welcome back to second to of hip mojo and watchmojo.com joining me is kevin
and watchmojo.com joining me is kevin
and watchmojo.com joining me is kevin o’leary so previously you touched on
o’leary so previously you touched on
o’leary so previously you touched on Mattel what was the transaction 3.4
Mattel what was the transaction 3.4
Mattel what was the transaction 3.4 billion no including the 800 million of
billion no including the 800 million of
billion no including the 800 million of dad it was 4.2 billion so 4.2 billion
dad it was 4.2 billion so 4.2 billion
dad it was 4.2 billion so 4.2 billion now the CEO I remember I was in high
now the CEO I remember I was in high
now the CEO I remember I was in high school at the time I wasn’t even in
school at the time I wasn’t even in
school at the time I wasn’t even in business school but Jill Barret was on
business school but Jill Barret was on
business school but Jill Barret was on oh no I was actually in University
oh no I was actually in University
oh no I was actually in University College so she was superstar like the
College so she was superstar like the
College so she was superstar like the you know Carly Fiorina of that era like
you know Carly Fiorina of that era like
you know Carly Fiorina of that era like the female high-profile CEO of Mattel
the female high-profile CEO of Mattel
the female high-profile CEO of Mattel first of all what was your dynamics and
first of all what was your dynamics and
first of all what was your dynamics and your relationship with her like did you
your relationship with her like did you
your relationship with her like did you get along from day one or was it
get along from day one or was it
get along from day one or was it friction and well let’s just paint the
friction and well let’s just paint the
friction and well let’s just paint the environment at the time for all the toy
environment at the time for all the toy
environment at the time for all the toy companies remember at this period this
companies remember at this period this
companies remember at this period this is the late 90s what was happening is
is the late 90s what was happening is
is the late 90s what was happening is the price of pcs was collapsing below a
the price of pcs was collapsing below a
the price of pcs was collapsing below a thousand Walmart got in the business of
thousand Walmart got in the business of
thousand Walmart got in the business of selling PCs and PC software 3 to 7 year
selling PCs and PC software 3 to 7 year
selling PCs and PC software 3 to 7 year olds started spending hours and hours
olds started spending hours and hours
olds started spending hours and hours and hours in front of their computers
and hours in front of their computers
and hours in front of their computers playing Rita rabbit Carmen Sandiego you
playing Rita rabbit Carmen Sandiego you
playing Rita rabbit Carmen Sandiego you know all of these titles the toy
know all of these titles the toy
know all of these titles the toy companies look this is said my goodness
companies look this is said my goodness
companies look this is said my goodness we’re losing mindshare from this very
we’re losing mindshare from this very
we’re losing mindshare from this very important demographic of our customers
important demographic of our customers
important demographic of our customers instead of playing with our dolls and
instead of playing with our dolls and
instead of playing with our dolls and with our GI Joes if in case of Hasbro
with our GI Joes if in case of Hasbro
with our GI Joes if in case of Hasbro they’re playing with the learning
they’re playing with the learning
they’re playing with the learning company’s software so both companies
company’s software so both companies
company’s software so both companies were interested in jumping in the
were interested in jumping in the
were interested in jumping in the digital age and in addition something
digital age and in addition something
digital age and in addition something else had occurred we had a title and my
else had occurred we had a title and my
else had occurred we had a title and my whole strategy in the software business
whole strategy in the software business
whole strategy in the software business was to take engines of development see
was to take engines of development see
was to take engines of development see had an engine of development and they
had an engine of development and they
had an engine of development and they just add characters on which was very
just add characters on which was very
just add characters on which was very inexpensive to do we licensed an
inexpensive to do we licensed an
inexpensive to do we licensed an American girl which was a type of doll
American girl which was a type of doll
American girl which was a type of doll very popular doll that Mattel owned and
very popular doll that Mattel owned and
very popular doll that Mattel owned and we took a title that sold 30,000 units a
we took a title that sold 30,000 units a
we took a title that sold 30,000 units a year called opening night and we put the
year called opening night and we put the
year called opening night and we put the American girl character into it and sold
American girl character into it and sold
