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OK, I give up. Just remember:
"There must be a pony!"
Fascinating. Now, repeat after me - however reluctantly - "There is no film library." And click your heels 3 times.
Santa Claus. The Easter Bunny. Unicorns. The Abominable Snowman. Bigfoot. The Loch Ness Monster. Suri Cruise-Holmes. WMDs in Iraq.
Ok, now read the beginning of that exact same sentence:
"This has allowed us to buy production studios in Burbank, California worth $25 million,"
The Burbank studios were leased.
Then I must apologize. I forgot that Frank has never uttered a single lie, or untruth, or even itty-bitty stretching of the truth, in any of his public statements.......silly me.
You just keep searching for that film library. And I'll keep...oh, look! A unicorn!
I know it's been stated before, but I guess it's time to repeat it - there is no film library.
A TV network does not 'own' theatrical release movies. They lease them, and 'own' the rights to air them for a limited period of time - usually 6-12 months. Frank leased a couple of hundred Grade B- movies in 2005. If each movie originally cost $5 million to make, there's your $1 billion 'value' he mentioned. But the station never owned the movies, only the airing rights.
Many of those leases expired after 6 months, which is why you saw the same few movies airing over and over in the final days of the station.
Just like the Palm Springs office building, and the Burbank studios, Frank was always getting the terms 'own' and 'own the rights to use' (i.e. rent or lease) confused in his own mind. IMHO.
Now, let me get this straight. Fan is trading in all QBID/TMM stock/assets (whatever's left) for shares in a 'motion picture company' which has never released a movie, and a couple of hot dog stands in Texas. And all of you people are jumping up and down with excitement about this?? What am I missing here??!!
And Avalon/Stone Harbor here!
For the same reason why Enron's name has been taken off the stadium in Texas - it's embarassing!
Don't all soccer moms have lesbian affairs with one of their TV station's co-hosts while their husband and kids are safely ensconced in the Connecticut manor home 3000 miles away? Oh, wait, that was a plot-line from "The L Word" - never mind!
I just received a copy of this letter mysteriously in my email. I'm sure it's as real as some of the other recent posts .....
Dear (name withheld)
Thank you so much for the postcard from Key West. Yes, it's a magical place - all those handsome men. And make sure to have the conch chowder at Louis' Backyard - yum!!
Frank O and I have just purchased a small island in the South Pacific, right near Marlon Brando's old getaway. We're down there right now, in the process of finalizing the plans for our small 8000 square foot cottage. The 3 Lincoln Navigators arrive by ship next week - even though there aren't any roads on the island. And what we're going to do with 74 plasma TVs, since there isn't any electricity....
But what really bothers me is Frank's plan for the dormitory for his 18 'nephews' from the mainland. Why he needs them down here, when he's got me, his number-one huggie-bunny......but he's got this big idea about renting out the nephews to the neighbors on adjoining islands, since it seems the natives will pay big bucks for - how do you say in English - American boy-butt.
We've supposedly received a lot of Priority Mail in Burbank from the SEC, DOJ, IRS, FBI, KFC, IHOP and other organizations with many initials. I don't think we'll have it forwarded here. Since we've declared our island to be its own country, we don't have to worry about those pesky extradition treaties! Hee Hee!
Anyway, I'll let you know when the man-made lagoon is finished, and we've stocked it with the dolphins we're bringing in from Australia. You can come for a swim!
I LOVE gullible American investors! Hee Hee!
Your friend.
Lloyd Fan
If that amazingly unprofessional letter (both in content and context) is actually from Lloyd Fan, I'll grill and eat my shorts this afternoon!
It does not appear that you're familiar with the Chinese way of thinking, especially when it comes to business - they do not forgive OR forget - they have very long memories.
Word has it that the Dishonorable Fan has returned to Taiwan in disgrace to face his family's wrath after losing $7 million of their money in only 60 days. (That's $116,667 per day!)
Hara-kiri may be involved.
Oh, no, wait, that's Japan. Is there a Chinese equivalent?
