Kapitel 486: Chapter 486: Comcast
Early Morning, in the bedroom of a seaside villa in Malibu's Little Dume Beach.
"Taylor, it's 8 o'clock, time to get up!" reminded Charles.
"Okay," the tall Taylor Swift laid back on the bed, "Are we still going to that VMA ceremony you mentioned last night?"
Charles nodded, "The VMAs have quite the reputation, it's beneficial for you singers!"
"I'll go take a shower first, need to head to the set. I have to prepare for my scenes early," Taylor Swift had no objections.
Soon enough, Charles and Taylor Swift left together, one heading to the set, the other to Capet Pictures.
Charles called in his assistant Phyllis Jones to inquire about the "Poker Princess" Molly Bloom in New York.
"Molly Bloom? I heard there's a lawyer appealing for her. She plans to turn over all her illegal earnings to avoid prosecution," Phyllis Jones quickly responded since it was something the boss had personally followed up on.
Charles nodded, "Alright then, go to New York and meet her. Enjoying the perks of capitalism and then returning to having nothing is hard to cope with. Hehe, she's capable. Let's have her work for us!"
Phyllis Jones nodded, "Don't worry, I'll personally assess her."
Capet was gearing up to release the sequel Iron Man 2 on May 22nd, so the marketing department was in full swing.
Not only in the North American market but there were also comprehensive overseas promotional plans. Marvel Studios, an important part of Capet, saw Iron Man 2 as their first self-developed sequel. Everyone had high expectations!
Meanwhile, Charles kept a close eye on General Electric's sale of NBC Universal.
"Comcast Group is indeed a tough opponent!" Charles remarked as he listened to Barry Diller. They couldn't underestimate this cable TV operator established by the Roberts family.
Brian Roberts, the current chairman and CEO of Comcast Group, was 51. Comcast was founded by Brian's father, Ralph Roberts, in 1963.
"Brian is a top player in the cable TV channel and broadband access industry. With the rapid development of new media, these operators have an increasing demand for content. Comcast itself has QVC shopping channel and other cable TV stations. NBC Universal owns entertainment groups with content and distribution!"
Cable TV operators help TV stations broadcast shows, with Comcast being the largest intermediary.
For content production, there's Universal Pictures, and for audience reach, there's NBC network!
"Heh," Charles chuckled, "Wasn't Brian Roberts laughed at as a clownish nouveau riche when he bid for Disney in '04? NBC Universal can't compare to Disney, but what does General Electric need right now? They need cash the most!
I'm not worried about Universal Pictures, but mainly the TV network; the NBC business is too crucial in the group. Comcast is a channel merchant; I'm concerned NBC shareholders will be affected!"
Barry Diller reassured, "We can rest easy on that. Comcast is the largest cable TV service provider but not number one in telecommunications and internet.
In cable TV services, there's still Time Warner Cable and the US Cable Group.
For wireless and home internet, there's AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile.
Our real concern should be Comcast's control of cable TV service channels. We can tackle this from an antitrust perspective!"
Charles nodded, "But if Comcast dares to acquire, they must have confidence in convincing Congress. After all, there are many cable TV providers in the US. Even with Comcast's dominance, their market share in cable TV channels is under 30%.
Even if they control part of the upstream and downstream markets, it won't reach the level of antitrust. But we can still create trouble by getting the media to say if Comcast acquires NBC, there will definitely be a new round of cable TV price hikes!"
Barry Diller nodded, this argument could indeed be accepted by the public and reminded, "Importantly, our cash flow must be secure."
"Don't worry, I'll handle it!" Charles assured.
...
On the evening of May 13th in Los Angeles, at the Staples Center, it was Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals between the Lakers and the Rockets.
The Lakers and Rockets' Western Conference Semifinals started on May 5th, and Charles Capet returned on May 8th when the Lakers were playing away in Houston.
Now for Game 5, with the Lakers at home, Charles was present to watch the game live, appearing courtside with the gorgeous Jessica Alba.
"The Rockets are riddled with injuries, the Lakers are definitely going to win tonight," Jessica Alba confidently said as she watched the court.
Lakers' starting lineup: Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom.
