he was looking for new business partners in the U.S. WorldConnect, based in the small town of Calhoun, Louisiana, had been seeking to expand its business beyond its traditional focus on internet protocol television.
Boyett and Flood were known in the area for their connections to powerful Republican figures, including Davison. The two men had previously worked with Davison on political campaigns and business ventures, and their relationship with him helped open doors for WorldConnect in the Louisiana business community.
WorldConnect eventually formed a joint venture with JedTec, registered to Davison, to broker the deal between TMTG and Perception. Despite their lack of a clear role in the deal, WorldConnect and JedTec walked away with a substantial finders’ fee valued at $155 million.
The deal raised eyebrows in the industry due to Perception’s history of working with state-backed propaganda networks and sanctioned entities. However, Vidmar defended Perception’s past work, stating that they operated within the regulatory and licensing requirements of the countries they worked in.
TMTG’s decision to work with Perception and its partners has drawn criticism from some in the industry, who question the wisdom of partnering with a company with such a controversial past. However, TMTG remains committed to building its own content delivery network to avoid reliance on traditional tech companies.
As the media landscape continues to evolve, the relationships between tech companies, media organizations, and political figures will likely come under increasing scrutiny. The deal between TMTG, Perception, WorldConnect, and JedTec serves as a reminder of the complex web of relationships that underpin the modern media industry.