Too bad, actually - you might have learned something.
I wasn't going to beat this dead horse any more, but your total lack of marketing knowledge has forced me to respond....
Just like the basic real estate tenet is 'location, location, location', Rule Number 1 in marketing is 'repetition, repetition, repetition'. Getting your name out in front of the customer and maintaining it, over and over again. Beating it into their brains so that when they finally feel a want or a need for your product, they think of you.
Yes, QTN advertised in the national gay magazines (and in USA Today, amazingly) - twice. Was this to attract subscribers? If so, then 90% of the circulation was a total waste, since the station wasn't even on the air in their area. To put it another way, how many local stores in your city run advertising in Time magazine, or Newsweek? None, I bet.
Yes, QTN had floats in gay pride parades around the country last year - and half of them were in cities that the station wasn't even being offered!!!
The marketing department at QTN was forbidden, by Frank, to advertise in local city gay magazines and newspapers, or to hand out fliers advertising the station in local gay bars, or to get involved in any local gay organizations or clubs, or to run any advertising in the local cable magazines or fliers. As Junk said - grass roots efforts.
Why would Frank do this? Doesn't seem to make sense if you're trying to drum up local subscribers, now, does it? EXACTLY!!!!! There's only one reason you would invest ALL of your advertising dollars in a 'national' campaign like this.....
FRANK DID NOT CARE ABOUT INCREASING SUBSCRIPTIONS, ONLY ABOUT ATTRACTING INVESTORS. From all over the country - whether they could receive the signal or not, he didn't care. And that's where all of the marketing, and advertising, and press release efforts were geared toward. Selling stock, NOT getting viewers. Frank didn't give a crap about how many people were watching the station- he only cared about selling the stock.
And companies do not succeed in the long term with that kind of mission strategy. EOM.
Skunks
Since the funeral is now ended, and the coffin is being laid into the ground, with clumps of dirt being thrown on top, and I assume I won't be reading this board much longer, I must say.....
I've been following this MB for 3 years - haven't said much - BUT I've been amazed, amused and appalled (usually the latter) by your posts over the years. I wish you and your cats luck down in your double-wide in Florida. Try to stay out of the path of hurricanes, and TRY to find yourself a mah-jongg group, or something, to join, so you don't spend so much time on the computer. It's bad for the eyesight, especially at your age, y'know?
Finally, I hope that you and I never invest in the same stock again. I don't think my heart (or computer) could take your rants for another round. I've already had to replace my keyboard twice from the spit I shot at it after reading your inane posts over the years.
Good luck to you! Stay on topic! EOM
Barry
You say that QTV is no longer being shown in your area. Why should we trust your hearsay? Prove it.
Wow - a Hansen post that I actually agree with - unfortunately. I wish it weren't true, but I doubt the SEC will even bother with this pissant little company. Their funding has been cut back in the current administration's "Companies can police themselves - let's not bother them." stance - except for high-profile, front page making debacles like Enron.
And to make matters worse, in this ultra-right-wing, theocratic political climate we're currently in, (are your phone conversations being monitored? I think mine are.) federal government agencies might take one look at this company, see what it does, or was hoping to do, and just decide "Aw, they're all fags anyway. Who cares? They got what they deserve." End of story.
I hate to be so cynical, but it's the world we're living in. Please vote, people. In 2006, and especially in 2008. We demand a change!
I heard a rumor that the station would finally be going dark sometime overnight last night. Any truth? Or just another rumor.........
My goodness, you're an angry young man, aren't you?
I assume, with your continual 'get a job, and get off these boards' comments to the ex-QTV posters on here, is that you're A.) independently wealthy, and can spend your days counting cash and perusing the internet, or B.) wasting time at work viewing message boards on company time.
In either case, you're undoubtedly a Republican. I feel your pain.
This thread kind of reminds me of the Salem Witch Trials in the 1600s. They would hold the suspected witch's head under water for an hour. If she drowned, then she wasn't a witch. Dead, yes - but not a witch!!
