Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 259 Everything is ready

As the calendar quietly turned to May, the entire internet industry was in turmoil, as if it had been swept into a huge storm.

Kuaibo, a once-glorious video streaming giant with over 100 million users, is now mired in a copyright dispute with Tenda Group.

After repeated defeats in lawsuits, the company will have to face huge compensation payments, leading to various operational problems and a precarious financial situation.

At the same time, a series of revelations on Weibo exploded like thunder, with evidence being exposed one after another, pointing the finger at Kuaibo for its involvement in pornography. Public opinion was in an uproar, and Kuaibo was once again pushed to the forefront of the storm.

As the saying goes, misfortunes never come singly. Before the copyright dispute was resolved, Kuaibo was also investigated by relevant departments for its involvement in pornography. This was undoubtedly adding insult to injury and plunging Kuaibo into an unprecedented predicament.

A number of the company's senior executives are suspected of violating the law and are facing imprisonment. The entire company is in a state of panic, and it seems that this once-glorious internet company is about to collapse.

The development of this series of events, from copyright disputes to allegations of pornography, and then to being investigated and dealt with by relevant departments, all happened so suddenly and so quickly that it was astonishing.

Anyone in the internet industry with even a little bit of knowledge and connections can easily see that the mastermind behind the Kuaibo incident is no ordinary person.

As an important platform for the dissemination of public opinion and information, why is Weibo targeting Kuaibo in this way? The purpose is self-evident.

Who else but Song Ci, chairman of Tengda Group, could mobilize such massive resources to launch a precise and devastating attack on Kuaibo, almost killing it in one blow?

Originally, the CEOs of several game companies were taking a wait-and-see approach, hoping that Kuaibo would turn against Tengda and cause some trouble, waiting to see how this drama would end. Unexpectedly, the rapid changes in the situation caught them off guard.

No one expected that Song Ci would be so decisive, striking first and swiftly resolving the problem of Kuaibo with overwhelming force.

In a short period of time, a series of combined attacks left Kuaibo with no chance to fight back, demonstrating a shocking power and determination.

The tycoon's tough and ruthless methods have shaken the entire internet industry, prompting all parties to examine the current complex situation and consider their own positions and future.

It was the same group of people as before; several game company executives held another encrypted call to discuss countermeasures.

"Mr. Ding, your idea has failed. Kuaibo disappeared without even making a ripple."

"I underestimated that richest man. Song Ci is really ruthless. He came up here and immediately tried to cut off Kuaibo's lifeline, and is going to send people directly to jail."

"We need to think this through carefully. It seems that he's not someone to be trifled with. To put it bluntly, we old guys can't even explain how we made our first fortune. If we get targeted like Kuaibo, we'll be in deep trouble, if not dead."

"I've made up my mind. From now on, all games will be operated and published by the TT Games platform. Circumstances are beyond our control; if we can't beat them, we'll join them."

Song Ci couldn't very well take action against his partners, could he? His personality is such that he doesn't provoke others unless provoked. This whole affair was initiated by Kuaibo violating the law first.

"Mr. Chen, are you giving up so easily? What do you mean by that? Where do you put us?"

"Mr. Zhu, it's your Shanda Games that had the distribution rights for World of Warcraft taken by Tengda Group. Shanda Games has no conflict with Tengda Group."

"you!"

"Alright, stop arguing. It seems that if we want to compete with Tengda Group, we can't compete with them by relying solely on our game business. We need to get at least one of the three giants, Alibaba, Tencent, or Baidu, on our side."

"These three companies aren't stupid. The four giants of the domestic internet, TBAQ, are currently keeping to themselves. Why would anyone else join forces with us to fight against Tengda?"

Aside from Tencent, which has a gaming business, neither Alibaba nor Baidu currently has any intention of getting into gaming; they wouldn't be foolish enough to get involved in such a mess.

After much discussion, with some advocating for a confrontation and others for cooperation, no conclusion was reached, and the meeting ended in discord.

After ending the call, Mr. Chen, the boss of Shanda, stood by the window, looking at the bustling and noisy urban street scene of Donghai, and shook his head helplessly.

He couldn't help but think to himself: these companies have come together on the surface to fight against the Tengda Group's monopoly, but in reality, they each have their own ulterior motives.

How can such a loose alliance compete with the powerful Tengda Group?

