After rebirth, I became a great master

Chapter 410 Production and Broadcast Separation
Zhan Yushan said, "The leaders of the TV station are watching this matter closely, so we can't go against the grain. Don't worry, once this storm passes, Tang Shiyi can come back to be her producer. At that time, things will be the same as before."

"Then all that suffering was for nothing?"

Zhou Haoran disagreed.

“Don’t feel wronged. There’s still the ‘Host Competition’, right? You can make this project a success. Tang Shiyi isn’t suitable to take the lead right now, so you can have her work as a backstage planner. You also lack experience, so there’s… Hu Xiaochen, right? She’s the head of the ‘Family Matters’ production team. She’s experienced and qualified, so you can have her be the producer of the new program.”

Zhan Yushan had already arranged everything.

Just as Zhou Haoran had guessed, the "Host Competition" he had orchestrated indeed became a bargaining chip in the hands of Deputy Director Zhan.

Zhou Haoran nodded. "I think it's a good arrangement to have Hu Xiaochen as the producer. However, Tang Shiyi won't agree to be left out. She's taken on so much this time, we can't just let her off the hook like this."

Zhan Yushan knew this kid had a lot of ideas, so he smiled and said, "Just tell me what you want!"

"Shop, you flatter me too much. What demands do I have? I simply think Tang Shiyi is a talent in television. Only by making the best use of everyone's talents can our Lifestyle Channel become a pioneer of reform at Red Star TV and achieve even greater success!" Zhou Haoran adopted a humble attitude, then changed the subject, "Shop, when I came here earlier, I heard you discussing the next steps in your reforms?"

"Ah."

Zhan Yushan is actually in a rather passive position right now.

Logically, Lin Guiyan's life or death was none of his concern, but protecting Lin Guiyan would force Yi Changping to compromise, allowing him to extend his power into the entertainment channel. He couldn't afford to miss such a golden opportunity.

The only thing to consider is the resistance from people like Zhou Haoran, Hu Xiaochen, and Tang Shiyi.

It all depends on what kind of benefits are offered.

Zhou Haoran smiled and said, "I heard it's about separating production and broadcasting?"

"Hmm?" Zhan Yushan knew this kid was clever, and his expression immediately changed slightly. "You're not thinking of getting involved, are you?"

Zhou Haoran said, "Many people are afraid of reform, but I am not. If you want to promote the separation of production and broadcasting, and others don't do it, I will. The 'Host Competition' can become this model."

"A host competition?" Zhan Yushan immediately rejected the idea. "That's impossible!"

Zhou Haoran asked, "What's wrong?"

"We're still a long way from that point!" Zhan Yushan couldn't help but chuckle. "These kinds of variety and entertainment programs are strictly regulated. Even if I agree, the station would never approve it."

"Strict control?" Zhou Haoran frowned slightly. "It can't be that bad, can it?"

Zhan Yushan explained, "It's not just about strict management, but also about considering the interests of all parties. Self-produced programs should utilize the station's internal staff; hosts, directors, planners, makeup artists, etc., all have work to do, which is equivalent to employment opportunities. If production and broadcasting are separated, and outsiders come in, isn't that taking away our own people's jobs?"

Zhou Haoran asked, "Isn't the station pushing hard for the separation of production and broadcasting? Isn't this a key measure for Director Shan's next reform?"

"The separation of production and broadcasting must be done on the premise that it does not create a conflict of interest with the unit itself, otherwise it cannot be promoted."

Zhan Yushan thought this kid was daydreaming.

Zhou Haoran asked, "If variety shows don't work, what will?"

"TV drama."

"TV drama?"

"Yes, even for self-produced TV dramas, we find directors, screenwriters, and actors from outside; we don't steal our own people's jobs. Separating production and broadcasting from TV dramas will make things run more smoothly. As for variety entertainment programs, I estimate we'll have to wait another seven or eight years!"

Zhan Yushan's statement is still conservative.

In fact, the full-scale implementation of the separation of production and broadcasting in China, starting with Red Star TV, didn't begin until 2009.

Before this, we started with TV dramas as an experiment.

When external film and television companies produce films, they first use an outsourcing model, and later a purchasing model.

“TV dramas…” Zhou Haoran’s heart stirred slightly, feeling that this path might be even better than making variety shows. “At the booth, Red Star TV has a lot of local TV dramas now, such as ‘The Debt of Sin,’ ‘Old Uncle,’ ‘Children’s Love,’ ‘Harbor People in Tokyo,’ etc. Are they all self-produced dramas by our unit?”

Zhan Yushan said, "Yes, self-produced dramas."

Zhou Haoran said, "So, the next step for Red Star TV is to develop a TV series that separates production from broadcasting, right?"

