Chapter 45: The Great Tang Storm

  Due to the large amount of confidentiality work done by Datang Film Media in the acquisition of Fox Broadcasting Company, it was not until the integration of Datang Film and Television Media Co., Ltd. and Fox Broadcasting Company that American journalists with keen sense of smell discovered the anomaly, but by then it was already late July.

  The integrated Datang, under the Datang banner, is divided into Datang Film, Datang Broadcasting and Datang Records. Although at this time, Datang's foundation is still slightly inferior to that of Warner Bros. and Columbia Pictures, but now Datang, relying on the capital accumulation of Songtang in the early days, has become a film company controlling nearly three thousand cinemas, and this time, the names of Songtang and Datang are destined to write a new history for American movies.

  On the last day of July, a press conference for Fox Broadcasting Company's formal renaming will be held at the broadcasting building. Attendees include Fox Broadcasting Company's new boss Song Tang, CEO Rupert Murdoch and Barry Diller. The press conference is scheduled to start at 9:00 am. At this moment, the entire broadcasting hall was filled with reporters from major newspapers and news media in the United States and around the world, as well as some business tycoons and movie stars from the American business and entertainment industries. This is because the acquisition of Fox Broadcasting Company, the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States after CBS and ABC, by Datang is a shocking event. It's not that there weren't companies that wanted to acquire Fox Broadcasting Company before, but they all retreated due to Rupert's outrageous price. Unexpectedly, Fox Broadcasting Company was finally acquired by Datang. If Song Tang didn't have American citizenship or if the acquisition of Fox Broadcasting Company by Datang had been exposed earlier, it would have been almost impossible for Song Tang to acquire Fox Broadcasting Company in this way.

  Here is the translation:

  "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Song Tang, representing Da Tang Entertainment and Fox Broadcasting Company. We have a surprise to share with you all. Da Tang Entertainment has officially acquired 51% of Fox Broadcasting Company's shares with an investment of $17.5 billion, achieving control over Fox Broadcasting Company. From today on, Fox Broadcasting Company will be officially renamed as Da Tang Broadcasting Company. All business matters have been integrated and this marks a new chapter in the history of Da Tang Entertainment. I also promise that from now on, Da Tang will achieve even more glorious results to reward all our fans and audiences."

  。。。。。。

  "Clap, clap, clap..." As Song Tang finished speaking, the entire press conference erupted in warm applause. Although all the American journalists were not very happy about Fox Broadcasting Company being acquired by Datang, because in their eyes, Song Tang was after all a yellow-skinned person. Although Song Tang was now a fairly well-known director, everyone had complex thoughts about him. However, at this moment, everyone sent their congratulatory applause.

  "Well, that's all for my speech. If you have any questions, feel free to ask now." Song Tang said after pausing for a moment and stopping the enthusiastic applause.

  The reporter below heard Song Tang's voice and was overjoyed. Annie, a New York Times female journalist who could be considered an old friend of Song Tang, raised her arm first. After getting the news from Song Tang, Annie stood up and asked: "Hello, Song, as far as I know, you've been in charge of Datang for less than a year, and before that, you were just a student. I don't know if the plan to acquire Fox Broadcasting Company was your idea or if there's someone behind you helping you. I heard that Ms. Susanna, who negotiated with Fox Broadcasting Company on the same day, is an assistant to your mother. Is that true?"

  When Annie asked the question, Song Tang couldn't help but curse secretly. What was this little girl's background? How did she know such a secretive thing? And how had he offended her that she always ruined his show? However, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Song Tang reluctantly replied: "Dear Annie, we can be considered old friends now. Although I don't know why you have such thoughts, I want to tell everyone that this matter was actually led by me. Perhaps some of you may doubt my abilities, thinking how an eighteen-year-old youth could have such courage. But there's a saying that goes 'ambition is not limited by age', and the stage will be as big as your heart desires. I want to tell everyone that Great Tang will not just remain a small film company."

