Fable Weaver
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DOS Ch-245
🕑 Added 2025-06-22 18:51:03 +0000 UTCReed Hastings looked over at the young billionaire in front of him. The guy appeared quite normal, aside from the fact that most people on the planet knew who he was. Troy Armitage was considered the biggest superstar of the current generation, and the richest as well. So for him to be interested in their company was a little unprecedented.
“What’s the matter, Reed?” Troy broke his silence. “I think we can all agree that the valuation of $2.5 billion that I’m offering is quite generous for Netflix, much more than the $2 billion it is currently trading at. The company will cease to be a public company, obviously, and I’ll own 90 percent of its equity; the balance 10 percent can be owned by you or other shareholders in whatever percentage you deem fit.”
Reed shook his head. “It’s not the value that is of concern to me. What I worry about is what your plans are going forward with Netflix. I have created this company with great efforts, and nurtured it like my own child. I can’t just let it go to the first person who gives us a fair value.”
The silent message was clear: convince me to sell it to you.
Troy steepled his fingers despite the sling in his right arm.
“Honestly, I don’t see why you need Netflix when you already own a streaming giant like YouTube. You could easily scale up your operations there.”
“That’s the thing,” Troy leaned forward with a glint in his eyes. “It is a streaming company, not a movie company. At the end of the day, I want to be a part of Netflix because I love movies, which I can sense you do as well.”
Troy looked at Reed meaningfully, and Reed couldn’t deny the fact.
“I have used your services a lot,” Troy continued. “The recent push you have been making in the streaming space caught my eye. I have great plans in mind for Netflix. Plans that will help me scale YouTube and Netflix side by side.”
“Can you tell me about them?” Reed asked curiously.
Troy thought about it before nodding. “Remember that any and all conversations in this room are bound by the NDA that we have both signed. So you cannot reveal what I’m about to say to anybody or use it for your personal gain without being sued for a billion dollars.”
Reed nodded in agreement and motioned for him to continue.
“Before coming here, I had a meeting with YouTube’s management, and I have accepted a proposal of theirs to build a cloud infrastructure. As far as I know, Netflix is in talks with Microsoft and Amazon for the use of their cloud infrastructure. If I were to acquire you, it would be very cost-effective for you to host your files with us.”
That was an excellent point that Reed had to agree on. But he didn’t let it show on his face.
“While that is well and good, it won’t matter much to the company,” he said casually. “It’s not like you’ll give us your cloud storage for free. It might be cost-effective for you to hold common servers, but not for us.”
Unless he merged Netflix and YouTube, which would be catastrophic for them. If that were the case, Reed would walk away from this meeting right now.
Troy’s grin widened. “That’s not how it works, and you know that. I am acquiring Netflix to achieve synergies. YouTube was planning to venture into movie rentals, but if we acquire Netflix, we won’t do that, and will leave that department completely to you. We can even do a tie-up with Netflix where, suppose you watched a movie trailer on YouTube, then you get a dedicated button to watch that movie on Netflix. It would directly bring you customers for years to come.”
That was a genius strategy that would undoubtedly increase their user base.
Before he could say anything, Troy continued, “But that all doesn’t matter much. You are forgetting one important detail: the content.”
Reed frowned. “What about the content?”
Troy smiled as if he had just won an argument.
“Suppose, in the coming years, Netflix streaming is so successful that it generates more views than DVD and VCR combined. What do you think will happen then?”
Reed thought about it but couldn’t come up with anything at all. “Isn’t that good for us?”
Troy chuckled before shaking his head. “You’d think so. But the day your streaming revenues exceed other companies’ home video collection, that will be the day all the big studios come out as your competitors and start their own streaming services. And they have something which you’ll never have as long as you’re alone: their decades-old movie and TV show libraries with millions of dedicated fans. Where would that leave you?”
Reed opened his mouth to counter that, but no argument came to him. What Troy was describing seemed possible, but it was so far in the future that Netflix hadn’t made any strategic plan to counter it.
“That’s where I come in,” Troy continued unperturbed. “I personally have a lot of experience with content creation. Even my parents are acclaimed producers, both for TV and film. I just have to say the word, and they’ll come over to Netflix in a heartbeat. Together, we can start creating content exclusively for Netflix. All the movies that I have produced to date, the TV show I made with BBC and HBO, even [Harry Potter], could come to Netflix given how my father has a controlling share over it.”
That was big news. The streaming rights to [Harry Potter] alone could generate more than a billion dollars in revenue for Netflix in just one year.
“If that didn’t convince you, then I have some other plans as well for the future.”
