After more than a month of recovery, the impact of the "9/11 incident" on the entertainment industry had finally faded.
In the new week, Dunn received the latest report faxed over from Comcast.
Last week, the TV network gained over 2.1 million new subscribers, pushing the total past 14 million!
Across North America's premium cable market, even the combined subscriber base of HBO and Showtime couldn't match that!
Last night, Band of Brothers aired its fifth episode, sparking another ratings surge.
Titled "Crossroads" and directed by Tom Hanks himself, it was a standout. The main reason? It brought a ton of fresh techniques to the table.
Sure, Hanks borrowed the structure from Saving Private Ryan, but in a series format, it still felt inventive.
The cinematography was top-notch too. The episode kicked off with shaky, wide shots paired with amplified off-screen breathing, building intense suspense and setting the tone for a massacre-like victory tinged with reflection.
"Crossroads" was a clever title—literally the battle's location, but also a nod to Captain Winters' inner conflict. The combat scenes weren't heavy, but the series' first group bayonet charge delivered raw brutality. The near-silent charge sequence, with almost no narration, was especially brilliant.
Tom Hanks might not be a full-time director, but after working with legends and co-creating Saving Private Ryan, his skills behind the camera outshone most TV directors.
His segue into the next episode was a highlight too.
The company's dwindling supplies and the defeated Allied soldiers' grim mental state hit hard. Winter loomed, and the distant glow of artillery fire signaled the Battle of the Bulge was coming!
With a titan like Hanks steering the ship, Band of Brothers reclaimed its premiere-level heat. Average viewership hit 14.87 million, with a peak of over 18 million U.S. households tuned in at once!
The buzz was back!
In a sluggish off-season for movies, this miniseries became the entertainment media's biggest focus.
DreamWorks had good news too—the overseas rights for Band of Brothers were selling like crazy!
Every country paid $2 million per episode, non-negotiable!
The U.K. and France shelled out over $30 million each.
So far, international sales topped $180 million!
As a major shareholder, Dunn Pictures was in line for a hefty cut.
Once the first run wrapped and DVDs hit the shelves, the real goldmine would open up!
"How much did Band of Brothers make in its original run? $700 million? $800 million?" Dunn mused in his office, his memory hazy but his grin unstoppable.
That grin wasn't just about the show's success. A big name was about to step into the picture—Jack Welch!
Months back, Dunn and Welch had chatted a few times. Back then, Welch doubted the TV network could break through HBO and Showtime's grip.
But facts don't lie—content drives traffic, and Dunn's calls were spot-on.
After the explosive run of Six Feet Under, The Shield, The Grinch, and Band of Brothers, the network's North American user base had surpassed HBO and Showtime combined!
Jack Welch had to keep his word. He was joining Dunn Pictures as a strategic advisor.
Dunn's strength was foresight—dominating content and reading market trends. But when it came to managing a company and crafting big-picture strategies, he was green.
With Jack Welch, the world's top manager, guiding him, Dunn Pictures would be on the right track.
Lately, Dunn had dug into Welch's background.
The old guy lived large. After retiring, he divorced his first wife, aiming to enjoy his golden years with a young, gorgeous woman.
Say what you will—he had style and ambition!
But his ex-wife was a lawyer with serious game. She hit him with every legal trick in the book, walking away with $180 million and half his properties.
Stuck funding his lavish life and new bride, Welch had no choice but to launch Jack Welch Consulting, advising big corporations to keep the cash flowing.
Their meeting spot? The racetrack at the International Golf Club.
Dunn rolled up fashionably late with his new flame, Anne Hathaway, and spotted sixty-something Jack Welch galloping across the field on a sleek black horse.
Anne's jaw dropped.
Dunn just chuckled. "Still kicking strong—full of fire!"
"Can you ride?" he asked her.
"I—"
Her timid stammer told him she was scared. He smirked, waved over a staffer, and had them bring a tall chestnut horse. Hoisting her up, he climbed on behind, guiding them at a slow pace.
