Bab 485: Chapter 485: MTV
Sunset at Santa Monica Beach, near the Palisades Park, there was an open-air cafe with the sea breeze from the Pacific Ocean gently blowing and the evening glow shining.
"Charles, why are you throwing a tantrum like a kid? Capet's youthful image aligns perfectly with what MTV wants. Viacom doesn't pose any threat to you now."
"MTV aims for entertainment, attracting young people. Even Twitter, which you acquired, initially drew in young users!"
Judy McGrath, the chairwoman of MTV Music Television Network, specifically arranged a meeting with Charles to stop the unnecessary conflict.
At the MTV Film Festival in June, the movie Twilight promoted on MTV last year caused quite a sensation.
The release of Twilight proved the success of this adaptation. The MTV Movie Awards were based on online voting, and Twilight was leading by far. Especially the film's lead actress, Kristen Stewart, was shining bright.
In addition, at the MTV Music Video Awards in August, Capet Records's stars Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry hadn't confirmed their attendance.
Michael Jackson, who broke off with MTV, definitely wouldn't attend. With Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, and a rising country music queen Taylor Swift, if Capet Records really fell out with MTV, it would be a problem.
The three major music awards in America - Grammys, American Music Awards, and Billboard Music Awards - don't include the MTV Music Video Awards.
Charles looked calm as he stared at Judy McGrath and said, "It was MTV that first reduced the playback of Capet Records's music. Do you expect us to beg you?"
Judy McGrath quickly reassured him, "That was under the direction of Mr. Sumner Redstone at that time. I promptly ordered the restoration afterward. Not to mention Michael Jackson and Britney Spears. Even Lady Gaga and Katy Perry are immensely popular with our audience. How could we not want to earn advertising revenue from that?"
Judy McGrath looked at Charles again and continued, "I understand you and Mr. Redstone have some disagreements, but he is now 86 years old and needs a wheelchair to get around. Regardless if it's CBS or Viacom, he doesn't have the energy to focus. You know the conflict between him and his daughter Shari Redstone.
Capet Entertainment can't be shaken by a few words from Mr. Redstone. The viewership of Capet TV series makes CBS green with envy, and Capet Pictures' box office sales are top of Hollywood!
MTV has developed over these years and has many young global audiences. Cooperation between Capet and MTV is a win-win."
Charles smiled lightly, "Sumner Redstone could force out Tom Freston back then. Now he can't touch you?"
Charles no longer wanted to address him as Mr. Redstone.
Judy McGrath, in her fifties, squinted slightly and responded, "Not all directors at MTV are Viacom people now. If it were me, I wouldn't want this mess either! Finding a successor for MTV won't be easy."
Back when Tom Freston was promoted from MTV Chairman to Viacom Chairman, he was replaced in less than ten months by a Sumner Redstone-manipulated board, and Philip Dauman took over - a huge humiliation!
MTV Cable Network was Tom Freston's brainchild. Naturally, the resentment towards the current parent company Viacom was significant.
"Alright, it's all in the past. I prefer to beat my competitors head-on," Charles stood up and extended his hand, which Judy McGrath also did.
"Since we're in Hollywood, I'll show Sumner Redstone what `content is king` truly means!"
Charles reconciled with MTV. When leaving the cafe, he turned and said, "Madam, consider that MTV now owes Capet a favor."
Judy McGrath nodded with a smile, "Don't worry, Charles. MTV might not have much impact on movies, but in music, we still hold some influence!"
After leaving Palisades Park, Charles drove his Mercedes SL600 straight to Malibu along Highway 1.
As for the relationship with MTV, it was always a minor issue for Charles. What concerned him was whether Sumner Redstone's network and political resources accumulated over the years could cause trouble for his acquisition of NBC Universal.
However, as Judy McGrath mentioned, Viacom was a mess internally, with infighting at the top and business struggles.
Sumner Redstone was old and needed a wheelchair to get around. How much energy could he still have?
Charles arrived at Malibu Lagoon State Beach and picked up Taylor Swift, who had just come out of the Malibu State Shopping Center.
"Charles, you're finally back in Los Angeles?" Taylor Swift seemed very excited after getting in the car.
"I heard you were filming in L.A., so I called you. It's your first time acting," Charles had heard it earlier at The Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel from Anne Hathaway.
"Hmm," Taylor Swift leaned in and kissed Charles for a moment. "I'm just making a cameo, not much screen time."
"Okay, let's head to the Little Dume Beach house," Charles started the car while tenderly touching her thigh. "How did your first filming experience go?"
"It felt very novel. I also met Julia Roberts and Anne Hathaway, and they were really nice. But, Valentine's Day is a romantic film about several couples, and I got paired with the young actor Taylor Lautner."
Taylor Swift spoke with great excitement.
"Taylor Lautner? Isn't he the actor who played the werewolf in Twilight?" Charles initially didn't realize but quickly remembered one of the main lead actors in the Twilight love triangle.
"Yes, him! Twilight was a huge hit after it released last year. Aside from the leads Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner became the most famous."
Charles's heart skipped a beat. He vaguely recalled that Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner dated in the future. Could it be that they met on the set of Valentine's Day?
Anyway, Taylor Swift's love life was known to be quite rich. Since he was now with Taylor Swift, Taylor Lautner should be off her ex-boyfriend list!
*****
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