After rebirth, I became a great master

Chapter 601 Reporting on Kneels
Looking down on TVB dramas is not just Zhou Haoran's attitude, but a common consensus in the domestic television industry at this stage.

You can tell from the price.

The price of a typical domestically produced drama is about 20 yuan per episode, while the price of a high-quality drama is 30 yuan.

If it's a Qiong Yao drama or a Jin Yong drama, the price could reach 35 yuan.

TVB dramas are different.

The price per episode ranges from 8000 to 1 yuan.

If it's a popular TVB drama that created a ratings phenomenon, the price per episode can be between 2 and 5 yuan.

That's about the price!
There's no way around it; the purchase price is closely related to the cost.

TVB dramas have such low production costs, and other television stations aren't being taken advantage of either, so their bids are all very low.

Until this summer, things changed.

That is "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," which set a record for being broadcast simultaneously in 19 provinces.

Dong Lan has finally returned from the Hong Kong government.

The first thing he did was not to consult with his work unit, but to report to Zhou Haoran.

So we went straight to the dating cabin.

Neither official nor personal matters should be neglected.

As soon as she entered the room, Dong Lan began to take off her clothes.

Zhou Haoran had just sat down, still on the phone with Aunt Nuan, when he turned around and saw that Dong Lan was already naked, her right leg slightly crossed, one hand on her hip, seductively displaying her figure.

"Alright, Aunt Nuan, I'll talk to you later. A woman is trying to seduce me, I'm going to have some fun."

"Huh? In the middle of the day..."

I'll come over to your place tonight!

Zhou Haoran ended the phone call.

Dong Lan swayed her hips and walked over with a seductive gait, gently taking his arm and teasingly saying, "Master, come and play."

Zhou Haoran chuckled and said, "What's your hurry?"

"This servant misses her master."

Dong Lan's eyes seemed to speak volumes, and she knew exactly what methods were most exciting and attractive.

Seeing that she was trying to control him, Zhou Haoran naturally refused to admit defeat.

He casually sat down on the sofa and pointed to the floor beneath his feet.

"Come here and kneel down."

"Yes, Master."

Dong Lan smiled and knelt down gracefully.

She was stopped just as she was about to reach out and touch his belt.

Zhou Haoran said seriously, "Kneel down properly and tell me what's going on at TVB?"

Dong Lan was slightly taken aback, then realized that he wanted her to kneel down and report to him.

Her face flushed crimson instantly.

A hint of melancholy lingered in his voice.

She didn't refute him, but knelt before him without breaking a sweat, telling him what she had learned from TVB and the new model for establishing a long-term cooperative relationship.

"For the past ten years or so, TVB has been selling dramas to mainland TV stations. The purchase price has always been very low, and the distribution has not been smooth. TVB felt that it lacked connections, so it found several distributors."

Dong Lan also felt a little embarrassed by this behavior, so she kept it brief.

"Nothing was wrong at first, until the 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' incident. TVB sold the rights to 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' to a domestic distributor for HK$500 million. The series has 45 episodes, which is equivalent to tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars per episode, quite expensive, and completely covered the production cost of the series."

"But this summer, all the major TV stations are scrambling to get their hands on 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'!"

Zhou Haoran immediately realized the crux of the problem.

Dong Lan nodded slightly, "That's right. In the summer, major TV stations were vying for 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils,' with each episode costing over 10 yuan and the total price reaching four or five million yuan."

"Nineteen provincial satellite TV stations each contributed four to five million yuan, which adds up to nearly 100 million yuan!"

Zhou Haoran finally understood why TVB was so eager to change its cooperation model with the mainland.

It wasn't because Mr. Da went south to save the market that moved Shao Yifu.

It was the old operating model that caused TVB to suffer huge losses!

With Mr. Da heading south and Tangren Media making a high-profile effort to promote comprehensive cooperation between the harbor and the Hong Kong government's entertainment industry, TVB can take advantage of the situation and find a more reasonable cooperation method that aligns with its own interests.

Utilization is inherently reciprocal.

Zhou Haoran exclaimed with emotion, "Even such a crudely made set drama like 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' has become a phenomenon!"

"Although the second round of procurement price was only half that of 'Princess Pearl,' 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' has 45 episodes, so the overall price is about the same as 'Princess Pearl.' Moreover, it was summer vacation, and all the major TV stations were vying for viewers, which drove up the price."

As the business director of Red Star TV, Dong Lan went south to TVB again, which can be considered to bridge the information gap.

I have come to understand the whole picture of this matter.

"So that's why they're holding onto the copyright of 'The Deer and the Cauldron' for so long?"

Zhou Haoran had been to the Hong Kong government, so he naturally knew what the most popular TV series there was recently: another Jin Yong drama that had just created a ratings phenomenon on TVB, "The Deer and the Cauldron" starring Jordan Chan.

Dong Lan said softly, "TVB believes that 'The Deer and the Cauldron' can become a phenomenon in mainland China just like 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils,' and they are no longer willing to accept the old buy-out distribution system."

"If a buyout doesn't work, then let's split the profits."

Zhou Haoran had long been certain that the main reason he sent Dong Lan to the Hong Kong government was because he had his eye on "The Deer and the Cauldron".

This drama's popularity in mainland China even surpasses that of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils." This kind of highly relatable "polygamy" storyline is truly a first for mainland audiences. Past films and television dramas featuring polygamy were either critical or only briefly touched upon, unlike "The Deer and the Cauldron," which evokes such strong immersion for the protagonist.