Rockets' starting lineup: Aaron Brooks, Ron Artest, Shane Battier, Luis Scola, and Elvin Hayes.
"Last game, Rockets' second-year rookie Aaron Brooks scored 34 points. Maybe he'll explode again tonight," Charles said as he watched McGrady and Yao Ming, both in suits, next to the Rockets' bench.
"It's a pity for the Rockets this year. McGrady played only about 30 games in the regular season before getting injured, and Yao Ming got injured in the second round of the playoffs," Charles truly felt it was a pity.
Jessica Alba, a more professional fan than Charles, nodded in agreement, acknowledging his opinion. "The Rockets' strength has indeed been greatly reduced due to injuries. Charles, who do you think will win the championship this year?"
"Who else but the Lakers? They have a 65-win regular season record, second in the league. Pau Gasol has also meshed well with the team. The Celtics' Big Three already won the championship last year, and their mentality has changed!"
Charles strongly believed the Lakers would win the championship, which made Jessica Alba, a Lakers fan, very happy.
Game 5 was indeed a blowout, with the Lakers leading by 11 points at the end of the first quarter;
Up by 25 points at the end of the second quarter; And by the end of the game, the Lakers had thrashed the Rockets by 39 points, leaving no suspense in the entire match!
That night, the two returned to Jessica Alba's seaside villa in Venice, Los Angeles. As someone who had repeatedly been listed in Maxim magazine's "Hot 100," even ranking first in 2007, Jessica Alba's charm was undeniable.
In the bedroom, Jessica Alba lay exhausted in Charles' arms, feeling his strong chest. She smiled and said, "Honey, you were amazing!"
"You weren't bad yourself. Your flexibility is getting better and better," Charles was very pleased with Jessica Alba's cooperation.
"I've been practicing yoga a lot lately. I'm Lululemon's spokesperson," Jessica Alba had made money by investing in Lululemon's stock with Dona Williams and had become more interested in business.
"Yoga, huh? Well, yoga's good!"
"Right now, your West Pacific Union Bank and Dona Williams' AC Capital are continually buying shares of Lululemon and Starbucks," Jessica Alba explained.
"Oh, I see. These two companies still have investment value. Once the economy recovers, their market value will quickly rise," Charles was happy to have made another good investment for his ladies!
Early the next morning, Charles and Jessica Alba sat on the balcony, admiring the Pacific Ocean view. "Aren't you filming with the Valentine's Day crew?" Charles knew Jessica Alba was part of Garry Marshall's movie Valentine's Day.
Jessica Alba nodded, "My part is finished, but I still have a few other movies to shoot!"
Charles knew Jessica Alba had a laid-back approach to movie roles, understanding she knew she was mainly eye candy and willing to showcase her sex appeal in films.
Jessica Alba was leveraging her fame in the entertainment industry to support her career. After all, a star's inherent popularity and aura greatly benefit her business endeavors.
"Now that you're not short of money, if you want to learn to do business, you can. Playing around in movies is no problem, and there's no need to take on roles you don't like," Charles advised. Currently, Jessica Alba was either playing supporting roles or leading in low-budget R-rated movies.
"I know. There's a script I didn't particularly like recently," Jessica Alba cutely stuck out her tongue. "It's a gory thriller action crime film, and the male lead is a character actor. I really don't want to play his girlfriend!"
"Oh, what movie is it?" Charles casually asked.
"A gory, violent film called Machete, directed by Robert Rodriguez," Jessica Alba didn't hide it.
"The male lead is a character actor with a fierce look, playing a criminal," Charles recalled Machete's lead actor with his rugged face, a perfect contrast to Jessica Alba's beauty, like a beauty and the beast scenario.
Director Robert Rodriguez definitely understood his audience with a combination of stunning beauties, beastly leading men, and bloody massacres!
"If you don't want to act, then don't. You're a top-tier Hollywood sex symbol. There's no shortage of such roles for you!" Charles said, pulling her into his lap.
Jessica Alba hugged Charles' neck and whispered in his ear, "I'll listen to you!"
She then kissed Charles, who responded passionately to her fiery kiss while holding her.
Soon enough, Charles carried Jessica back to the bedroom to enjoy this delicious breakfast!
*****
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