"Wow, this feels… like the first time I rode a bike!" Anne squealed, thrilled but stiff as a board, her cheeks flushed.
Dunn held the reins with one hand, the other around her waist. "Honestly, this is only my third time too. But these trained horses? Easy to ride."
Anne shook her head. "Nah, I'll stick to golf. It's way more relaxing. This is too intense—makes me feel like I can't breathe."
Ten minutes later, they ditched the horses for the golf course.
Compared to the racetrack, the green was the real spot for deal-making.
"Every time I see a report on TA Network, my heart skips a beat," Welch said, swinging hard before glancing at Dunn. "You pulled it off. I'm shocked—and happy for you."
Dunn took a casual swing. Young and sharp-eyed, his ball flew farther. "I'm young—got more drive!"
Welch shook his head. "Drive's part of it, but your instincts and market sense are razor-sharp. That's your edge, even with your chaotic management."
Dunn's face darkened.
Anne, after a few swings, paused, staring over in surprise.
Was this a dig at Dunn?
No way!
To her, Dunn was unstoppable!
Just a few offhand words with Barry Meyer, and he'd crushed rising director Brett Ratner. That kind of power was intimidating.
Plus, living with a bunch of women at the hillside estate showed her Dunn's wild side.
Over in the lounge area, Dunn bristled. "Dunn Pictures' results are killer! I'd even bet we'll be Hollywood's top earner this year!"
Never Sinking, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, A Beautiful Mind—all box office champs in their slots.
Welch shook his head. "The numbers are great, thanks to your films. But the management's a mess—unclear roles, redundant staff. That's undeniable."
Dunn froze. Bill Mechanic had flagged this too.
When Dunn Pictures started, they'd bulked up fast, hiring tons of people. Especially Dunn's "sunglasses crew"—his go-to team from the system. Most were brilliant but lopsided talents.
They were tech wizards, not managers.
As founding members, though, they had seniority and slid into leadership roles—setting up inevitable problems.
"Firing or demoting the founding team is a rite of passage for any startup," Welch said, eyeing Dunn. "You're ruthless with rivals, but too soft on your own people. That's not business."
Dunn sighed. "Bill—Bill Mechanic, our president—used to work at Twentieth Century Fox. Tough guy, ran a tight ship, but his team ganged up and ousted him. Since joining us, he's flipped—smooth, diplomatic. He doesn't want the dirty work anymore."
With Bill playing nice and Dunn holding back, underqualified founders clogged the management ranks.
Worse, Bill was a producer at heart—a technical guy. He couldn't match the interpersonal and strategic chops of a Barry Meyer, Tom Rothman, or Ron Meyer.
Welch waved it off. "Fine, I don't know Dunn Pictures well enough yet. I'll visit a few times, get the lay of the land, then advise you. For now, let's tackle something bigger."
"What?"
"Your money!"
"Huh?"
Dunn blinked, startled, staring at him. "My money? What about it?"
Was this guy fishing for a paycheck before even signing on?
Welch caught his look and glared. "I mean the cash you made in the stock market! How are you planning to grow Dunn Pictures' empire with it?"
Dunn scratched his head, sheepish, then leaned in, lowering his voice. "Next step—buy Universal Studios!"
"Universal?" Welch mused. "Vivendi's been on a tear lately—stronger than the Japanese firms were a decade ago."
Dunn grinned mysteriously. "Yep. That's why Sony's bleeding cash and Panasonic's on the brink."
Welch, a business genius, knew Vivendi's reckless U.S. buying spree amid a stock crash and economic downturn was suicidal. He nodded. "Universal's brand's solid. Decent value there."
Dunn's lips twitched. This was Universal Studios!
A Hollywood titan!
But Welch's tone? Casual, dismissive.
Then again, compared to General Electric, which Welch once ran, even Vivendi—let alone Universal—was small fry.
He had every right to shrug it off.
"And then?" Welch asked.
"Then what?"
"That's it? Just Universal? Your vision's too narrow!"