Recaps

Aaron expanded Dawn’s film, cinema, and sports ventures while pursuing political relationships and investments across the United States and Asia. The arc ended as Clinton admitted his relationship with Monica Lewinsky and Aaron faced renewed financial turmoil in Hong Kong, Russia, and South Korea.

• Aaron backed Jerry Brown’s Oakland mayoral campaign, invested in the Los Angeles Starlight, and secured Wells Fargo’s naming rights for FNB Stadium.
• Aaron expanded Dawn’s cinema plans in Hong Kong and South Korea, including a partnership with CJ Entertainment to develop CGV, while investing in South Korean banks and companies.
• Aaron supported Jeb Bush’s Florida campaign and George W. Bush’s Texas campaign, and the Los Angeles Starlight secured formal approval for its stadium before joining the NFL in 2000.
• Aaron oversaw new film projects including Entrapment, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Girl, Interrupted, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas as Dawn also prepared sequels and adaptations.
• After reports of massacres in Indonesia, Aaron condemned the violence, backed protests, and covertly encouraged looting that left three people dead.
• France won the World Cup, and Aaron advised Rupert Murdoch that political and public opposition made Sky TV’s Manchester United bid unlikely to succeed.
• Clinton admitted to an inappropriate relationship with Monica Lewinsky, while Aaron learned that hedge funds were attacking Hong Kong and that Russia and Long-Term Capital Management faced financial crises.

Aaron expanded Dawn’s holdings in Shanghai, film, television, and real estate while preparing to acquire CBS Television Group. The arc ended with Dawn and Viacom positioning themselves to bid for CBS as Aaron continued overseeing film releases and production.

• Aaron returned to Hong Kong during the financial attack on the Hong Kong dollar, then traveled to Shanghai and arranged to acquire the Shanghai World Financial Center project for $216 million.
• Aaron advanced Haihua Real Estate’s Shanghai projects, sold nearly nine million Dawn shares after its stock split, and expanded Dawn’s film plans by approving projects including The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Gladiator.
• Aaron exchanged Dawn’s 50% stake in USA Network for Starz! and 20% of BET, then rejected Stephen Case’s proposal to merge America Online with Dawn.
• Aaron pursued CBS Television Group after failing to acquire NBC, meeting Westinghouse chairman Michael H. Jordan and securing Richard Mellon Scaife’s support for Dawn’s bid.
• Sumner Redstone directed Viacom to investigate CBS’s assets and prepare to compete with Dawn, while Aaron ordered Dawn to evaluate CBS and set an April 30 deadline for bids.
• Aaron bought Broken O Ranch in Montana and renamed it Anderson Rural, while discussing land investments and Universal Studios Japan’s future attractions.
• Aaron approved Dawn’s investment in Ang Lee’s planned Chinese-language wuxia film, and Spider-Man began filming as Aaron tracked its progress alongside other Dawn productions.
• Aaron rejected Barry Diller’s advice to wait before pursuing CBS, while film executives discussed MGM’s expansion and the box-office performances of Chicago, City of Angels, and The Prince of Egypt.

Aaron expanded Dawn’s projects and international plans while negotiating to acquire CBS from Westinghouse Electric. The deal was announced in exchange for shares in America Online and Dawn, positioning the companies to form a media group valued at over $70 billion.

• Aaron pursued Universal Studios Hong Kong while visiting Japan and Hong Kong, where Media Asia Films acquired Golden Harvest’s film library with his support.
• Aaron rejected Dogma, encouraged Disney rivals in Hong Kong, and later discussed the project as Michael Eisner moved to sever ties with the Weinstein brothers.
• Aaron backed projects including Erin Brockovich, What Lies Beneath, and Charlie’s Angels, while a fatal accident on the Spider-Man set was settled without delaying filming.
• Aaron sought political support for Dawn’s bid to acquire CBS as Westinghouse Electric and Viacom competed over the network.
• Chicago won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, while Saving Private Ryan won Best Director and Catherine Zeta-Jones won Best Supporting Actress.
• Aaron encouraged Liv Tyler to join Charlie’s Angels and continued discussing Dawn’s international film and business plans.
• Aaron and Michael H. Jordan announced that Dawn would acquire Westinghouse Electric’s CBS Radio and Television Network Group in exchange for 10% of America Online’s shares and 10% of Dawn’s shares.

Aaron expanded Dawn’s film, television, and international businesses while navigating political pressure around CBS and pursuing investments in Asia. The arc left him working with Chinese industry leaders on commercial filmmaking as Media Asia committed to a Mainland-Hong Kong action co-production.

• Aaron prepared for Dawn’s CBS acquisition and told Michael H. Jordan he would protect CBS News while integrating the companies gradually.
• After the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, Aaron agreed to visit Washington as anti-war protests grew.
• Aaron guided Dawn’s film and television slate, including Charlie’s Angels, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Jurassic Park 3.
• Aaron told Eric Ober to pursue bolder CBS programming but leave news coverage independent, then resolved to take full control of CBS after political forces sought to use the network.
• Aaron attended Universal Studios Japan’s opening and urged its managers to add Japanese cultural attractions as Disney finalized plans for Hong Kong Disneyland.
• Aaron and Joey Wong pursued expansion in China, including Beijing real estate, Media Asia offices and talent, and a commercial Mainland-Hong Kong film project.
• Aaron advised Han Sanping that Chinese filmmaking needed investment returns, trained production professionals, and commercial genres, while Joey Wong offered 30 million yuan for a co-produced action film.