American girl character into it and sold a million units and Mattel saw that and
a million units and Mattel saw that and
a million units and Mattel saw that and went wow what could you do for a
went wow what could you do for a
went wow what could you do for a portfolio what could we do for our
portfolio what could we do for our
portfolio what could we do for our portfolio that was the thesis of the
portfolio that was the thesis of the
portfolio that was the thesis of the deal so you know what happened was they
deal so you know what happened was they
deal so you know what happened was they hired bankers they approached our
hired bankers they approached our
hired bankers they approached our shareholders and a negotiation began at
shareholders and a negotiation began at
shareholders and a negotiation began at the same time unbeknownst to us and
the same time unbeknownst to us and
the same time unbeknownst to us and later found out by the whole market
later found out by the whole market
later found out by the whole market Barbie sales were collapsing
Barbie sales were collapsing
Barbie sales were collapsing the specialty high-end Barbies the Vera
the specialty high-end Barbies the Vera
the specialty high-end Barbies the Vera Wang Barbies they weren’t selling
Wang Barbies they weren’t selling
Wang Barbies they weren’t selling anymore because they were very expensive
anymore because they were very expensive
anymore because they were very expensive and frankly mothers and fathers were
and frankly mothers and fathers were
and frankly mothers and fathers were buying a lot of digital content at that
buying a lot of digital content at that
buying a lot of digital content at that time so Mattel decided to make a move
time so Mattel decided to make a move
time so Mattel decided to make a move and a quarter when they were gonna miss
and a quarter when they were gonna miss
and a quarter when they were gonna miss their numbers as we found it after the
their numbers as we found it after the
their numbers as we found it after the quarter came out by the learning company
quarter came out by the learning company
quarter came out by the learning company and the thesis was that we would take
and the thesis was that we would take
and the thesis was that we would take just like we did with the American Girl
just like we did with the American Girl
just like we did with the American Girl across a whole portfolio of titles let
across a whole portfolio of titles let
across a whole portfolio of titles let me give you an example we own Mavis
me give you an example we own Mavis
me give you an example we own Mavis Beacon teaches typing which is a very
Beacon teaches typing which is a very
Beacon teaches typing which is a very famous software title teaches how to
famous software title teaches how to
famous software title teaches how to type we’re gonna take the Barbie
type we’re gonna take the Barbie
type we’re gonna take the Barbie character pull Mavis out of there stick
character pull Mavis out of there stick
character pull Mavis out of there stick barbie in and sell a typing product to
barbie in and sell a typing product to
barbie in and sell a typing product to seven-year-old girls talk to Walmart
seven-year-old girls talk to Walmart
seven-year-old girls talk to Walmart about it and all the retailers who said
about it and all the retailers who said
about it and all the retailers who said love it it’s gonna be a huge hit we
love it it’s gonna be a huge hit we
love it it’s gonna be a huge hit we figured we could do that in about 90
figured we could do that in about 90
figured we could do that in about 90 days so the deal closes our Fremont
days so the deal closes our Fremont
days so the deal closes our Fremont developers call down to Mattel which is
developers call down to Mattel which is
developers call down to Mattel which is in LA and say send up the art and all of
in LA and say send up the art and all of
in LA and say send up the art and all of a sudden we run into a whole bunch of
a sudden we run into a whole bunch of
a sudden we run into a whole bunch of red tape this is where the cultural
red tape this is where the cultural
red tape this is where the cultural clashes started I detail it in the book
clashes started I detail it in the book
clashes started I detail it in the book when you have a fast you know growing
when you have a fast you know growing
when you have a fast you know growing entrepreneurial environment like The
entrepreneurial environment like The
entrepreneurial environment like The Learning Company and stick it with a
Learning Company and stick it with a
Learning Company and stick it with a very slow growing toy company bad things
very slow growing toy company bad things
very slow growing toy company bad things can happen you lost for CF forward but
can happen you lost for CF forward but
can happen you lost for CF forward but everybody you know my CFO was a deal guy
everybody you know my CFO was a deal guy
everybody you know my CFO was a deal guy the sky one he was fast-paced and he
the sky one he was fast-paced and he
the sky one he was fast-paced and he wanted to do deals and continue to grow
wanted to do deals and continue to grow
wanted to do deals and continue to grow and and the Mattel CFO said I’m gonna