Since Song Ci has set his sights on Qidian.com, a subsidiary of Shanda, why not sell it to him? He can then focus on making games. By getting in touch with Tengda, Shanda might have a better future.

Meanwhile, Ding Lei, CEO of NetEase, leaned back in his comfortable chair, sighed heavily, and stared blankly at the ceiling, his thoughts racing, unsure of where the company should go from here.

NetEase's business highly overlaps with that of Tenda Group. Since the emergence of Weibo, the once-glorious portal business has been teetering on the brink of collapse.

And as for games, TT Games is now the world's largest digital game publisher, far surpassing NetEase Games.

Thinking about this, Mr. Ding was filled with worry and confusion, wondering whether NetEase should continue to focus solely on games or seek another way out.

On May 4th, Youth Day, just days after the Kuaibo incident had subsided, another major piece of news broke in the business world.

Relevant departments awarded Song Ci, chairman of Tengda Group, the 54 Youth Medal, recognizing him as a role model for youth in the new era.

The news sent shockwaves through the business world. Competitors who had been eyeing Tengda Group and were eager to make moves were forced to temporarily back down.

At this critical juncture, to challenge the authority of Song Dynasty poetry is tantamount to blatantly defying the authorities and courting certain death. Even if they harbor resentment, these opponents can only choose to endure and wait for the right opportunity.

In the chairman's office of the Science and Technology Building, Zhang Yong sat at his desk, staring intently at the red certificates of honor displayed on it, his eyes filled with envy.

For business people, the more awards and honors they receive, the better; each additional honor is like gilding their own image.

As long as you don't break the law, honor is a buff; the more buffs you accumulate, the more secure your position becomes.

Song Ci's face was filled with a smile, reflecting both his satisfaction with the honor and his confidence in his future plans.

"With this medal, those monsters and scoundrels outside will be quiet for a while. It will free up our resources to eliminate some potential threats."

After listening, Zhang Yong nodded knowingly. He was very familiar with Song Ci's plans for the company over the past two years, and it was essential to ensure the stability of the group both internally and externally during this period.

"The one-month deadline has passed. How is the company's development of the refund and anti-addiction system for minors progressing?"

"It's all been developed and tested." Song Ci straightened up slightly, his face serious. "Tell me the details!" This concerns the company's overall situation and core profit source, so he, as the chairman, couldn't afford to be careless.

Zhang Yong was well-prepared. He picked up a thick stack of documents and slowly reported: "The game platform will gradually implement real-name authentication. For minors, users under the age of 16, a single recharge cannot exceed 50 yuan, and the monthly cumulative recharge cannot exceed 200 yuan."

For minors who use family members' ID numbers to make purchases and request refunds, they need to provide purchase records, identity verification documents, etc. Refunds can be processed after background verification.

Zhang Yong gave a detailed introduction to the group's upcoming refund policy for minors, explaining every clause, every process, every possible problem, and the corresponding solutions very clearly and thoroughly.

Song Ci listened very attentively, nodding in satisfaction from time to time. In terms of the current level of Internet technology, Tengda Group's system is already extremely advanced and complete.

"And how is the issue of game time limits for minors being addressed?"

Zhang Yong calmly turned to the next page of the document: "For minors, we plan to divide game time into three stages."

A player's playtime within 3 hours is defined as healthy time. During this period, all game mechanics remain normal, and underage players can enjoy the game without any restrictions.

Time periods exceeding 3 hours but less than 5 hours are designated as fatigue time, during which players' in-game rewards are halved, serving as a reminder to players to take appropriate breaks and avoid excessive addiction.

Once more than 5 hours have passed, it is defined as unhealthy playtime, and players will no longer be able to gain any benefits in the game, thus serving as a warning to minors to stop playing.

Zhang Yong spoke eloquently, elaborating on a long list of details. But as he went on, a hint of doubt and worry appeared on his face:

"These rules and regulations greatly restrict the development of the company's game business, and may reduce the company's third-quarter profits after the new administration takes office. Underage players make up a considerable proportion of our user base."

With a calm and earnest attitude, Song Ci comforted her, saying, "Any industry that wants to develop in the long term must follow the principles of rationality and order."

Old Zhang, you see, the problem of teenagers being addicted to online games is gradually becoming a social focus. Countless parents are extremely resistant to this issue, and various reports about children neglecting their studies and harming their physical and mental health due to addiction to games are emerging one after another.

