I am a master in India

Chapter 290 Figure it out
"Who? You mean Sun TV already exists?"

“Yes, according to the information I found, it first aired in 93.” Mary had done her research on this.

"So early?" Ron frowned. At that time, Suer Electric Appliances had just been established.

"That was a local television station in Tamil state, which mainly broadcast programs in Tamil and Telugu."

“Wait a minute,” Ron turned his head sharply, “who said Sun TV operates in Tamil Nadu?”

"That's right. It's said that it started as a small publisher, mainly publishing weekly magazines for women."

However, due to rampant piracy, the company was unable to make ends meet and had to seek new business opportunities, leading them to choose private television stations.

"How's Sun TV doing these days?" Ron's eyes started darting around.

"By leasing other television networks, we broadcast four and a half hours of programming daily, including Tamil films and local political news."

"Four and a half hours?"

"Their content is too little to support 24-hour continuous broadcasting, so the broadcast time is mainly concentrated in the evening."

"So, the scale is average? And didn't they build their own private television station? Why are they renting from other television networks?"

“Good question!” Mary picked up a document from the bedside table. “There’s a lot to learn about running a TV station; I’ve studied it for a long time.”

India's television stations are mainly divided into three types: terrestrial, cable, and satellite.

Wireless television receives signals through signal towers, such as the two antennas on the top of a Sullair television set, or the fishbone antenna mounted outside a house.

Typically, terrestrial television is operated by official channels, such as All India Television, owned by the Indian Broadcasting Corporation.

These television stations have high infrastructure costs and are open to the public free of charge. This is because you need to cover most parts of India with broadcast tower signals, ensuring that even remote rural areas can receive the signal.

Aside from government purposes such as publicity and popular science, private television stations almost never choose this broadcasting model.

The cost of building cell towers to cover all of India is astronomical; no one would be foolish enough to take that path.

Cable and satellite television became the mainstream for private television stations, and they were relatively cheaper.

Cable television, as the name suggests, receives signals via cables. Broadcasting companies deliver pre-recorded programs to users' homes through these lines, where they are then displayed on television sets.

This operating model is highly regional, with each region typically having its own cable TV operator.

What programs are broadcast depends entirely on the resources available to the operator, and it's all charged for.

This is a closed-loop network with no regulation or review, which is why unscrupulous operators can broadcast very exciting programs late at night.

It's like a movie theater, only attracting users in a certain region. However, because of its wild content, it has attracted a large following.

Since it opened up in 91, there have been tens of thousands of such cable TV operators of all sizes throughout India.

You could treat it like a large internet cafe, where users connect to form a local area network and then pay a monthly subscription fee.

These television networks are highly fragmented, with operators of varying sizes, making it difficult to scale up.

Satellite television has become the choice for most private television stations today, as it can cover most areas without the need to build signal towers.

There are two receiving methods. One is the traditional dish receiver, also known as a dish antenna. However, considering the installation and equipment costs, the cost is relatively high.

Another way is to distribute programs through cable TV operators.

That's right. As network administrators, they can deliver the received satellite signals to users' homes via cables.

The combination of these two technologies can both extend signal coverage to most areas and allow users to watch television programs without increasing installation costs.

Brilliant idea! Private television stations can attract a considerable audience without much investment.

"That Sun TV, is it the kind of TV network that's leased?" Ron roughly understood the logic behind it.

“No, you’re underestimating the operating costs of a satellite TV station,” Mary said, pointing to a document.

"Satellite leasing?" Ron saw the key point.

"That's right. India has almost no commercial satellites, and its private sector doesn't have the capability to launch commercial satellites either, so it has to rent them from abroad."

However, the rental price of commercial satellites in the international market is at least several million US dollars per year, almost 2 million rupees.

Sun TV originated as a small publishing house; they simply couldn't afford that much money and had to rent satellite channels from other television stations.

"Is this like sharing a room? No, to be precise, it's like subletting?" Ron's eyes widened in amazement.

“You know very well. Sun TV initially wanted to rent Zee TV’s channels, which is Mumbai’s largest private television station.”

However, Zee TV declined due to competitive considerations. Left with no other option, Sun TV eventually approached ATN (Asia Television Network).

"So, does this mean Sun TV is now relegated to living off other people's TVs and doesn't even have its own satellite channel?"

"uh-huh."

"They lack the resources, the money, and the content?"

“Hmm.” Mary nodded again.

"That's fine then, our TV station will be called Sun TV!"

"What?" This time it was Mary's turn to be confused.

“I mean the name. From today onwards, it belongs to us,” Ron said confidently.

Tamil Nadu, that's a great place, he knows it very well.

His dearest "mother" is a demigod-level powerhouse there; what trouble can't she handle?

