French Media Giant

On March 26, the 72nd Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium, but Aaron was playing golf at the Los Angeles Country Club with Sophie Marceau and Vivendi's head of operations in France!

Since its transformation, Vivendi had successively acquired the media and publishing company Havas, the game company Sierra Entertainment, and more over the past two years.

Now, Vivendi had set its sights on Hollywood's seven major film studios. Naturally, its primary target was the debt-ridden Seagram Company.

In the sauna at the Los Angeles Country Club, Aaron and Sophie Marceau were enjoying the heat together. After wiping away his sweat, Aaron could not help but laugh. "Vivendi's ambitions really aren't small, are they?"

The Seagram Company had two major assets under its umbrella: MGM Film Group and PolyGram Music Group.

Seagram had already fallen into continuing losses after acquiring MGM. Then, after merging with PolyGram early last year, the shrinking record market had only made matters worse.

Wrapped in a towel, Sophie Marceau looked at Aaron. "What, do you think Vivendi can't acquire the Seagram Company?"

Aaron shook his head. "Of course it can. Right now, MGM is the only one in Hollywood that's easy to acquire."

"Vivendi can't swallow the others, and they wouldn't sell anyway."

Viacom and Sony might have struggling film and television businesses as well, but they had their parent companies backing them. They were nothing like Seagram. Would they really sell Paramount or Columbia Pictures?

"Vivendi already owns television stations, film companies, publishing operations, game businesses, and advertising companies in Europe."

"Now it has turned its attention to the United States. It wants to become France's Bertelsmann!"

If Aaron remembered correctly, Vivendi had acquired Blizzard Entertainment in his previous life. After shutting down Sierra Entertainment's game development division and