  "There's more." Song Tang continued, "As for what you said about Susanna, I admit that she is indeed my mother's assistant, and I also admit that I am not as good at negotiation as Susanna. But what does it matter? Can you really expect someone to know everything? After all, a person's energy is limited, and I'm not a god or a deity. Although I do understand seven languages including Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Russian, and have also obtained multiple master's degrees in various fields, knowing is just knowing, and not knowing is indeed not knowing. As for negotiating with people, I really don't know much about it."

  The reporters below, upon hearing Song Tang's words, immediately began to discuss and speculate, unable to comprehend how Song Tang knew so much. However, more people were jealous of Song Tang. Due to their professional ethics, they did not show it on their faces but instead asked even sharper questions in the subsequent Q&A session. Nevertheless, Song Tang did not notice Annie, who had always been at odds with him, revealing a sly smile at this moment.

  "Hello, Rupert. I'm a reporter from the Financial Times of London and I'd like to ask you a question." At this point, a large British journalist stood up and addressed Rupert Murdoch.

  The old man in his sixties sitting next to Song Tang, upon hearing someone mention his name and wanting to ask him a question, made a "go ahead and ask" gesture despite being very unwilling today.

  The Financial Times journalist who met Rupert agreed to ask him questions, and suddenly smiled and said loudly: "It's like this, Mr. Murdoch. You completed the acquisition of The Times in the UK a few years ago. As a British person, I would like to know if The Times is included in this acquisition plan."

  "The Times is not part of Fox Broadcasting and this acquisition deal only pertains to Fox Broadcasting." Rupert replied blandly.

  "Hello Mr. Murdoch, what is the real reason for you to decide to sell Fox Broadcasting Company's shares? Is it because of your failed investment in the Middle East as rumored?"

  "There is some complexity to this issue, and while there is indeed such a reason, it's not the main one."

  "What is the main reason?"

  "Sorry, this question is confidential."

  "Hello, Song. As far as I know, with the current assets of Datang, it is indeed not enough to complete the acquisition of Fox Broadcasting Company. So where did you get such a large sum of money?" A middle-aged reporter asked Song Tang at this time.

  "Hehe, I think this journalist friend didn't carefully understand me before asking this question. I don't need to answer this question, the journalist next to you will come and answer your question." As for the funds for Datang's acquisition of Fox Broadcasting Company, Song Tang couldn't reveal anything because it was obtained on the European Cup field. So Song Tang smiled and pointed at Annie next to the journalist, saying that as for how Annie would answer, he didn't care.

  Annie looked at Song Tang who was boasting above, thinking that Song Tang was a second-generation ancestor. As for Song Tang's talent, it was all blocked by this reporter Annie. At this time, Annie suddenly changed her mind and started chatting with the reporter who had just asked Song Tang questions.

  "Hello, Mr. Song Tang, I'm Yang Lihua, a reporter from Xinhua Daily News. As an ethnic Chinese journalist, have you ever thought of returning to the mainland for development?" Just then, a beautiful oriental female reporter asked Song Tang in fluent English.

  As soon as Song Tang saw her, he felt a strong sense of closeness. It had been a long time since he'd met someone from the mainland. He was delighted to run into a mainland journalist and his heart skipped a beat as he spoke in Mandarin: "Hehe, I'm thrilled to meet a journalist from my own country here. As for Miss Yang's question, I think every patriotic person would have thought of it, but now is not the right time. When the time comes, I'll consider it."

  The Xinhua Daily reporter was shocked to hear Song Tang speaking Mandarin with him, and then excitedly said in Mandarin: "I didn't expect Mr. Song's Mandarin to be so good, but when does Mr. Song think the timing is right?"

  "This I've said is enough, let's talk about it later!!" Song Tang said helplessly with a shrug. In fact, Song Tang had thought about this issue before, but going to China for development now would undoubtedly put a shackle on him, which was not what he wanted to see.