When Troy explained his plans in detail, Reed couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How could a teenager be this ambitious and shrewd with such a great business sense? It was a genius plan, but it was so unbelievable that anyone would think twice before believing him. Yet the more Reed listened, the more he believed Troy. By the end of their conversation, he was sure that this man would undoubtedly do what he was claiming.
As he thought about the dilemma, he knew one thing: getting in bed with Troy wouldn’t be bad for Netflix as a company. The grand plans he had would ensure that Netflix as a brand remained strong for the next decade or two, probably even further. But there was one issue.
What if Troy assigned himself, or one of his parents, as the CEO of Netflix? That was unacceptable to Reed. He wanted to remain a part of Netflix for years to come.
“Who will be the new CEO if this sale were to go through?” he asked finally, once Troy was done explaining his future plans.
Troy frowned minutely. “Why? Do you want to resign?”
“No,” Reed shook his head. “I want reassurance that you won’t appoint someone else as the CEO after you buy the company.”
Troy thought about it for a few moments before slowly nodding his head. “How does a contract for a decade sound? If I fire you before then, the company will pay you fifty million dollars.”
“That’s more than generous enough,” Reed agreed.
Troy grinned and offered his left hand to Reed over the table, which Reed shook with his own left hand.
“Glad to do business with you, Mr. Hastings. Now let’s just hope the shareholders also see sense and agree to sell.”
“They will,” Reed assured him.
(Break)
I sat beside Ike Perlmutter, the current CEO of Marvel Entertainment, who had been the biggest roadblock when it came to selling off the company. I didn’t know how Andrew and Bobby pulled it off, but somehow, they were able to convince him to sell all of his 37 percent shares to me at a valuation of three billion dollars. That, when added to the 25 percent shares that had been bought in my name for a similar valuation, meant that I now owned 62 percent of Marvel Entertainment, giving me a controlling interest in the company already.
Seeing the angry looks on people’s faces in the boardroom, I knew no one was happy with this turn of events.
“You didn’t even discuss this with us, Ike?” David Maisel, the chairman of Marvel’s film division, hissed at the CEO. “This is a betrayal of the highest order. I thought we were in this together when we decided to launch [Iron Man].”
Ike looked guilty for all of one second before shaking his head. “It was just business, David, nothing personal. This is the best offer we’ve received from anyone ever, especially knowing how comic sales are going down year after year. Movies are the future, but we don’t even own the adaptation rights to all of our characters, and given how much debt we’re in, thanks to you, I decided to hedge my share.”
Maisel growled. “Debt which we would have paid off in a few years had you shown some trust in me. [Iron Man] is a great movie and a definite blockbuster.”
“With a has-been actor who hasn’t delivered a single hit in this century,” Ike shot back. “If only we had the adaptation rights to [Spider-Man] or [X-Men], I wouldn’t have sold. Troy has shared his future vision with me regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe you are planning, and I’m inclined to believe that a legit producer with genuinely good movies under his belt would be more successful at achieving that than you.”
Unlike Reed Hastings, Ike Perlmutter didn’t insist on remaining the CEO. So as soon as I completed the takeover of the company fully, he would step down from his position, leaving me to find a suitable replacement for him.
“Listen, David,” I cut in before the discussion could escalate any further. “I love Marvel, and it is my dream to get back all of Marvel’s IPs under one roof. It may not be possible right now, or even in a few months, but one day, I will. I always do what I say I will do. You can check my track record.”
I didn’t believe the words I was saying. Marvel was a very lucrative IP, something no sane studio head would simply hand over, at least not until they were paid an insane amount of money. Something I couldn’t do right now, even if I wanted to. Universal Studios held the adaptation rights to Hulk, while Sony Columbia had the same for Spider-Man, and Fox for X-Men and Fantastic Four. To top it all off, Paramount held the distribution rights to the first few movies in the MCU. All in all, more studios laid claim to the IP that was Marvel than I had legit girlfriends in this lifetime.
David didn’t look convinced by my words, but the man sitting beside him, one Kevin Feige, was another story.
“How will you get the rights to Spider-Man back?” he asked curiously. “That is Marvel’s most successful IP to date. You can’t even buy out Sony Columbia. They’ll never sell.”
I smiled confidently. “I can’t tell you everything on the same day, can I? I have a motto: where there is a will, there is a way. I have wanted to own Marvel for a long time, and guess what? I do now. One day, this will also happen. I would really appreciate it if you guys came aboard and supported me wholeheartedly.”
Then I motioned at Bobby, who was also present in the room. He took out a few copies of a folder and distributed them to everyone present.
“This is my tender buyout offer,” I said. “Since everyone in the room owns shares in the company as well, I am showing it to you all too. You’ll find that the price I’m offering is very lucrative. The same has been submitted to the SEC. You all have twenty days to accept this offer.”