Dong Lan said, "Yes, we will share the revenue. The preliminary agreement is that 'The Deer and the Cauldron' will premiere on Red Star TV to give the market time to react. When it is broadcast on various provincial satellite TV stations in the second round, a revenue-sharing system will be adopted."

"Yes, that was the same framework when I first talked to Shao Yifu."

Zhou Haoran was the mastermind behind this whole affair.

Between Red Star TV and TVB, Tangren Media must be added.

TVB has no business in mainland China.

Red Star TV has no business with the Hong Kong government.

Tangren Media has business in both mainland China and Hong Kong, which could be a point of intersection for both parties.

“If possible…” Dong Lan, the leader in charge of film and television business at Red Star TV, knelt up straight with eager eyes, “Ideally, Red Star TV could complete the broadcast of ‘The Deer and the Cauldron’ this year.”

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "You're quite dedicated!"

Dong Lan bit her lip and said, "I'm also considering Tangren Media's interests. If the cooperation goes through, 'The Deer and the Cauldron' will be the first project between Tangren Media and TVB, so we must make sure it's done well. If the second round of bidding is held during the winter break, there's a good chance that major TV stations will be scrambling to buy it."

"Yeah, that's true."

Zhou Haoran nodded.

TVB dramas are different from other local dramas.

Some TVB dramas are very popular in Hong Kong, but they flop when they are introduced to the mainland. Therefore, TVB dramas need a longer trial period.

Take, for example, "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils".

It was first tested on the general channel of Hongxing TV, and the effect was very good.

It was then bought by Red Star TV and premiered on national satellite TV. Not only did it achieve high ratings, but it also successfully broke out of its niche, sparking a martial arts craze in society, which finally attracted the attention of major satellite TV stations across the country.

The purchase price in the second round was almost the same as the initial broadcast price.

This is based on the premise that risk and opportunity coexist.

A successful trial run is equivalent to a low-priced premiere, yielding substantial profits. A failed trial, with low viewership on the television station, might result in the need to refund advertising fees to advertisers.

If Tangren Media wants to establish a longer-term and more stable partnership, it must consider both the risks of testing the waters with Red Star TV and the potential revenue from the success of TVB dramas.

The goal is to satisfy all parties.

A truly excellent drama can be directly broadcast in mainland China. However, there are also exceptionally good dramas that fail to become popular in mainland China for various reasons. In such cases, a remake is not an option; a more roundabout strategy should be adopted.

For example, "The Drunken Master" is, overall, no worse than "Princess Pearl".

But some details are just awful.

Too nonsensical and absurd.

Although "My Fair Princess" is also absurd and nonsensical, Taiwanese dramas are more restrained in this regard.

Hong Kong dramas are different; they truly crush the audience's intelligence. Hong Kong viewers, who have been educated by TVB for many years, can still accept it, but mainland viewers simply can't stand it, resulting in a rather lukewarm overall viewership.

If it were remade, discarding the dross and keeping the essence, it would surely be a phenomenal hit!

"I think we should push forward with the cooperation with TVB as soon as possible and sign the contract. Otherwise, other competitors will get involved and steal the opportunity."

Dong Lan was very enthusiastic.

“Okay.” Zhou Haoran also felt that it was important to finalize the deal for “The Deer and the Cauldron” as soon as possible. “When I go on business trips to the Hong Kong government in the future, you can come with me.”

"Ok!"

Dong Lan's beautiful eyes sparkled; she loved the glamorous world of Hong Kong.

"Get up, it's time to get down to business."

Zhou Haoran put his hands behind his back, got up, and walked towards the bedroom.

Dong Lan quickly stood up, naked, and took his arm. After hesitating for a moment, she gritted her teeth and said, "Master, I liked the feeling just now."

Zhou Haoran was somewhat surprised, "What did it feel like?"

Dong Lan whispered, "I'll kneel down to report to you. I like submitting to you. From now on, I'll kneel down to report to you like I did just now, okay?"

Zhou Haoran naturally saw through her thoughts and couldn't help but chuckle, "You're quite good at vying for favor."

"Is it possible?"

When Dong Lan was exposed by him, she took his arm and pretended to be coquettish.

"can."

Zhou Haoran agreed.

"What about He Jin?" Dong Lan's rival was He Jin, so she kept comparing herself to her. "If she were as devoted to her master as I am, she would definitely be willing to kneel down and report her work. If she is not, then she is not loyal enough."

Zhou Haoran chuckled and said, "Why are you always comparing yourself to her? I haven't even taken a picture of her yet!"

"Ah?" Dong Lan's heart leaped with joy. "She doesn't want to?"

Zhou Haoran shook his head. "No, I haven't gone to see her in over a month. I've been too busy with work."

"That's it..."

Dong Lan was secretly delighted.

From this perspective, as a lover, I'm still quite competitive. He Jin, although he's known the master longer, seems to have fallen out of favor… That's perfect! Next, I must quickly introduce my good friend Jia Qingwen to the master to solidify his favor!
Let's expand our advantages!
Dong Lan was self-aware.

She was married and had children, and she was over thirty years old.

If you don't come up with something new, you might lose interest in him within a year or two, and it will be difficult to build a close relationship with him again. You have to constantly provide him with new stimulation.

(End of this chapter)