a few minutes, everyone seemed to understand it.

Jim Berkeley immediately asked to get online and give them a demo. Afterwards, I plugged the laptop into the Internet, connected to the Internet, opened RealPlayer, entered the "Online Movie Library", and also found the movie "Jurassic Park" to download.

After the film started, there was no delay, and everyone present couldn't help smacking their tongues in surprise.

At this moment, Henry said to everyone: "Actually, this is nothing! You haven't seen the real power of RealPlayer!!!"

Everyone was shocked when they heard this.

Smith asked, "Mr. Williams, is this video player more capable?"

"Of course!" Henry said confidently, "RealPlayer video player can be used to live broadcast NFL games, even if tens of millions of people watch the live broadcast at the same time, there will be no crashes or delays!"

Everyone was immediately stunned.

Henry didn't wait for them to respond, but continued: "We use P2P technology. The more people watch the live broadcast, the more smooth the video will be! Users who have access to the Internet in the world can use RealPlayer to watch NFL live games. You can imagine. , how much help this will bring to the development of the NFL!!!"

"Okay, now back to the previous question, do you agree with me buying the NFL?"

(To be continued ~^~)