#268 John Malone Cable Cowboy

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• Summer Redstone accused John C. Malone of seizing monopoly power in the American cable industry through aggressive tactics.
• Redstone's lawsuit claimed Malone controlled key stages of cable programming delivery, resulting in a "monopoly tax" paid by consumers.
• The excerpt from the lawsuit was included in Mark Robichaux's book "Cable Cowboy: John Malone and the Rise of the Modern Cable Business."

"That man has inflicted antitrust injury on my company and virtually every american consumer of cable services and technologies."

The quote expresses Summer Redstone's accusation that John C. Malone's control over the cable industry has caused harm to both Redstone's company and consumers, suggesting monopolistic practices.

• Malone prioritized long-term value through leveraged cash flow, disregarding short-term earnings.
• He believed in owning both the infrastructure ("pipes") and the content ("water") to control the cable market.
• Malone's operational style was lean, with a disdain for bureaucracy.
• He protected his core business by using a web of subsidiaries to mitigate risk.
• Malone viewed himself primarily as a deal-maker, with a remarkable rate of mergers and acquisitions.
• Redstone described Malone with a complex personality, both criticized and admired.

"Malone believed in building long term value through leveraged cash flow. Earnings didn't count."

This quote summarizes Malone's focus on building sustainable, long-term value over short-term profit, indicating a strategic approach to business growth.

• Malone critiqued professional managers without ownership stakes, advocating for equity ownership to align managerial interests with company success.
• He believed that managers with equity are more focused on economic gains rather than internal power struggles.

"If you give managers equity ownership, they can focus on fighting for economics rather than wasting energy fighting for control."

The quote emphasizes Malone's philosophy that equity ownership for managers leads to better alignment with company goals, as they are incentivized to improve the company's economic performance.

• The cable industry began with entrepreneurs building rural antenna services.
• These early beginnings eventually evolved into a network that provided high-speed internet to Americans.
• John Malone was a key figure in the transformation of the cable industry over a 50-year period.

"The very beginning of industries are always filled with cowboys, pirates and misfits."

This quote reflects the author's interest in the early, formative stages of industries, characterized by unconventional entrepreneurs who laid the groundwork for future developments.

• Malone was seen as both a visionary and a controversial figure in the business world.
• Critics viewed him as a monopoly leader using Machiavellian tactics.
• Malone's approach to business included complex deal structures and financial strategies that often confused investors and analysts.

"Malone symbolized a much more ominous side of business to critics, consumers, and competitors."

The quote captures the dual perception of Malone as both an influential business leader and a figure who garnered criticism for his aggressive tactics.

• TCI was founded by Bob Magnus, who was later joined by John Malone.
• Magnus was characterized by his risk-taking and debt accumulation to fuel company growth.
• The company faced financial challenges, which led Magnus to recruit Malone.
• Malone accepted a lower salary but was compensated with stock options and the opportunity to lead the company.

"I can't pay you very much, Bob told him one day, but you've got a great future here if you can create it."

This quote illustrates the moment Bob Magnus offered John Malone the opportunity to shape the future of TCI, despite the financial difficulties and lower pay.

• John C. Malone honed the skill of listening to understand customer needs, similar to a poker player reading opponents.
• Michael Jordan emphasized the importance of listening for success.
• Bob Magnus listened to hitchhikers discussing a community antenna system, which sparked his interest in the CATV business.

"malone learned to listen instead of talk. And within a short time, he could read a customer like a poker player, anticipating what that person wanted from the deal moments into the negotiation."

This quote illustrates Malone's ability to listen actively and anticipate customer needs, which is crucial in negotiations and business dealings.

• Bob Magnus learned about the CATV business from hitchhikers and a business partner.
• The CATV business was seen as a "license to steal" due to its high-profit potential.
• Magnus decided to build a CATV system in a small town, charging a fee for free TV signals he received.

"So he's giving these two hitchhikers a ride, and he says the two men told him that they had just built a big community antenna system."

This quote shows the serendipitous moment when Magnus first heard about the CATV business, an opportunity that he would later capitalize on.

• Betsy supported Bob's business idea, and they took financial risks to invest in cable.
• They sold cattle, mortgaged their home, and borrowed money to fund the venture.
• The initial investment eventually turned into substantial wealth for future generations.

"Betsy told Bob that she would do anything to support his idea. So they decided to bet the ranch, literally, on cable."

This quote highlights the importance of spousal support and the willingness to make significant sacrifices for entrepreneurial ventures.

• Bob and Betsy expanded their business to over 200 markets within 20 years.
• The company culture involved resilience, with employees working under harsh conditions.
• Bob created a close-knit team environment, symbolized by evening discussions over drinks.

"Extreme behavior is found at the very beginning of the industries."