"In terms of separating production and broadcasting of TV dramas, the port has fallen behind, while the eastern Guangdong province has taken the lead. For example, the TV drama 'Kangxi's Private Visits,' which became a nationwide hit this year, is a product of separation of production and broadcasting. Director Shan has decided that we must catch up with the trend as soon as possible."

Zhan Yushan is a vanguard of Director Shan Wendong, and always rushes to the front line.

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "At the booth, I am your vanguard. I can be at the forefront of reform."

"You?" Zhan Yushan found it unbelievable. "Didn't I explain it clearly just now? The so-called separation of production and broadcasting refers to TV dramas."

Zhou Haoran declared loudly, "The booth, I'm talking about TV dramas too!"

"Ok?"

"The risks of reform are too great. Taking the first step is a challenge for all parties. I'm not afraid. This is how I see it: Tang Shiyi must be upset about being punished this time. I tried to persuade her for two days, and she endured it, but this is still a ticking time bomb."

"Do you have a way to defuse this time bomb?"

Zhan Yushan shared this concern. This kind of situation couldn't be resolved quickly; the forged signatures were evidence, and could be reported and investigated at any time. If things escalated, it would affect his power and ultimately undermine the current positive momentum of reforms at Hongxing TV.

Zhou Haoran said in a deep voice, "It's simple, fire her!"

"Expelled?"

Zhan Yushan opened his eyes wide.

Zhou Haoran smiled and said, "Of course, we can't just fire them without giving them any benefits. I happen to know a businessman friend who has some money and is looking to invest in film and television. We can have them set up a film and television company, and we'll entrust them with the first task of separating production and broadcasting!"

"No, no, this won't do."

Zhan Yushan shook his head repeatedly, feeling that this was too unreliable.

Zhou Haoran was puzzled. "Why not? I'll just talk to my friend and ask Tang Shiyi to be the general manager. She'll be thrilled to go from being a TV producer to the general manager of a film and television company. That'll defuse the time bomb, won't it?"

"The reason why the separation of production and broadcasting is so difficult to promote is because the risks are too great. Making TV dramas is not as easy as you think. If it were that easy, all the TV stations in the country would have done it long ago. And all the wealthy people in the country would have invested in film and television dramas long ago."

Zhan Yushan was worried about the risks.

In the short term, TV dramas that separate production from broadcasting will most likely suffer losses.

At first, I was quite happy to have Tang Shiyi become the general manager.

But if losses occur and investors back down, she, as the general manager, might end up heavily in debt, and then the flames of anger would burn towards the TV station.

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "The exhibition booth is risky, which is why you should entrust it to me. Reform is very risky. If we cooperate with any outsider and lose a few million, the other party may cause trouble. Only I don't know how to handle these things."

"You?" Zhan Yushan was pleasantly surprised, his face flashing with excitement. "You can calm them down? You lost millions, and you're still okay?"

Zhou Haoran said calmly, "Doing business is all about taking responsibility for your own profits and losses. If you lose money, why would you come to the TV station? Booth, is your production and broadcasting separation plan stuck here?"

Zhan Yushan frankly admitted, "That's right! Hongxing TV wants to collaborate with outside film and television companies to develop TV series, but they can't find any partners! They've contacted several, but they're all using the old models!"

What is the old model?

Zhou Haoran was not quite aware of this.

Zhan Yushan provided an explanation. Red Star Media owns film and television production companies.

In the past, Red Star TV would make the requests for its self-produced dramas. For example, the recently popular self-produced drama "Harbor People in Tokyo" produced by Red Star TV had a production budget of 400 million yuan, which Red Star TV would pay to the film and television production company under Red Star Media.

The film and television company spent 340 million yuan to complete the filming, and the remaining 60 yuan is the company's profit.

Since they're all under the same company as Red Star Media, any profits are simply transferred from one hand to the other.

The disadvantages are also obvious.

If a TV series is successful, great; but what if it fails?

All losses will be borne by Red Star Media.

The core principle of "separation of production and broadcasting" is to introduce external funding to reduce the risks of self-produced dramas.

For example, with the TV series "Harbor People in Tokyo," if a production-broadcast separation model were adopted, Red Star TV would contribute 200 million yuan, and an external film and television company would invest 200 million yuan. If the production is successful, everyone would make money; if it fails, the TV station would lose less.

Meanwhile, the 200 million yuan saved by Hongxing TV can be used to produce another TV series!

In this way, Red Star TV will have more film and television content.

The problem now is that all the people in the country who understand film and television are in film studios and TV stations. There is not much talent in the general public, and not many people have the courage to enter the field and cooperate with TV stations.

Several of the partners are following the old model.

The TV station covered the costs.

If a TV station invests 100 million and you spend 80 to produce a film, the remaining 20 is profit; if a TV station invests 500 million and you spend 400 million to produce a film, the remaining 100 million is all profit.