and and the Mattel CFO said I’m gonna
and and the Mattel CFO said I’m gonna take over that role so he exited many
take over that role so he exited many
take over that role so he exited many people I said I tried to stick around
people I said I tried to stick around
people I said I tried to stick around and I actually ran Mattel calm for a
and I actually ran Mattel calm for a
and I actually ran Mattel calm for a while you know at the end of the day
while you know at the end of the day
while you know at the end of the day cultural clashes can be brutal and I
cultural clashes can be brutal and I
cultural clashes can be brutal and I detail the whole experience it really
detail the whole experience it really
detail the whole experience it really depressed me because I was taken out of
depressed me because I was taken out of
depressed me because I was taken out of the market for three years I had a
the market for three years I had a
the market for three years I had a non-compete they paid me five million
non-compete they paid me five million
non-compete they paid me five million bucks not to work I thought that would
bucks not to work I thought that would
bucks not to work I thought that would be great it ended up being bad because I
be great it ended up being bad because I
be great it ended up being bad because I really wanted to be in the game and I
really wanted to be in the game and I
really wanted to be in the game and I wasn’t I learned a lot from that and
wasn’t I learned a lot from that and
wasn’t I learned a lot from that and that’s a mistake I won’t make again
that’s a mistake I won’t make again
that’s a mistake I won’t make again that’s the whole point of being an
that’s the whole point of being an
that’s the whole point of being an entrepreneur you’ve got a fail yes so I
entrepreneur you’ve got a fail yes so I
entrepreneur you’ve got a fail yes so I actually got sued also for violating
actually got sued also for violating
actually got sued also for violating mine on competition from News Corp and
mine on competition from News Corp and
mine on competition from News Corp and went to court and I won you touched a
went to court and I won you touched a
went to court and I won you touched a lot about you you hint at the theme of
lot about you you hint at the theme of
lot about you you hint at the theme of the lawsuit it was a five billion dollar
the lawsuit it was a five billion dollar
the lawsuit it was a five billion dollar loss five point two billion dollar base
loss five point two billion dollar base
loss five point two billion dollar base achill II we’re accusing you of like
achill II we’re accusing you of like
achill II we’re accusing you of like everything you say now you’re not afraid
everything you say now you’re not afraid
everything you say now you’re not afraid to what do you think of lawyers look you
to what do you think of lawyers look you
to what do you think of lawyers look you know if you think about this the pecking
know if you think about this the pecking
know if you think about this the pecking order of single cella me about the
order of single cella me about the
order of single cella me about the bottom
bottom
bottom the ocean lawyers are just underneath
the ocean lawyers are just underneath
the ocean lawyers are just underneath had some of them have come up to the
had some of them have come up to the
had some of them have come up to the surface and breathe air that’s okay but
surface and breathe air that’s okay but
surface and breathe air that’s okay but you know look these are contingency
you know look these are contingency
you know look these are contingency lawyers I use them today to litigation
lawyers I use them today to litigation
lawyers I use them today to litigation is a tool in business and I understand
is a tool in business and I understand
is a tool in business and I understand it but you can’t scare me with
it but you can’t scare me with
it but you can’t scare me with litigation anymore I’ve been to hell and
litigation anymore I’ve been to hell and
litigation anymore I’ve been to hell and back with the mattel litigation all
back with the mattel litigation all
back with the mattel litigation all these allegations prove to be false at
these allegations prove to be false at
these allegations prove to be false at the end of the day and we settled like
the end of the day and we settled like
the end of the day and we settled like most litigation does settle but I went
most litigation does settle but I went
most litigation does settle but I went through a five-year process of that now
through a five-year process of that now
through a five-year process of that now if people threaten to litigate me I say
if people threaten to litigate me I say
if people threaten to litigate me I say bring it on because I actually work with
bring it on because I actually work with
bring it on because I actually work with dozens of lawyers in all kinds of
dozens of lawyers in all kinds of
dozens of lawyers in all kinds of complaints it’s a tool in business yeah
complaints it’s a tool in business yeah
complaints it’s a tool in business yeah okay so playing devil’s advocate you say
okay so playing devil’s advocate you say
