Chapter 175 The Advantages of LiveWave
Hilda couldn't resist a jab. "Well, well," he smirked. "At least he recognizes his own shortcomings. A rare moment of self-awareness from the great Oliver Parker."
Oliver shot Hilda a venomous glare. "You know, Hilda," he spat, "there's a reason why you're about to lose everything. It's called keeping your mouth shut when your betters are talking."
Hilda bristled, his fists clenching beneath the table, but before he could retort, Benjamin intervened.
"Hilda," he said, his tone calm but firm, "while I understand your frustration, Oliver is correct. Let him finish his presentation. You'll have your turn, and I expect the same courtesy from him."
Hilda bit back a sharp retort, his gaze fixed on the tabletop, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
Benjamin turned back to Oliver. "You were making a compelling argument, Oliver," he said, his tone encouraging. "You've acknowledged that LiveWave, at present, lags behind Shark Live in terms of market share and overall reach. However, you're confident that Penguin Company would benefit from acquiring LiveWave. Convince me."
"With pleasure," Oliver replied, his earlier flippancy replaced by a focused intensity. "You're a businessman, Benjamin, so let's talk business. First and foremost, in the industry hierarchy, LiveWave ranks third, LiveSync second, and Shark Live stands at the top. At first glance, it would seem logical for Penguin Company to acquire Shark Live. Even if acquiring Shark Live is not feasible, the next best option would be to acquire LiveSync. Considering this, it is highly unlikely for LiveWave to be in Penguin Company's considerations. However, our calculations shouldn't be superficial; we must delve deeper into intrinsic values. It's not just about tangible assets but also the intangible ones!
"Although Shark Live is currently thriving, the livestreaming industry remains capital-intensive. To date, at least within Golden Valley, no livestreaming platform has achieved meaningful profitability. The nature of livestreaming prohibits us from interrupting broadcasts with ads as TV stations do, or placing ads at the beginning or end of videos, which would compromise user experience.
"Dependence solely on gifts, memberships, and giveaways can only marginally boost profits; it's not a substantial revenue generator. Hence, all livestreaming platforms are struggling with delayed payments to broadcasters, ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions. Is this intentional? Not necessarily. It's primarily due to the challenging cash flow in the livestreaming industry."
"Despite Shark's impressive facade, its operational health is precarious, with a fragile financial chain. This urgency to secure investment from Penguin Company underscores Shark Live's financial vulnerabilities.
"LiveWave, on the other hand, while smaller, is financially sound. We have a healthy cash flow, thanks in part to my own resources. An acquisition wouldn't require a massive capital injection from Penguin Company. You could leverage our existing infrastructure and talent pool to gain a foothold in the market without breaking the bank."
Hilda scoffed, but Oliver ignored him, his focus solely on Benjamin. He had clearly prepared for this meeting, and his arguments were well-reasoned and delivered with conviction. Gone was the arrogant playboy; in his place was a shrewd businessman, determined to prove his worth.
Hilda, watching Oliver's transformation, felt a flicker of unease. He had underestimated his rival, dismissing Oliver as a spoiled dilettante. But Oliver, beneath the surface of privilege and bravado, possessed a sharp mind and a ruthless ambition.
Skyview, observing the exchange, felt a surge of satisfaction. Oliver was exceeding his expectations. He had anticipated a clash of egos, a battle of insults and posturing. Instead, Oliver was dismantling Hilda's position with surgical precision, using logic and business acumen as his weapons.
"A valid point, Oliver," Benjamin conceded. "However, Penguin Company is not in the business of simply acquiring undervalued assets. We invest in growth, in innovation, in the future. A healthier balance sheet is commendable, but it's not enough to secure our investment."
"Of course not," Oliver agreed smoothly. "Which brings me to LiveWave's second key advantage: me."
Benjamin raised an eyebrow. "You, Oliver? As in, your celebrity persona?"
"Precisely," Oliver said, his confidence unwavering. "My personal brand is synonymous with success, with trendsetting, with connecting with a younger, digitally savvy audience. That translates into instant brand recognition for LiveWave, a built-in audience, and a level of buzz that money simply can't buy. I am, for lack of a better term, a force multiplier."
He wasn't entirely wrong. Oliver's carefully cultivated persona, his online presence, and his association with wealth and exclusivity all held a certain allure, particularly for a younger demographic. His involvement with LiveWave, while initially met with skepticism, had undoubtedly contributed to its rapid rise in the rankings.
"An interesting argument," Benjamin said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Though I'm not sure your celebrity status alone outweighs Shark Live's roster of established streaming talent. Lucas, Seraphina, Angel – these are household names, Oliver. They command massive audiences, generate significant revenue. You, on the other hand, are not a streamer. And your own stable of talent, while promising, lacks their star power."
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