This means that all the risks fall on the television station.

There is a lack of a spirit of risk-sharing.

Mr. Deng, the producer of "Kangxi's Private Visits", was once a hidden bigwig in the domestic film and television industry. This was mainly because he entered the industry early, had courage, and dared to help the TV station take risks, which allowed him to quickly accumulate industry connections and sleep with a number of female stars.

Zhou Haoran then asked, "What is the new model?"

Zhan Yushan said, "The new model is to jointly invest and share the risks."

"If we share the risks, how do we share the benefits?"

Zhou Haoran felt that he had found another opportunity to be both a referee and a player.

Zhan Yushan said, "Selling films, like 'Kangxi's Private Visits.' The copyright belongs to a film and television company in Guangdong Province. After the cooperating TV station finishes broadcasting the first run, the cooperating party can find more TV stations to sell the second and third runs. As long as the quality of the film is good, it can make money. I heard that 'Kangxi's Private Visits' made at least 700 million! They've already started making a second season."

Zhou Haoran's eyes lit up. "Can the partner obtain the copyright?"

"Local TV stations aren't as domineering as CCTV."

Zhan Yushan also knew that if he didn't offer his partners enough benefits, they simply wouldn't be willing to cooperate with local TV stations.

Zhou Haoran felt a clear understanding in his mind: "Is this the model for 'Kangxi's Private Visits'?"

Zhan Yushan said, "That's right. Didn't you see that this TV series is broadcast on many TV stations across the country, but not on Crown TV? That's because the copyright is held by the partner. If we cooperated with Crown TV, the copyright would be monopolized by Crown TV."

Zhou Haoran understood and said without hesitation, "Exhibition booth, how about I take the lead? I'll be your vanguard!"

"Do you have any idea?"

Zhan Yushan's eyes burned with excitement. The separation of production and broadcasting that had been troubling him for months seemed to have found an opportunity in this kid.

Zhou Haoran said seriously, "First, we can fire Tang Shiyi and eliminate future troubles; second, we can find a breakthrough for the separation of production and broadcasting at Red Star TV and create the first TV series with this separation!"

"Don't make such boasts..." Zhan Yushan said with some concern, "Haoran, this is no joke. The cost of producing a TV series is much higher now than it was a few years ago. It costs at least two or three million to produce one!"

"Money is not a problem, as long as the booth provides some flexibility so that the TV series can be quickly approved, filmed, approved, and broadcast, eliminating all the pain points at each stage. Even if it ends up losing money, it's because their production skills are insufficient. If things really escalate, I'll mediate!"

Zhou Haoran spoke with great force.

Zhan Yushan said excitedly, "Haoran, if you can really get this done, it will be a great achievement! Once the separation of production and broadcasting is successfully implemented and the station establishes a film and television drama center, I will nominate you to be the deputy director!"

……

That night.

Zhou Haoran, Tang Shiyi, Hu Xiaochen, Qiao Suiqing, and Hong Zhenru went to the famous Red House French Restaurant for dinner.

Hong Zhenru was timid and nervous as it was her first time there.

Although it was also Tang Shiyi's first time, she was much more open and even spoke a few words of French, which was quite surprising.

Her whereabouts became everyone's biggest concern.

"Teacher Tang, where are you going?"

Hong Zhenru looked concerned.

Tang Shiyi wore a long dress today, with her long hair draped over her shoulders, and looked much gentler than she does at work.

He simply shook his head slightly, offering no response.

Zhou Haoran thought to himself that this person was really strange.

Is it tiring to answer just one question?
He quickly spoke up, saying, "I'm resigning and leaving Red Star TV."

"Huh? Leave the company?" Hong Zhenru's eyes widened, somewhat angry, her eyes instantly reddening. "Then...then I won't do it either!"

Zhou Haoran chuckled and said, "Where are you going if you quit? Team Leader Hu is starting a new program and he'll need your help!"

"A new segment?"

Hong Zhenru blinked and looked at Hu Xiaochen.

Hu Xiaochen had already received advance notice from her mentor: "I'm going to produce the 'Youth Host Competition,' are you coming?"

"Let's go!" Hong Zhenru said enthusiastically, but then became suspicious. "Where's Teacher Tang? Isn't she coming along?"

Zhou Haoran said, "She wants to go out and start her own company and become her own boss."

"Start a company? What kind of company?"

Hong Zhenru became excited.

Zhou Haoran answered for him, "A film and television company."

"What's your name?"

Hong Zhenru's eyes shone brightly; she felt that owning a company and being a boss was very prestigious and worthy of Teacher Tang's talent.

Tang Shiyi finally spoke, saying calmly, "My surname is Tang, so my name is Tangren Film and Television."

(End of this chapter)