“What if we don’t?” David Maisel asked defiantly. “What if I’d rather hold onto my shares in Marvel than sell them to you?”
I sighed out loud before shrugging. “In that case, I’d be forced to halt any and all movie production from Marvel going forward. Even movies like [Iron Man], which have already been shot, can be shelved for a few years, or maybe forever.”
Maisel’s eyes widened comically. “But… but that will kill Marvel. We won’t be able to operate like that.”
“Exactly,” I beamed. “I don’t want to do this, but I can wait out a few years until the loan and the interest dry out the company. Then you’ll be forced to sell it to me even cheaper. A win-win situation for me.”
This was a hostile takeover strategy that Bobby and Andrew had devised for the Marvel acquisition. Unlike Netflix, where the management was more agreeable, here I had to use other tactics to get a controlling share.
“I don’t want to do that any more than you,” I clarified. “But I will if my hand is forced. Think of all the employees working here. I’ll even guarantee that there will be no mass firings for the next three years if I get control over the company soon.”
Even Perlmutter looked uneasy at my ultimatum, but nothing could be done here. I knew it made me look like an asshole to this group of people, but this was a purely business decision, and I had to show them that I wasn’t just a kid and could be a shrewd capitalist businessman if they didn’t fall in line.
(Break)
“We’re here at the red carpet of the 50th Annual Grammy Awards,” a female anchor said to the camera before turning to her co-host. “I can’t believe it’s already been fifty years since they started handing out these, Randy.”
“Right you are, Rose,” Randy replied cheerfully. “And what a great fifty years of legacy it has been. Let’s see who our first guest of the night is.”
The duo turned around in unison, only to be amazed by what they saw. A full team of bodyguards came forward and formed an airtight barrier between the carpet and the crowd of fans and photographers, just as a limousine pulled up in front of the carpet.
As soon as the door opened, out walked the most nominated artist of the night.
“And we open the night with a bang, with the man who needs no introduction—Troy Armitage.”
The crowd went wild the moment he stepped foot on the carpet. Loud screeches and yells filled the area at the sight of Troy, who was dressed in a light blue designer suit with matching shoes. He had forgone a tie, and the top few buttons of his white shirt were undone, giving him an elegant and chic look. Troy turned back and offered a hand to the woman inside, who stepped out in a beautiful white gown accentuated with light blue frills—the same shade as Troy’s suit—making the duo look stunning together.
As soon as Scarlett Johansson became visible to the crowd, the screams reached unprecedented levels.
Troy simply smiled and waved at the fans with Scarlett’s hand lightly clasped in his. Security allowed a few fans to approach so Troy could sign autographs and share a few hugs.
Their microphones were off at the time, and the camera remained focused solely on Troy, so Randy whispered to Rose, “Since when did the A-listers start arriving first?”
“Since the said A-lister became a multi-billionaire and a security hazard. Have you been following the news at all? I wouldn’t be surprised if this increased security is solely for Troy. Ever since he spoke out against Epstein, people are fearing for his safety.”
It didn’t take long for Troy to approach the duo of anchors, who quickly straightened up.
“Oh my God,” Rose acted exaggeratedly, pretending to swoon. “What is happening to me? I think I’ll faint seeing this hot guy before me.”
Troy laughed outright before taking her hand in his. “Please don’t. This hot guy has been taken by an even hotter woman.”
The way Scarlett blushed beside him was both admirable and slightly envy-inducing for Rose.
“You’re the biggest nominee of the night with ten nominations,” Randy said, taking over the conversation. “Any plans to take over the awards, just like last year?”
Troy chuckled and shook his head. “I just make music that I like. Awards are just an acknowledgment that I must be doing something right.”
Before Rose could ask another question, a security guard leaned in and whispered something urgent to Troy. The teenager gave a sharp nod before walking into the Staples Center.
“Some security issue, probably,” Randy noted idly as they waited for their next guest of the night.
Comments
Grey Doomer
Hope the marvel stuff only focuses on the earners and not the tv goy slop like whatever trash was on ABC and she hulk…because Marvel has been beaten to death so hard it’d be a miracle to never see it again
J
Thanks for the chapter 🙏🏼
David Karlsson
One of the better chapters. Thanks for posting. Wonder what security noticed? He better not eat at these things for a while. Also, Mueller mentioned earlier that Paramount had 3 high ups arrested and now they control distribution of ironman right
June Soriano
Tftc, hopefully Troy will make great content with Netfix and Marvel
JL
Tftc!
JL
Lol damn Ike is so wrong about RDJ with hindsight
Qweku_v
TFTC
Hersh Jobanputra
TFTC!
Golasso
Dam. Troy pulling out the big guns. Didn't expect that from him but im all for it!! Incredible chapter
Radhin~
Tftc <3