This quote underscores the challenges and commitment required at the start of a new industry, which Bob Magnus and his team exemplified.

• Cable TV systems in the 1970s had high installation charges and monthly fees.
• The business model allowed for high cash flow, servicing debt, and tax advantages due to depreciation.
• Despite the financial success, Bob experienced immense stress and turned to alcohol.

"The average cable system enjoyed a profit margin of 57%, far fatter than most businesses at the time."

This quote describes the lucrative nature of the early cable industry and the economic principles that underpinned its success.

• The weight of TCI's debt and the complexities of managing a public company caused Bob immense stress.
• Bob's coping mechanism for the anxiety and pressure was alcohol consumption.

"The weight of TCI's debt threatened to topple the empire that he and Betsy had worked so slavishly to build."

This quote emphasizes the personal toll that debt and responsibility can have on an entrepreneur, even in the face of potential success.

• John Malone faced significant challenges in his first year at TCI, including the company's first reported loss.
• Malone's personal finances suffered, and his lifestyle was significantly affected.
• Despite hardships, Malone's drive and intelligence were shaped by his father's expectations and work ethic.

"For Malone, all this was painful to his pride and a blow to his personal finances."

This quote reflects the difficulties Malone faced early on at TCI, highlighting the personal sacrifices involved in leading a struggling company.

• John Malone's relentless drive was influenced by his father's high expectations and emphasis on hard work.
• Malone's father rarely offered praise, setting a high standard that John strove to meet.

"More than anyone, Dan Malone would shape his son's destiny."

This quote captures the profound impact of parental influence on the ambition and drive of an individual, in this case, John Malone.

• John Malone identified the potential of the cable industry while consulting for a cable equipment maker.
• His understanding of economies of scale from one industry helped him recognize similar opportunities in cable.
• Malone's strategy mirrored the efficiency and competence of successful entrepreneurs like Rockefeller.

"Malone's career is another example of that. Because he goes from McKinsey, right? He's working at McKinsey for a cable equipment operator."

This quote illustrates how deep industry knowledge can lead to the identification of new opportunities and the foresight to capitalize on them.

• John C. Malone is frustrated with the management of NTA, a subsidiary of TCI, due to its financial losses and excessive spending.
• NTA is described metaphorically as a "cancer on the tail of a beautiful dog," implying it's damaging the reputation and finances of TCI.
• Malone demonstrates a no-nonsense approach to cost management, contrasting with the lavish spending of NTA executives.
• The financial situation at TCI is dire, with Malone acting more like a treasurer than a president in the early years, fending off lenders and managing debt.
• Malone's fear of failure and loss of respect motivates his rigorous cost-cutting and control over company expenses.
• He devises a strategy focused on leveraging tax sheltered cash flow to grow TCI, disregarding short-term profits in favor of long-term value creation.

NTA was bleeding money. It lost a million dollars in 1973 and then 4 million in 1974. Malone called Bob. Bob, you're gonna have to find two new top executives, he said through clenched teeth, because I'm going to throw the NTA president out of the fucking window, and then he'll be dead and I'll be in jail.

These quotes emphasize the severity of NTA's financial losses and Malone's extreme dissatisfaction with its management, leading to decisive action to protect TCI's interests.

• Malone's business philosophy aligns with Warren Buffett's view that managers of efficient operations continue to find cost-cutting methods, while high-cost operation managers find ways to increase overhead.
• TCI's history under Malone's leadership is marked by significant debt management during a period of economic difficulty, including avoiding bill collectors.
• Malone's focus shifts from rapid expansion to stringent cost control, personally overseeing significant expenses.
• He develops a theory of value based on tax-sheltered cash flow and leveraging, rather than reported income, to build wealth.
• Malone's strategy eventually attracts the right shareholders, allowing TCI to raise capital through equity markets rather than relying on bank loans.

Our experience has been that the manager of an already high cost operation frequently is uncommonly resourceful in finding new ways to add overhead, while the manager of a tightly run operation usually continues to find additional methods to curtail costs, even when his costs are already well below those of his competitors. If TCI ever did report a profit, Malone would fire the accountants.

These quotes reflect the contrasting business strategies between high-cost and low-cost operations, and Malone's preference for the latter, as well as his unique view on profitability and value creation.

• Malone's strategy extends beyond cable distribution to include content ownership, starting with an investment in Black Entertainment Television (BET).
• His quick decision-making enables rapid acquisition and growth, as demonstrated by the 45-minute deal with BET founder Robert Johnson.
• Malone's practice of demanding equity stakes in exchange for cable distribution leads to accusations of monopolistic behavior.
• He strategically grows TCI during economic downturns by acquiring assets at a discount.
• Malone's frugality and lean operation model are key to TCI's success, avoiding unnecessary expenses and staff.