okay so playing devil’s advocate you say you have a great line that says if
you have a great line that says if
you have a great line that says if someone wants to buy your company sell
someone wants to buy your company sell
someone wants to buy your company sell because their optimism is greater than
because their optimism is greater than
because their optimism is greater than yours usually it is usually I usually
yours usually it is usually I usually
yours usually it is usually I usually okay usually okay so there is some great
okay usually okay so there is some great
okay usually okay so there is some great line with you there okay usually it is
line with you there okay usually it is
line with you there okay usually it is but I just want to play devil’s that
but I just want to play devil’s that
but I just want to play devil’s that well first of all isn’t that a lot like
well first of all isn’t that a lot like
well first of all isn’t that a lot like the buy on rumor sell on use adage that
the buy on rumor sell on use adage that
the buy on rumor sell on use adage that you hear you know it really depends
you hear you know it really depends
you hear you know it really depends because generally speaking and I found
because generally speaking and I found
because generally speaking and I found this to be consistent across my career
this to be consistent across my career
this to be consistent across my career when people come knocking on the door
when people come knocking on the door
when people come knocking on the door either they’re a very optimistic or the
either they’re a very optimistic or the
either they’re a very optimistic or the environment is deal oriented but you
environment is deal oriented but you
environment is deal oriented but you have to ask yourself as an entrepreneur
have to ask yourself as an entrepreneur
have to ask yourself as an entrepreneur you know I love starting companies I’ve
you know I love starting companies I’ve
you know I love starting companies I’ve probably got 20 deals on the go right
probably got 20 deals on the go right
probably got 20 deals on the go right now knowing that maybe two of them might
now knowing that maybe two of them might
now knowing that maybe two of them might work I enjoy the process of it I’m you
work I enjoy the process of it I’m you
work I enjoy the process of it I’m you know I like to think I can do add value
know I like to think I can do add value
know I like to think I can do add value so if somebody wants to buy me I’ll sell
so if somebody wants to buy me I’ll sell
so if somebody wants to buy me I’ll sell it and then I’ll take that capital
it and then I’ll take that capital
it and then I’ll take that capital redeploy it that is what you’re supposed
redeploy it that is what you’re supposed
redeploy it that is what you’re supposed to do as an entrepreneur because you’re
to do as an entrepreneur because you’re
to do as an entrepreneur because you’re creating jobs for the ones you’ve just
creating jobs for the ones you’ve just
creating jobs for the ones you’ve just given up on the company sold that’s your
given up on the company sold that’s your
given up on the company sold that’s your job in society now you mentioned that at
job in society now you mentioned that at
job in society now you mentioned that at the end of the day one of the lessons
the end of the day one of the lessons
the end of the day one of the lessons you got from the Mattel exercise let’s
you got from the Mattel exercise let’s
you got from the Mattel exercise let’s call it experience was that it’s up to
call it experience was that it’s up to
call it experience was that it’s up to the buyer to make an acquisition work is
the buyer to make an acquisition work is
the buyer to make an acquisition work is that playing devil’s advocate not like
that playing devil’s advocate not like
that playing devil’s advocate not like easy I mean when I sold my last company
easy I mean when I sold my last company
easy I mean when I sold my last company well I it was my responsibility to make
well I it was my responsibility to make
well I it was my responsibility to make it work because I was the smaller guy
it work because I was the smaller guy
it work because I was the smaller guy they had a much bigger business isn’t
they had a much bigger business isn’t
they had a much bigger business isn’t that like one of the problems with
that like one of the problems with
that like one of the problems with society now that when there’s a deal the
society now that when there’s a deal the
society now that when there’s a deal the guy sort of says well I got my money I
guy sort of says well I got my money I
guy sort of says well I got my money I could care less it’s your problem look I
could care less it’s your problem look I
could care less it’s your problem look I did over 30 transactions when we were
did over 30 transactions when we were
did over 30 transactions when we were building up the learning company we were
building up the learning company we were
building up the learning company we were acquiring all of our competitors very
acquiring all of our competitors very
acquiring all of our competitors very complex ones and very simple ones we
complex ones and very simple ones we