Damned if ya do, and damned if ya don't.
In January 2006, QTV had approximately 850 subscribers. I don't know what the number is now, but I would assume it's substantially less. IMO.
A humorous sidenote - I heard that, last year, Frank would occasionally call up subscribers and ask what they thought of the station. Since most of the feedback regarding programming was negative, rather than taking any of the suggestions to heart, he just stopped calling.
She only wants to talk about Edsels! Geesh, Lobo, stay on topic, will ya??!! <g>
Jimi - an interesting theory, but Skunks just isn't intelligent enough to have come up with it. IMO
Please be advised that a memorial service for the Q Television Network will be held this coming Sunday, May 7, at 11 AM, at Our Lady of the Perpetual Flosser chapel, 491 E. Ramon Road, Palm Springs, CA. Nonbelievers and recently released inmates under age 25 are encouraged to attend.
Featured speakers may include George Clooney, Ellen Degeneris, Alexis Fish, and Carrot Top.
A reception will immediately follow at the Top of the Tram. Musical accompaniment by the Von Trapp Family Singers - if they can make it over the mountain in time.
Please do not send flowers. Bring casseroles. Frank likes tuna.
Uhhhhhh.....for once in my vituperative, excoriant life....I'm speechless.
"Please tell me this isn't true......."
Sorry, florist, it's true. Reichen has gone home to live in Mom's finished rec room in the basement, and is currently sitting there, with just boxers on, drinking a Bud, eating Cheetos, and watching Logo...........
"did you bring that info to the board when it happened?"
I DON'T repeat rumors, lies, and untruths about my friends......except for that bitch Nicole, my former BFF....WHAT would you like to know about that c**t????
No, Skunks, sorry to disappoint you - I'm just a celebutante, like my idol, Paris Hilton. I get invited to ALL the fabulous Palm Springs parties!
I like peas, too! But, I like the bright green ones, not the olive drab colored ones - they taste kinda bitter. You??? How about you, Skunks???
"Delfino, were you invited to Frank's birthday party last year? If yes, why?"
Why are you hyperventilating about this? Palm Springs is a small town, Skunks. Everyone knows everyone. There were over two hundred people at the party. Quite a nice spread, actually - the jumbo chilled shrimp, the crab puffs, the beef carving station - although the chardonnay was a bit inferior.......
"Were you there?"
Yes. Next stupid question?
"like I said if you have any data that says the funds didn't go to the network post it, otherwise you are just talking in the air here"
I know! I know! Can I answer this one, Teacher??!!
How about the birthday party he threw for himself last year, with the ferris wheel, and the elephant rides, and Martha Wash from the Weather Girls.....all paid for out of company funds.
(Actually, the elephant ride was kinda cool.....)
Please, Ma'am - must we constantly remind you that this is a QBID board, and to stay 'on topic'?
Wow! Talk about the inmates running the asylum!!!! Doesn't ANYONE know ANYTHING at this company??!!
"QTN. Our Life. Our Way. Our Moldy Old Reruns that No One Wants to Watch"
So, let me get this 'straight'.....
Logo premiers the acclaimed documentary "The Ride", the drama series "Noah's Ark", the Willie Nelson video of "Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other" and a countdown of the 50 Greatest LGBT movies....
Here TV premiers the gay series "Dante's Cove", the 'talk of all the Gay Film Festivals' movies "Summer Storm" and "Poster Boy", and the Chad Allen gay detective series.....
And QTV premiers......a talk show featuring a Paul Lynde impersonator......... and 60-year old Looney Tunes cartoons. Whoa! Talk about edgy! And, why again, should anyone have subscribed to this station?
To paraphrase a dearly departed president's chief of staff "It's the Programming, Stupid!!!"
Huh??? The reasons behind the 'lack of subscriptions' is ABSOLUTELY material to this board. If you have nothing to contribute to this topic, then please discontinue your ridiculous posts and go away - and we'll gladly discuss it without you.