Monster9 went bankrupt

[arsenette]

Thanks. Explains why there's a big question mark over the Sasuke question which up to this point was the last viable Monster 9 production.

[RiderLeangle]

Nov 14, 2011 22:06:30 GMT -5 lostinube said:

I don't think M9 has much in the way of physical assets.

The only thing they would even have is a bunch of old obstacles (whether in storage or retired, we know they at least keep some old obstacles around if revivals of the arm bike twice and balance tank are any indication)

[arsenette]

Nov 14, 2011 22:14:12 GMT -5 RiderLeangle said:

Nov 14, 2011 22:06:30 GMT -5 lostinube said:

I don't think M9 has much in the way of physical assets.

The only thing they would even have is a bunch of old obstacles (whether in storage or retired, we know they at least keep some old obstacles around if revivals of the arm bike twice and balance tank are any indication)

He means in terms of assets like buildings and whatnot... they already sold the Sportsman #1 stuff earlier this year, closed Odaiba and sold the rights to Chitose just a couple months ago. Do they even have Shibuya theater? Meaning.. did they fix it at all or did they sell the building? Personally I thought it was crazy for M9 to pay rent in the Ao building.. they should have stayed where they were. Oh well..

[SuperTiger]

What does this mean for the Muscle Musical?

[RiderLeangle]

Nov 14, 2011 22:48:56 GMT -5 SuperTiger said:

What does this mean for the Muscle Musical?

I second this question, wouldn't that be pretty much their only source of income? (Well... Besides maybe those little cell phone games and Sasuke Challenger but those can't make much...)

[arsenette]

Nov 14, 2011 22:48:56 GMT -5 SuperTiger said:

What does this mean for the Muscle Musical?

All part of the same company.. they haven't been existing for months.. ever since Shibuya theater was condemned for code violations and they were thrown out. I'm not even sure they even reopened the theater.. they had been traveling the whole summer since they couldn't use Shibuya theater (which M9 bought/built last year). Vegas also ended their run in July so there's nothing going on here.

I'm still just flabbergasted.. where the hell is M9 going to come up with $46 million (US) to pay their 35 creditors including TBS?

[Deleted]

C'mon Obama bail Monster 9 out!

... seriously though, I'd give more of a saddened response, but I expected this day would come for quite some time now. I still haven't even watch Sasuke 27 ffs.

I like Phillip, feel a little bit disappointed that the training I've done, my dream to be on Sasuke, is over, but again, I sort of braced for this a while ago, so it's not of HUGE surprise.

I have to say thank you to Sasuke and Monster 9, they changed my life for the better and without them, I wouldn't have different friends, this online community, a healthier and more productive lifestyle, and some cool muscles They really shifted my life into a higher gear. So I'm grateful that Sasuke even existed in the first place.

[Christopher Layne]

On the bright side, Yamamoto-san seemed a bit more upbeat about things tonight. He was asked by another friend if Sasuke was over and he responded that it was likely, but that he hasn't given up hope.

I sent him a PM with a couple of other questions and asked if he'd talked to the other all-stars and if so, how were they taking the news (I was tempted to ask if Yamada was on suicide watch, but thought better of it ). If he responds, I'll post an update.

[arsenette]

LOL Chris I think because there's still a huge question mark on how Sasuke is to be affected directly there's still a sliver of hope. Creditors will ultimately decide if M9 can go ahead with it... even if it's to pay debt.. but that meeting won't be until March as was reported earlier.. We'll see. Fingers crossed ya'll!

[lostinube]

Note: don't expect TBS (which already invests in M9) to come bail them out since they have their own money problems. They finally sold off the Yokohama Baystars to DeNa (owners of Mobage) which was a money suck for years but they are still struggling.

[arsenette]

Nov 15, 2011 0:01:07 GMT -5 lostinube said:

Note: don't expect TBS (which already invests in M9) to come bail them out since they have their own money problems. They finally sold off the Yokohama Baystars to DeNa (owners of Mobage) which was a money suck for years but they are still struggling.

I know I didn't.. especially since they are listed as one of the creditors OWED money by M9 (reported earlier).

Didn't know that about them even owning a Team..

[lostinube]

headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20111114-00000301-teikokudb-ind

Creditors have until December 16th to file. Meeting is March 12th at 1:30 PM (that's oddly specific). The lawyer who will be acting as the trustee is one Shuuji Kitagawa: www.kitagawa-law.jp/sub1.html

Mentioned earlier in the thread is the concept of window dressing. For those who are not familiar with the term: simplestudies.com/what-is-window-dressing-in-accounting.html/page/2

That means that it is entirely possible that G4 went into SASUKE 27/ANW 3 thinking that everything was fine and that there would be future for the show, especially if they were now also putting their money into it.