Oh dear, a dog relying on its master's power. Bah! It's like they have a powerful backer, so damn true.

"Just you wait and see, I'm going to make a phone call right now."

Ron flipped through the documents in his hand, his gaze sweeping over the page about the counterfeit Sun TV. Hmm, the founder of Sun TV was named Chandlan; that surname sounds familiar.

Feeling a little strange, Ron still dialed his "mother's" number.

After only a couple of sentences, his expression became incredibly interesting.

"What's wrong?" Mary asked after he hung up the phone.

"What a fucking coincidence," Ron said, somewhat speechless.

This Chandlan was not his imagination; the other party did indeed have a lot of influence in Tamil.

Kavia's aunt, Jayalalita, was able to enter politics entirely because of a movie star there.

He was M. Chandlan, the founder of the AIADMK political party.

Jayalalita was his lover and later defeated his widow to inherit Chandlan's entire political legacy.

Now, more than a decade later, Jayalalita has become the Chief Minister of Tamil State.

The founder of Sun TV was M. Chandlan's nephew.

There's this connection between them.

Damn, this is practically an ethical drama.

But thinking about it, it's not surprising. It would be abnormal if a businessman who can rise to prominence in India didn't have connections behind him.

Although M. Chandlan had long since passed away, Jayalalita, out of consideration for their past relationship, still provided some assistance to his family.

Ron explained his plans, and Jayalalita agreed to help him make the connection and discuss the business.

Trying to leverage Indian characteristics by simply taking over the name of Sun TV is probably not a viable option.

The most optimistic outcome would be that Ron spends a sum of money to buy the trademark.

"This is a bit troublesome. Could you tell me more about ATN (Asia Television Network)? Sun TV leases their channels?"

"Strictly speaking, ATN was India's first private television station, launching a few weeks earlier than Mumbai's largest Zee TV."

This television station leases the Gorizont satellite from Russia to broadcast its own channel. It primarily broadcasts Bollywood films and movie theme songs, also only for a few hours each day.

"ATN is pitifully small?" Ron's eyes lit up.

"Its situation is rather complicated. Currently, it only has two channels. ATN One: broadcasts foreign news and entertainment programs, mainly targeting overseas audiences."

Another channel, ATN Gold, focuses on Hindi films and general entertainment. The two channels together have a combined audience of around 800 million, which is quite good.

However, they have recently run into trouble, both internally and externally.

"What do you mean?" Ron became interested.

Trouble means opportunity.

"ATN's ownership of Bollywood film rights is limited to satellite television. But as you know, many subscribers need to watch them via cable television."

"and then?"

"Zee TV holds the cable television rights to more than 20 of these films, and the two companies are currently locked in a fierce battle."

"This must be the external problem you mentioned. What about the internal one?"

"The Russian Gorizont satellite is very unstable, and ATN has been frequently losing signals recently, making it impossible for users to watch. There are also rumors that ATN owes Russian satellite companies nearly $100 million."

Before repaying its debts, Russia had no intention of resolving ATN's satellite technical issues. Beset by internal and external difficulties, ATN's programming was suspended.

"It's been taken off the air?"

"Yes, it was suspended for three weeks this year and hasn't resumed yet. The rent that Sun TV pays to it is all used to maintain its own operations."

“Oh!” Ron’s expression turned subtle. “That’s really good news.”

"What mischief are you up to now?" Mary asked him.

"What do you think about just buying ATN television network?"

Mary and Lena blinked and looked at each other, both seeing the smile in each other's eyes.

"I knew it. This guy's way of solving problems has always been so simple and brutal."

“Yes, just like in bed, I like it.” Lena giggled.

"Tell me if it's useful or not?" Ron shrugged.

“It’s brutal, but efficient,” Mary smiled.

“This way we can save a lot of trouble and not have to start from scratch, because the TV station is already there.” Lena nodded repeatedly like a strategist.

“It also includes film copyrights and music libraries, all in one go,” Mary added.

“Most importantly, we now have the means to restrain Sun TV.” That’s what Ron valued.

Whether you can persuade the other party to transfer the trademark is hard to say, but bribing your landlord shouldn't be a problem, right?

In this way, Ron transformed into the landlord of Sun TV.

Wouldn't that give them the power to speak and the initiative? They've already gained an advantage before the negotiations even started.

Ron wasn't worried about Sun TV finding another way, because, as Mary said...

The cost of leasing a commercial satellite transmitter and receiver is $500 million, or 2 million rupees, per year.

They sought out a sub-landlord precisely because they couldn't afford the rent. However, a competitor refused their offer.

This is a great opportunity! If we don't act now, when will we?
(End of this chapter)