Malone thought that TCI could own both the pipe and the water flowing through it, the cable wire and the cable programming. I'll buy 20% of your company for $180,000, and I'll loan you the rest.

These quotes illustrate Malone's ambition to control both cable distribution and content, and his assertive approach to business deals, which contributes to TCI's growth and competitive edge.

• Malone's business philosophy prioritizes appreciating assets over reported earnings, focusing on long-term wealth creation.
• He fosters a tight-knit management team with a strong sense of loyalty and commitment.
• TCI operates with a decentralized structure, granting autonomy to its divisions and promoting efficiency.
• Malone's control over cable distribution allows TCI to negotiate favorable terms with cable networks, leveraging its subscriber base for investment opportunities.
• TCI's frugal corporate culture contrasts with the corporate norms of the time, emphasizing practicality over image.

Forget about earnings. That's a priesthood of the accounting profession. What you're really after is appreciating assets. We do not believe in staff, John said. Staff are people who second guess people.

These quotes highlight Malone's disregard for conventional earnings reports in favor of asset appreciation and his lean approach to corporate structure, rejecting the need for a large staff or branding efforts.

• John Malone viewed building wealth as a moral achievement.
• There was criticism over customer relations and price increases in Malone's business practices.
• Malone's philosophy involved charging maximum prices and minimizing service costs.

The problem is, some of that wealth came at the expense of his customers instead of in service of his customers.

This quote emphasizes the ethical dilemma in Malone's approach to wealth accumulation, suggesting it was at the expense of customer satisfaction.

• John Malone owned a monopoly in the cable industry.
• Cord-cutters, often younger individuals, opted for internet services over cable, highlighting customer dissatisfaction.
• Malone anticipated government intervention and proactively restructured his company.

This idea was like, oh, the outcry over lousy customer relations and price increases was merely a byproduct of good business.

The quote reflects Malone's dismissive attitude towards customer complaints, viewing them as an unavoidable aspect of a profitable business strategy.

• Malone formed Liberty Media to avoid government breakup of TCI.
• He realized that true wealth comes from ownership, influenced by Ted Turner.
• The spinoff allowed for greater financial upside for Malone.

Malone suspected that government regulators would try to force him to split TCI in two.

This quote indicates Malone's strategic foresight in restructuring his business to preempt government regulation and enhance his ownership stake.

• Malone was motivated by the wealth accumulation of peers like Ted Turner.
• He sought to exit the cable operating business due to its political and regulatory challenges.
• Malone's list of goals and objectives reflected his desire for reduced stress and more enjoyment.

Gee, John Turner told Malone, I'm getting rich and Bob's getting rich, and the only one that's not getting rich is you.

This quote shows Malone's realization, prompted by Turner, that despite his hard work, he was not achieving the same level of personal wealth as his contemporaries.

• Malone wanted to align his daily activities with his personal goals.
• He used Steve Jobs' philosophy of living each day to its fullest as a guide.
• Malone's exit from TCI was driven by his desire for a life more in tune with his personal values.

Figure out what you want your life to be, and then work backwards from that.

The quote encapsulates Malone's introspective approach to aligning his professional life with his personal aspirations, leading to his decision to sell TCI.

• Malone experienced depression after a failed deal to sell TCI.
• He took a step back from day-to-day operations, indicating his disengagement.
• The emotional toll of the business and the loss of a mentor affected Malone deeply.

John Malone fell into a deep depression.

This quote highlights the psychological impact of a significant professional setback on Malone, affecting his involvement in the company.

• Malone's contemplation of his father's expectations and his mentor's influence shaped his drive.
• The death of his mentor, Bob, and the inheritance of wealth by family members emphasized the importance of legacy.
• Malone's emotional response to these events underscores their impact on his life decisions.

I am driven by my desire to please my dad.

The quote reveals the deep-seated personal motivations behind Malone's professional drive, rooted in his relationship with his father.

• The original cable entrepreneurs were replaced by corporate ownership, changing the industry's landscape.
• Malone's advice to young people reflects the importance of industry founders' involvement.
• Post-TCI, Malone continued to pursue business ventures with passion.

The cable industry was an industry where few original cable entrepreneurs were still around.

This quote signifies the transformation of the cable industry from entrepreneurial beginnings to corporate management, influencing Malone's perspective on the industry.

• Despite speculation about retirement, Malone remained active in building Liberty.
• His actions were driven by a passion for business and deal-making.
• Malone sought a balance between public life and personal satisfaction, eventually choosing privacy.

John Malone was nowhere near done.

This quote captures Malone's enduring ambition and his refusal to settle into retirement, reflecting his dedication to continuous growth and success.