Also, M9, via Digital 9 was serving as an agent for some of the members of the Muscle Musical. I wonder if they were taking a bite out of their outside bookings. Almost all of the MM members were doing other things even while the show was going on.

[yamfriend]

This is probably a stupid question, but is it possible that if TBS or M9 made DVDs available for many of the M9 programs across multiple DVD regions (i.e. not just Japan), they could use the profits from sales to alleviate the debts a bit? Even if it's not much, it's one thing that could potentially help, plus the fans would be happy to finally have easy access to all of the M9 programs. Or would this just lead to more financial problems for them, especially if this plan backfires?

[lostinube]

The royalties from the DVDs would probably be going every which way so it's unlikely that it would make any significant dent in the losses.

[detroitlolcat]

Nov 15, 2011 0:36:17 GMT -5 yamfriend said:

This is probably a stupid question, but is it possible that if TBS or M9 made DVDs available for many of the M9 programs across multiple DVD regions (i.e. not just Japan), they could use the profits from sales to alleviate the debts a bit? Even if it's not much, it's one thing that could potentially help, plus the fans would be happy to finally have easy access to all of the M9 programs. Or would this just lead to more financial problems for them, especially if this plan backfires?

I think this has been covered earlier, but I don't think M9 has the money to make the DVDs, and if they did, I doubt it'd be even close to close to enough to even start picking away at that debt.

It doesn't look like Sasuke's getting out of this alive unless someone bails them out or buys Sasuke, and I think M9's powerless in this situation (except they would have to censent to giving away the Sasuke trademarks and stuff) because of the massive debt.

[arsenette]

Nov 15, 2011 0:31:47 GMT -5 lostinube said:

headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20111114-00000301-teikokudb-ind

Creditors have until December 16th to file. Meeting is March 12th at 1:30 PM (that's oddly specific). The lawyer who will be acting as the trustee is one Shuuji Kitagawa: www.kitagawa-law.jp/sub1.html

Mentioned earlier in the thread is the concept of window dressing. For those who are not familiar with the term: simplestudies.com/what-is-window-dressing-in-accounting.html/page/2

That means that it is entirely possible that G4 went into SASUKE 27/ANW 3 thinking that everything was fine and that there would be future for the show, especially if they were now also putting their money into it.

Also, M9, via Digital 9 was serving as an agent for some of the members of the Muscle Musical. I wonder if they were taking a bite out of their outside bookings. Almost all of the MM members were doing other things even while the show was going on.

Wow.. that's interesting stuff about the window dressing and if that was going on in G4's camp that explains a LOT about their PR leading up to 27 and how they dealt with questions about that article.. I got a crapload of hate from G4 people online and on twitter for that and ultimately the competitors since G4 was adamant that Sasuke was fine after asking TBS back in February.... I've known for a while M9 wasn't exactly doing things uhm.. above board but hard to pin down without physical evidence. Should be interesting what gets published.

Thanks for the dates as well as I was very curious the process. If they filed on Friday that's VERY fast.. not even USA bankruptcies go that quickly..

Yamfriend I'm not sure. Going to ask TBS if I get an answer back for an email. TBS co-owns the recorded broadcast and they can make money off it if done correctly. So who knows. It is a possibility and if Sasuke is done then that won't be a problem of ruining future broadcasts around the world (M9's earlier argument) since there won't be any...

[SRW]

It cannot end till Nagano wins a second time!!! Travesty!

Such sad news SASUKE is done!

[watchingtv]

I'd rather it end now, than do a 28 just for the hell of it. Just too bad they couldn't go upto 30.

[RiderLeangle]

I have to say something, after hearing this suddenly the over-insertion of ANW, Hoping that more swing of Sasuke (Like sending a 10th of the field) was an attempt to try to get more of Comcast's money and to keep them happy.

Also yes I know this whole thing is crushing but, If it had to end, I'm glad 27 was the tournament it ended on

[dudesky1000]

How come I nearly get banned for putting a non-explicit 27 spoiler in spoiler tags yet people are putting major spoilers (pictures even) and not getting in any trouble? I thought there were no 27 spoilers in the general board...

To add to the conversation I do hope that someone in America/Malaysia picks this up in some way. Those obstacles have to go somewhere, you know (like the pro sportsman set). And if not there are SO many avid fans of the show that I wouldn't be surprised to see entire course replicas one day, with people being invited to compete.