complex ones and very simple ones we bought art we did hostile transactions
bought art we did hostile transactions
bought art we did hostile transactions it’s always the buyers responsibility to
it’s always the buyers responsibility to
it’s always the buyers responsibility to prove the synergies and the value to the
prove the synergies and the value to the
prove the synergies and the value to the shareholder because remember
shareholder because remember
shareholder because remember was going to the market raising billions
was going to the market raising billions
was going to the market raising billions of dollars and saying give me this money
of dollars and saying give me this money
of dollars and saying give me this money because I’m gonna buy companies and
because I’m gonna buy companies and
because I’m gonna buy companies and they’re gonna be get the creative
they’re gonna be get the creative
they’re gonna be get the creative transactions in other words I’m gonna
transactions in other words I’m gonna
transactions in other words I’m gonna buy them at a price in a way that I can
buy them at a price in a way that I can
buy them at a price in a way that I can make more money buying the company so my
make more money buying the company so my
make more money buying the company so my strategy was to buy a software developer
strategy was to buy a software developer
strategy was to buy a software developer that has successful title fire all the
that has successful title fire all the
that has successful title fire all the salespeople cut all the overhead just
salespeople cut all the overhead just
salespeople cut all the overhead just keep the core developers and put that
keep the core developers and put that
keep the core developers and put that into my distribution system you know I
into my distribution system you know I
into my distribution system you know I probably fired thousands and thousands
probably fired thousands and thousands
probably fired thousands and thousands of people but it was okay because it was
of people but it was okay because it was
of people but it was okay because it was a growing environment obviously that
a growing environment obviously that
a growing environment obviously that sector was growing consumer software
sector was growing consumer software
sector was growing consumer software they’d get rehired I’d help them get
they’d get rehired I’d help them get
they’d get rehired I’d help them get rehired and then I buy a company three
rehired and then I buy a company three
rehired and then I buy a company three months later find the same guy and fire
months later find the same guy and fire
months later find the same guy and fire him again it would be over and over and
him again it would be over and over and
him again it would be over and over and over again because solid ation works
over again because solid ation works
over again because solid ation works that way but at the end of the day if
that way but at the end of the day if
that way but at the end of the day if you’re the buyer it’s your
you’re the buyer it’s your
you’re the buyer it’s your responsibility to make money I don’t
responsibility to make money I don’t
responsibility to make money I don’t worry about the guy just bought it from
worry about the guy just bought it from
worry about the guy just bought it from he’s cashed out okay now I want to know
he’s cashed out okay now I want to know
he’s cashed out okay now I want to know I have no problem admitting this I am
I have no problem admitting this I am
I have no problem admitting this I am extremely driven to prove people wrong
extremely driven to prove people wrong
extremely driven to prove people wrong I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t true
I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t true
I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t true I guess I do it for myself and do it for
I guess I do it for myself and do it for
I guess I do it for myself and do it for my team and all that but I’d like to
my team and all that but I’d like to
my team and all that but I’d like to prove people wrong because everybody
prove people wrong because everybody
prove people wrong because everybody always doubts me you have two quotes in
always doubts me you have two quotes in
always doubts me you have two quotes in the book one is that reader was 1.5
the book one is that reader was 1.5
the book one is that reader was 1.5 billions ago when you raised all the
billions ago when you raised all the
billions ago when you raised all the area people thought you couldn’t do it
area people thought you couldn’t do it
area people thought you couldn’t do it and the second one was aligned about how
and the second one was aligned about how
and the second one was aligned about how you could basically bulldoze the Lincoln
you could basically bulldoze the Lincoln
you could basically bulldoze the Lincoln Mall after the gum scraping incident how
Mall after the gum scraping incident how
Mall after the gum scraping incident how much of your drive is driven to prove
much of your drive is driven to prove
much of your drive is driven to prove people wrong and how much is it for
people wrong and how much is it for
people wrong and how much is it for yourself and your family and your