Rather than waiting for things to erupt and escalate beyond control in the future, it's better to plan ahead and proactively resolve the situation.

As the largest gaming company in China, Tengda should step forward and handle this issue properly, both for its own long-term development and out of a sense of social responsibility.

In short, I'll reiterate: I never prioritize short-term profits; a company must have a long-term vision.

"Sigh, Mr. Song, I understand the道理 (principle/reason) perfectly well!" Zhang Yong sighed softly, a hint of relief appearing on his face.
"Well, a short pain is worse than a long one. Implementing this system sooner will also defused this time bomb sooner."

If you have no objections, the TT Games platform and mobile game department will launch this system for games for minors on May 10th.

Song Ci's eyes gleamed, radiating an aura of confidence: "No problem, just go online normally."

Furthermore, this system should be submitted to relevant departments, and leaders should be asked to give it careful consideration. In order to resolve social conflicts and effectively protect the healthy growth of minors, it is recommended that it be piloted nationwide.

Zhang Yong's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly grasped the deeper meaning behind the chairman's move. A look of surprise and delight appeared on his face, and he excitedly said:

"President Song, are you trying to put a tight rein on all game companies across the country? If this system introduced by the group can really be implemented nationwide, Tengda Group will actually take the lead and win the race."

We not only set an example in solving social problems, but we can also use this opportunity to establish industry standards and solidify our position in the gaming industry.

"Top-tier companies set the standards. As a leader in the gaming industry, Tenda should make its voice heard and let its peers see our strength."

Song Ci smiled confidently. No leader could refuse this system that effectively controls minors' addiction to games; it was a real achievement.

After the two finished discussing the game rules, Zhang Yong was about to get up to leave when Song Ci quickly called him back:
"There's something else I want to discuss with you first. This Kuaibo incident has made the relevant leaders realize the importance of copyright."

In order to change the current chaotic situation of copyright order in the fields of online video, online music, and online literature.

Starting in mid-month, several departments will join forces to launch an unprecedented crackdown on online copyright infringement and piracy.

I estimate that after this operation, online piracy will be greatly improved. At the very least, companies will take copyright seriously and will definitely not dare to blatantly infringe on copyrights like Kuaibo did.

"That's great!" Zhang Yong said with delight. Under the Tengda Group, whether it was TT Video Network, Qianqian Music Network, or Lantou Copyright Company, a large number of online copyrights for film, music, and games had been stockpiled.

Tengda Group will undoubtedly be the biggest beneficiary of this "Sword Action," and its advantages in the copyright market will become even more pronounced in the future.

"Everything has two sides; there are gains and losses. Notify a few departments to seize the last opportunity to acquire another batch of copyrights."

Don't be stingy; take whatever you can get. Pay special attention to Tang Jun's channel on TT Video; this is the last wave of this opportunity.

The days of paying thousands of yuan per episode for online TV drama copyrights are over. Prices for online film and television copyrights will at least increase tenfold in the second half of the year.

Zhang Yong was taken aback: "Ten times?"

Song Ci nodded slightly, his expression calm. Even if the price of online copyrights for film and television dramas increased tenfold, it would only be a little over one million yuan per drama.

In the future, there will be many TV series with copyright fees exceeding 100 million yuan, forcing video streaming platforms to take the lead in producing their own shows.

Seeing the chairman's solemn expression, Zhang Yong dared not be negligent in the slightest: "I'm here to find Tang Jun and explain the pros and cons to him in person."

Song Ci gazed into the distance with a deep look in his eyes: "The group's external conflicts have been basically resolved. During this period, you and Sister Jing will need to take care of some miscellaneous matters."

Next, I will devote myself fully to the final testing of WeChat, which is the company's top priority for the next two years.

"Don't worry! I know what's important."

"Tencent has been complacent in the social networking field for too long thanks to QQ's monopoly. It's time for a new challenger to emerge."

Tencent is too powerful in the social networking field. Even though Tencent is a reborn company with a series of preparations, it is only 70% confident of defeating Tencent and making Tencent a new social networking empire.

Song Ci was radiant, her eyes sparkling with fighting spirit and anticipation, ready to devote herself wholeheartedly to the work of launching WeChat.

(End of this chapter)