The talks between Zane and Paramount didn't work out!
In the end, Zane just couldn't say yes to their offer to buy a piece of his company.
It wasn't that he hated money. He loved money! But he hated headaches even more. If Paramount owned a part of his company, they would argue about everything. There would be fights and power struggles.
Zane didn't want that. "I came to this new life to enjoy it," he thought, "not to get stuck in boring corporate fights!"
But even though they didn't become partners, they could still make a deal.
Three Days Later.
Victor, Zane's CEO, signed a big contract with Paramount for the movie Juno.
Here's what the contract said:
Paramount paid $30 million to buy all the rights to show Juno in other countries. This included selling DVDs, toys, clothes, and keychains.
Paramount paid $2 million for the right to make a sequel.
Total price: $32 million!
Originally, Zane didn't want to sell all the rights. He just wanted to let them show the movie in theaters. But he knew that Hollywood studios were tricky. Even if they promised to share the profits, they could use "creative math" to steal most of the money.
So, selling it for a flat fee was the safest way.
And there was a huge bonus!
Because Paramount now owned the overseas rights, they needed the movie to do well in America first. A hit in America makes people in other countries want to see it.
So, within five hours of signing the contract, Paramount used its power to help Zane.
Suddenly, the movie theaters changed their minds! They added more screens for Juno.
"Tsk, tsk," Zane sighed, looking at the report. "A major studio is powerful. It's only been a few hours, and we're already back up to 2,400 screens."
It was amazing, but it also made Zane feel a little weak.
"Damn it!" he thought. "If I don't have my own distribution network, or my own TV station to advertise on... I'll always be stuck relying on these big guys."
Zane's mind started racing. The "Big Six" studios were kings because they owned everything—movie theaters, TV stations, newspapers.
"I need my own distribution channels!" Zane decided. "And I need my own TV stations and newspapers!" "If I have those... let's see who dares to mess with me then!"
...
9 p.m. at Zane's Villa.
Two guests arrived. It was his old friends: Condy and David (the lawyer).
"Gentlemen," Zane said with a serious face, "I apologize for inviting you so late. I'll get straight to the point."
Pfft!
Condy spit out his water.
"Condy! That's gross!" Zane said, making a face.
Condy wiped his mouth, laughing. "Man, you're calling me gross? I think it's you! Since when do you talk like such a 'gentleman'? You're not the crude kid I remember!"
"Fine," Zane sighed. "Pretend I never said that."
Since when was I crude? he wondered. Can't a guy grow up?
David, the lawyer, just smiled.
Zane explained his plan. He wanted to buy a TV station and start his own media network.
"Buy a TV station?" Condy burst out laughing. "Zane, are you sick? Do you have any idea how much that costs? Do you even have the money?!"
Zane didn't answer. He just looked at David.
David cleared his throat. "Mr. Condy, let me re-introduce you to Mr. Zane Blackwood."
David started listing Zane's assets:
"Owner of the SpongeBob's Pineapple store chain."
"Head of Wald Pictures, a rising Hollywood studio."
"Owner of a $9 million building in Silicon Valley."
"Sole owner of California Standard Bank."
"Owner of the 'Got Talent' show rights."
"Largest individual shareholder of ICQ."
Condy's jaw dropped.
"Holy cow!" Condy gasped. "Old friend... it's only been a few months! How did you get so rich?!"
"He also owns 2% of Yahoo," David added.
"Oh my God!" Condy said. "Your assets are over $100 million, aren't they?!"
Anyone would be shocked. Zane had gone from a regular guy to a multi-millionaire in just over a year.
"Condy, you're mistaken," Zane said with a proud, charming smile. "My assets aren't over $100 million. They're over $200 million."
"So," Zane grinned, "do you still think I don't have the money to buy a TV station?"
Condy just shook his head. "Damn capitalist!" he muttered under his breath.
...
Condy was talented, and Zane knew it.
In less than a week, Condy found the perfect target.
The UPN Television Network!
It was funny how fate worked. The owner of UPN was Viacom... the same company that owned Paramount!
(UPN might not be famous in the future, but it would later merge with the WB network to become The CW, which made shows like The Flash and The Vampire Diaries.)
"Zane," Condy explained, "UPN is perfect for you. It started in 1992. It has good staff, but its ratings are low right now. Because of that, it's cheap. We can buy it for about $30 million to $32 million."
Over $30 million?!
Zane rolled his eyes. He got the joke.
He had just received $32 million from Paramount for the Juno rights. Now, he was going to give that money right back to Paramount's parent company to buy their TV station!
It was like the money just did a big circle.
But Zane wasn't upset. The money was gone, but he was getting a whole TV network!
"This is perfect," Zane thought happily. "Now SpongeBob SquarePants will have its own channel! And I don't have to sell the American rights for The Talent Show—I can produce it myself on my own network!"
His mind buzzed with ideas.
"Wait..." he thought. "There's also wrestling... maybe we could get into that, too!"
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