yourself and your family and your
yourself and your family and your shareholders I’ll tell you a story that
shareholders I’ll tell you a story that
shareholders I’ll tell you a story that my life a long time ago I was working my
my life a long time ago I was working my
my life a long time ago I was working my first deal special event television and
first deal special event television and
first deal special event television and I had a partner there named Jerry
I had a partner there named Jerry
I had a partner there named Jerry Patterson he’s dead now but he was a
Patterson he’s dead now but he was a
Patterson he’s dead now but he was a sports agent for hockey players he was
sports agent for hockey players he was
sports agent for hockey players he was one of the first guys to bring over
one of the first guys to bring over
one of the first guys to bring over Russian players at that time was the
Russian players at that time was the
Russian players at that time was the Soviet Union into Canada and Jerry was a
Soviet Union into Canada and Jerry was a
Soviet Union into Canada and Jerry was a shareholder in the special event
shareholder in the special event
shareholder in the special event television we were doing shows like
television we were doing shows like
television we were doing shows like Bobby Orr in the hockey legend the
Bobby Orr in the hockey legend the
Bobby Orr in the hockey legend the original six you know all the
original six you know all the
original six you know all the intermissions for Hockey Night in Canada
intermissions for Hockey Night in Canada
intermissions for Hockey Night in Canada Don Cherry’s John Cherry’s grapevine you
Don Cherry’s John Cherry’s grapevine you
Don Cherry’s John Cherry’s grapevine you know and in television there’s a lot of
know and in television there’s a lot of
know and in television there’s a lot of controversy every week about the story
controversy every week about the story
controversy every week about the story you’re publishing or whatever and we
you’re publishing or whatever and we
you’re publishing or whatever and we used to take a lot of flack from people
used to take a lot of flack from people
used to take a lot of flack from people why are you profiling Gump Worsley
why are you profiling Gump Worsley
why are you profiling Gump Worsley instead of this goalie whatever and
instead of this goalie whatever and
instead of this goalie whatever and Jerry said to me listen Kevin you get up
Jerry said to me listen Kevin you get up
Jerry said to me listen Kevin you get up in the morning it all this criticism is
in the morning it all this criticism is
in the morning it all this criticism is just noise that’s all it is it’s just
just noise that’s all it is it’s just
just noise that’s all it is it’s just some guy talking ignore it completely
some guy talking ignore it completely
some guy talking ignore it completely and just keep focused on the goal which
and just keep focused on the goal which
and just keep focused on the goal which is to broadcast our show at 12:00 noon
is to broadcast our show at 12:00 noon
is to broadcast our show at 12:00 noon on Saturday we have to start it on
on Saturday we have to start it on
on Saturday we have to start it on Monday
Monday
Monday shoot it cut it and send it to the
shoot it cut it and send it to the
shoot it cut it and send it to the satellite at noon
satellite at noon
satellite at noon they aren’t on Saturday and I realize
they aren’t on Saturday and I realize
they aren’t on Saturday and I realize Jerry was right and it’s been my
Jerry was right and it’s been my
Jerry was right and it’s been my philosophy all my life you know I read
philosophy all my life you know I read
philosophy all my life you know I read bad press every day I listen to guys
bad press every day I listen to guys
bad press every day I listen to guys that are critics it’s all noise who
that are critics it’s all noise who
that are critics it’s all noise who cares
cares
cares ultimately the only people you’re
ultimately the only people you’re
ultimately the only people you’re responsible to are your shareholders
responsible to are your shareholders
responsible to are your shareholders that’s who matter everybody else I
that’s who matter everybody else I
that’s who matter everybody else I couldn’t give a damn about them that’s
couldn’t give a damn about them that’s
couldn’t give a damn about them that’s actually the one of the surprises I had
actually the one of the surprises I had
actually the one of the surprises I had I mean I’m too busy running a company so
I mean I’m too busy running a company so
I mean I’m too busy running a company so I’ll be honest even though the show’s
I’ll be honest even though the show’s
I’ll be honest even though the show’s Shark Tank and Dragons Den are in my
Shark Tank and Dragons Den are in my
Shark Tank and Dragons Den are in my demo I actually rarely watched them
demo I actually rarely watched them
demo I actually rarely watched them obviously I knew about them so I was
obviously I knew about them so I was
obviously I knew about them so I was like I wonder how you know Kevin got
like I wonder how you know Kevin got
like I wonder how you know Kevin got into TV but you actually have a history
