ChuckyBox
02-16-2006, 07:43 PM
After reading the following yesterday in Thomas Hawk's column (http://thomashawk.com/2006/02/lunching-with-tivos-e-stephen-mack.html) about his lunch with TiVo's E. Stephen Mack:
When asked about why no one has bought TiVo yet, Stephen’s answer was direct. “Because we don’t want to be bought.” In addition to a poison pill strategy that TiVo has in place, the company feels that they can be more effective as a standalone company than as a subsidiary of another company.
At present TiVo can offer services to cable providers and satellite providers and advertisers and research firms (he did note a very strong Chinese wall between the Audience Research and Measurement (ARM) team and the reset of the company) and many different firms. If they were bought it would be difficult for them to continue to be able to offer so many services to so many other companies.
I was so inspired I decided to write a one-act play, which follows:
A TiVo Story
by ChuckyBox
We are in the office of Tom Rogers, CEO of TiVo Inc. It is 8:30PM on a cool Thursday night. The office itself is nicely-appointed, but not the lavish suite of an east coast television executive. Outside the windows, the blackness of the California night sky gives way to TiVo's nearly empty parking lot.
At the desk sits TOM ROGERS, early fifties, dark, thinning hair. Normally a ball of energy, Rogers is at the end of another fast-paced day at this dynamic little compay -- his tie is loose, his sleeves rolled up. He looks over the reports on his desk, but he can't concentrate; instead, he stares out the window -- something is on his mind.
It isn't long before we discover the source of the distraction: there is a KNOCK at the door, and Mimi, Rogers' pint-sized secretary/guard-dog enters.
Mimi: Mr. Rogers, Mr. X is here.
Rogers: Thanks, Mimi. Show him in... And Mimi, you can go home now.
Mimi hesitates, then nods. She steps aside and Mr. X enters. Mr. X is ordinary-looking in every way, but he projects an undeniable confidence and power. He has the air of an old-school executive, but the industry is hard to gauge, cable TV?, internet?, computer hardware?, consumer electronics? We just can't tell. What we can tell is that even this late in the day his Armani suit is as crisp and clean as the moment it came off his tailor's press.
Rogers: X, how are you?
Mr. X: I'm good. It's good to see you again.
Rogers: Drink?
Rogers holds up a tumbler. Mr. X nods. Rogers pours them each a couple fingers of scotch, and passes one to Mr. X. The men take a drink, then sit. Rogers watches Mr. X for a moment, then:
Rogers: So, X, what brings you out here?
Mr. X: As you know, we're always evaluating our options, sizing up the competition, evaluating the market, and... we're interested in acquiring TiVo.
Rogers nods. He knew this was coming. He takes a moment to compose a response.
Rogers: This isn't the first time this has come up. We've had a lot of discussions with potential partners and investors, and we've even fielded some offers. But we've always fought to remain independent. And as much as I respect you and your company, I still believe that staying independent is what is best for TiVo. As it is now, we have the flexibility to work with many partners, to develop new products and services that might not fit into the strategy of a larger company. You see, the people here believe that we can make a difference, that we are working on something really great, that we can change television and the way people think about it. And since taking this job, I've become a believer, too. The company is finally gaining some momentum, and I am personally committed to see where that takes us because I believe we can achieve something really special here. And I feel I owe it to the employees, many of whom have been with the company from the beginning, to give them the opportunity to realize that dream.
Mr. X nods slowly. He takes a sip from his drink as he absorbs Rogers' powerful words.
Mr. X: We'll give you two billion dollars.
Rogers: Sold!
The End
When asked about why no one has bought TiVo yet, Stephen’s answer was direct. “Because we don’t want to be bought.” In addition to a poison pill strategy that TiVo has in place, the company feels that they can be more effective as a standalone company than as a subsidiary of another company.
At present TiVo can offer services to cable providers and satellite providers and advertisers and research firms (he did note a very strong Chinese wall between the Audience Research and Measurement (ARM) team and the reset of the company) and many different firms. If they were bought it would be difficult for them to continue to be able to offer so many services to so many other companies.
I was so inspired I decided to write a one-act play, which follows:
A TiVo Story
by ChuckyBox
We are in the office of Tom Rogers, CEO of TiVo Inc. It is 8:30PM on a cool Thursday night. The office itself is nicely-appointed, but not the lavish suite of an east coast television executive. Outside the windows, the blackness of the California night sky gives way to TiVo's nearly empty parking lot.
At the desk sits TOM ROGERS, early fifties, dark, thinning hair. Normally a ball of energy, Rogers is at the end of another fast-paced day at this dynamic little compay -- his tie is loose, his sleeves rolled up. He looks over the reports on his desk, but he can't concentrate; instead, he stares out the window -- something is on his mind.
It isn't long before we discover the source of the distraction: there is a KNOCK at the door, and Mimi, Rogers' pint-sized secretary/guard-dog enters.
Mimi: Mr. Rogers, Mr. X is here.
Rogers: Thanks, Mimi. Show him in... And Mimi, you can go home now.
Mimi hesitates, then nods. She steps aside and Mr. X enters. Mr. X is ordinary-looking in every way, but he projects an undeniable confidence and power. He has the air of an old-school executive, but the industry is hard to gauge, cable TV?, internet?, computer hardware?, consumer electronics? We just can't tell. What we can tell is that even this late in the day his Armani suit is as crisp and clean as the moment it came off his tailor's press.
Rogers: X, how are you?
Mr. X: I'm good. It's good to see you again.
Rogers: Drink?
Rogers holds up a tumbler. Mr. X nods. Rogers pours them each a couple fingers of scotch, and passes one to Mr. X. The men take a drink, then sit. Rogers watches Mr. X for a moment, then:
Rogers: So, X, what brings you out here?
Mr. X: As you know, we're always evaluating our options, sizing up the competition, evaluating the market, and... we're interested in acquiring TiVo.
Rogers nods. He knew this was coming. He takes a moment to compose a response.
Rogers: This isn't the first time this has come up. We've had a lot of discussions with potential partners and investors, and we've even fielded some offers. But we've always fought to remain independent. And as much as I respect you and your company, I still believe that staying independent is what is best for TiVo. As it is now, we have the flexibility to work with many partners, to develop new products and services that might not fit into the strategy of a larger company. You see, the people here believe that we can make a difference, that we are working on something really great, that we can change television and the way people think about it. And since taking this job, I've become a believer, too. The company is finally gaining some momentum, and I am personally committed to see where that takes us because I believe we can achieve something really special here. And I feel I owe it to the employees, many of whom have been with the company from the beginning, to give them the opportunity to realize that dream.
Mr. X nods slowly. He takes a sip from his drink as he absorbs Rogers' powerful words.
Mr. X: We'll give you two billion dollars.
Rogers: Sold!
The End