into TV but you actually have a history
into TV but you actually have a history in media and NTV so you talked about
in media and NTV so you talked about
in media and NTV so you talked about special event television take us from
special event television take us from
special event television take us from there how do you end up on CBC how do
there how do you end up on CBC how do
there how do you end up on CBC how do you end up on ABC you know I’ve always
you end up on ABC you know I’ve always
you end up on ABC you know I’ve always been behind the camera I love it i tried
been behind the camera I love it i tried
been behind the camera I love it i tried wants to be a fashion photographer in my
wants to be a fashion photographer in my
wants to be a fashion photographer in my early days I wanted to do that I’d still
early days I wanted to do that I’d still
early days I wanted to do that I’d still shoot a lot I have lots of cameras I was
shoot a lot I have lots of cameras I was
shoot a lot I have lots of cameras I was working after we sold the learning
working after we sold the learning
working after we sold the learning company I was working for Thomas H Lee
company I was working for Thomas H Lee
company I was working for Thomas H Lee in the private equity market because I
in the private equity market because I
in the private equity market because I needed a place to hang my hat I had some
needed a place to hang my hat I had some
needed a place to hang my hat I had some capital to deploy I wanted to partner
capital to deploy I wanted to partner
capital to deploy I wanted to partner with Lee and he was one of my largest
with Lee and he was one of my largest
with Lee and he was one of my largest shareholders so he said because of my
shareholders so he said because of my
shareholders so he said because of my office one day says hey Kevin their
office one day says hey Kevin their
office one day says hey Kevin their licensing up in Canada digital formats
licensing up in Canada digital formats
licensing up in Canada digital formats in other words the movie channel the gay
in other words the movie channel the gay
in other words the movie channel the gay Channel the Food Channel the dog channel
Channel the Food Channel the dog channel
Channel the Food Channel the dog channel all that stuff he said look why don’t
all that stuff he said look why don’t
all that stuff he said look why don’t you go up there and bid for all of them
you go up there and bid for all of them
you go up there and bid for all of them and then we’ll parcel them up and sell
and then we’ll parcel them up and sell
and then we’ll parcel them up and sell them afterwards I said Wow
them afterwards I said Wow
them afterwards I said Wow Tom that’s crazy said oh no go up there
Tom that’s crazy said oh no go up there
Tom that’s crazy said oh no go up there and ask him you buy them all so because
and ask him you buy them all so because
and ask him you buy them all so because it was a CRTC auctioning process so I
it was a CRTC auctioning process so I
it was a CRTC auctioning process so I show up I start doing my research up in
show up I start doing my research up in
show up I start doing my research up in Toronto and Ottawa that’s where the
Toronto and Ottawa that’s where the
Toronto and Ottawa that’s where the action was and a business station
action was and a business station
action was and a business station they’re called report on business
they’re called report on business
they’re called report on business television called me up and said hey
television called me up and said hey
television called me up and said hey listen we heard that you’re bidding for
listen we heard that you’re bidding for
listen we heard that you’re bidding for these things why don’t you come on and
these things why don’t you come on and
these things why don’t you come on and tell us what you’re all about so I show
tell us what you’re all about so I show
tell us what you’re all about so I show up and this woman named Janis Mackey
up and this woman named Janis Mackey
up and this woman named Janis Mackey frere was the host she’s become a very
frere was the host she’s become a very
frere was the host she’s become a very famous reporter in the Middle East now
famous reporter in the Middle East now
famous reporter in the Middle East now she works for CTV but she says to me you
she works for CTV but she says to me you
she works for CTV but she says to me you know Kevin we think that all of these
know Kevin we think that all of these
know Kevin we think that all of these channels have to be owned 51% by
channels have to be owned 51% by
channels have to be owned 51% by Canadians and I explained to her why
Canadians and I explained to her why
Canadians and I explained to her why that was a dumb idea and a stupid policy
that was a dumb idea and a stupid policy
that was a dumb idea and a stupid policy and I would kill the PD interest of
and I would kill the PD interest of
and I would kill the PD interest of course of course it kills the PIA
course of course it kills the PIA
course of course it kills the PIA interest I explained to her the cost of
interest I explained to her the cost of
interest I explained to her the cost of capital for Canadian operators is gonna
capital for Canadian operators is gonna
capital for Canadian operators is gonna go up and the interest is gonna go down
go up and the interest is gonna go down
go up and the interest is gonna go down the globe
the globe
the globe investors we start a little bit of an
investors we start a little bit of an
investors we start a little bit of an argument about five minutes later she
argument about five minutes later she
argument about five minutes later she starts crying right on the air because
starts crying right on the air because
starts crying right on the air because we’re having a heated debate I look at
we’re having a heated debate I look at
we’re having a heated debate I look at her say what are you crying about and
her say what are you crying about and
her say what are you crying about and she’s sobbing and the phones light up
she’s sobbing and the phones light up
she’s sobbing and the phones light up and the producer says hey can you come
and the producer says hey can you come
and the producer says hey can you come back tomorrow
back tomorrow
back tomorrow that was the beginning of my television
that was the beginning of my television
that was the beginning of my television career so now okay fast-forward a bit
career so now okay fast-forward a bit
career so now okay fast-forward a bit because it’s interesting I mean take us
because it’s interesting I mean take us
because it’s interesting I mean take us mainly through you know you were on CBC
mainly through you know you were on CBC
mainly through you know you were on CBC in Canada on dragons then what happens
in Canada on dragons then what happens
in Canada on dragons then what happens with Mark Burnett and ABC and the whole
with Mark Burnett and ABC and the whole
with Mark Burnett and ABC and the whole six guys show up five of them well you
six guys show up five of them well you
six guys show up five of them well you know I think if television is sure chaos
know I think if television is sure chaos
know I think if television is sure chaos it’s just serendipitous what happens I
it’s just serendipitous what happens I
it’s just serendipitous what happens I mean it’s just you know one day the
mean it’s just you know one day the
mean it’s just you know one day the phone rings I’ve been working for a year
phone rings I’ve been working for a year
phone rings I’ve been working for a year on Dragon’s Den I mean Dragons Den
on Dragon’s Den I mean Dragons Den
on Dragon’s Den I mean Dragons Den itself some guy calls me up the name
itself some guy calls me up the name
itself some guy calls me up the name Stewart Cox and says hey how about you
Stewart Cox and says hey how about you
Stewart Cox and says hey how about you come to my studio bring millions of your
come to my studio bring millions of your
come to my studio bring millions of your dollars and all and I want you to buy
dollars and all and I want you to buy
dollars and all and I want you to buy stuff I said what are you nuts
stuff I said what are you nuts
stuff I said what are you nuts anyways I went in there I met him and I
anyways I went in there I met him and I
anyways I went in there I met him and I thought this format sounds interesting
thought this format sounds interesting
thought this format sounds interesting I’ll try it we had a lot of fun the
I’ll try it we had a lot of fun the
I’ll try it we had a lot of fun the first year then the phone rang and it
first year then the phone rang and it
first year then the phone rang and it was a producer in London England saying
was a producer in London England saying
was a producer in London England saying hey listen we want to hire you for the
hey listen we want to hire you for the
hey listen we want to hire you for the Discovery Channel when I did that and
Discovery Channel when I did that and
Discovery Channel when I did that and then Mark Burnett called it’s just sort
then Mark Burnett called it’s just sort
then Mark Burnett called it’s just sort of you know television is is just it’s
of you know television is is just it’s
of you know television is is just it’s an art not a science well okay all right
an art not a science well okay all right
an art not a science well okay all right we’re gonna take a short break come back
we’re gonna take a short break come back
we’re gonna take a short break come back for the segment three the last one we’re
for the segment three the last one we’re
for the segment three the last one we’re gonna talk it’ll be lightning round
gonna talk it’ll be lightning round
gonna talk it’ll be lightning round we’re going to ask you questions you got
we’re going to ask you questions you got
we’re going to ask you questions you got to answer you know your two cents but
to answer you know your two cents but
to answer you know your two cents but we’re gonna start off when we come back
we’re gonna start off when we come back
we’re gonna start off when we come back with two words Steve Jobs you have a
with two words Steve Jobs you have a
with two words Steve Jobs you have a very interesting encounter with them
very interesting encounter with them
very interesting encounter with them we’ll be back for segment three
”
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