This director is so innocent.

Chapter 127 Exclusive First-Round Broadcast Rights at an Exorbitant Price

跟？

How do I follow up?

Are you really not planning to live a normal life anymore?

Generally speaking, a top-tier television station like theirs spends about 40 to 50 million yuan a year on purchasing television dramas.

The second tier is worth 20 to 30 million, and the third tier is worth 10 to 20 million.

The fourth tier is below ten million; they don't even have leftovers to eat and rely entirely on their young sons to survive.

"W: Two Worlds" has 32 episodes in total. If each episode costs 50, that's 1600 million.

Spending a third of the year's funds at once—if they succeed, all will be fine; they'll live the high life. But if they fail, all four people present will suffer the consequences.

The key point is that success can't be just ordinary success. That would at most mean your merits and demerits are balanced out. It has to be a huge breakthrough for you to enjoy the good life.

And what about Hunan TV?

Their annual TV drama procurement budget was two-thirds larger than theirs, amounting to approximately 60 to 70 million yuan.

Where did they get the courage to spend an entire year's procurement budget on a TV series?

Did Liang Jingru give it to you?

Seeing that the other three remained silent, the person in charge of the Shanghai TV station sighed softly and asked, "Do you think 'W: Two Worlds' is of high quality?"

"Nonsense, do you think our family could contribute 300,000?" the person in charge of Zhejiang TV said irritably.

The person in charge of Shanghai TV smiled, not angry, and asked again, "So, do you think 'W: Two Worlds' will become a huge hit?"

The other three hesitated upon hearing this. They acknowledged the high quality, but whether it would become a bestseller was another matter entirely.

Just like movies, no one can guarantee that a TV series will become a huge hit.

A blockbuster must be at least like "Bright Sword" or "Soldiers Sortie," sparking nationwide discussion; at the very least, it must be like "Struggle."

"I think there's a very high probability that it will become a hit, at least 70% or more—a massive hit!"

"Let alone you, no one here can guarantee a blockbuster product."

"Do you think Su Jin would agree if we offered 200 million per episode and asked to sign a ratings betting agreement?"

""

"That depends on how many ratings we want. If it's in the teens, Su Jin definitely won't agree."

The ratings are getting worse and worse than before. If they can break 10%, we can start celebrating with champagne.

If it breaks 15%, then we should celebrate wildly and the whole world should rejoice.

"What viewership rating do you think Su Jin would agree to?"

"If the highest viewership rating breaks 10 and the average viewership rating breaks 5, Su Jin should agree," said the person in charge of Zhejiang TV.

The head of the Shanghai TV station nodded thoughtfully, then looked at the remaining two stations and said, "If it's this kind of viewership, can you agree to it?"

"I can agree, but it's hard to say what will happen to the higher-ups. They haven't even seen the finished film yet, so it's basically impossible for them to come up with 1600 million."

"Me too."

Director Xu, the person in charge of Shanghai TV, sighed inwardly. How could they compete if their own team wasn't even motivated?

"Director Xu, it's still uncertain whether Hunan TV will reach 2 million per episode! If they do, we can request a pause, then report to our superiors and try our best to secure that amount."

"What you say makes sense. I was too attached to appearances." Director Xu of Shanghai TV was somewhat ashamed. He had been frightened by his own guess and lost his composure for a moment.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Su Jin...

He was very familiar with Ouyang Changlin's name.

It can be said that he single-handedly brought Hunan Province's GDP up from the third tier to the second tier.

Without Ouyang Changlin, he seriously doubted that Hunan Province was even as good as his hometown, Jiangxi Province!

Hunan Broadcasting and Television, as the first provincial-level broadcasting and film group in the country, appears to be thriving on the surface, but its actual operations are dismal.

Its flagship Hunan TV had a total revenue of 2.4 million yuan in 2000, with 1.8 million yuan actually received, while its expenditures reached 2.9 million yuan.

In other words, Hunan TV, which once led the way, is now experiencing a serious imbalance between revenue and expenditure.

On the other hand, Hunan Economic Television, another television station under Hunan Broadcasting and Television Group, managed to make a slight profit despite the group's overall losses.

The director of Hunan Economic Television is Ouyang Changlin.

It was against this backdrop that Ouyang Changlin rose to prominence, catching the eye of the head of Hunan Broadcasting and Television, who transferred him to Hunan Satellite TV as its director, in charge of reform work.

Previously, Hunan TV had the idea of ​​moving away from news and focusing entirely on entertainment.

However, the constraints were too great and the impact too significant, so they had not yet made a decision.

Then Ouyang Changlin became a weapon in the hands of the top leader. After taking office, he carried out sweeping reforms and resolutely implemented the reform strategy.

They took over the production rights to the "Super Girl" program from the Shonan Entertainment Channel, promoted it nationwide, and it received a strong response after airing.

The miracle of Super Girl even put unprecedented pressure on CCTV, which usually holds a high position.

It is said that CCTV organized a special meeting to discuss "Super Girl" and the meeting lasted for three days.

Then CCTV-2 also launched its own version of Super Idol – Dream China during the National Day holiday.

Later, they collaborated with the Chinese national table tennis team on the "National Table Tennis Grand Ceremony" project.

Korean dramas were also developed under his guidance—such as "Dae Jang Geum".

Before Ouyang Changlin took office, Hunan TV's revenue was 2.4 million yuan. In 2009, Ouyang Changlin was removed from his position as director of Hunan TV, at which point the revenue had reached 36 billion yuan.

As for why he was dismissed, you can guess.

After Su Jin made a phone call to Ouyang Changlin, she returned to the small screening room.

The content of the call was actually quite simple.

The question is, if Hunan TV offers 130 million per episode, can we sign a ratings-based agreement?

He refused outright; what kind of ratings betting agreement would he sign for 320 million?

If Hunan TV doesn't buy it, there are four other satellite TV stations: Shanghai TV, Zhejiang TV, Jiangsu TV, and Beijing TV as backup options.

When Ouyang Changlin saw that he didn't agree, he then asked if he could sign the contract if the offer was 170 million per episode.

He said he could consider it and see when the time came.

What's the use of a guarantee now?

The highest price was only 120 million per episode.

The screening continued, and Hunan TV did not reveal its bottom price all at once, offering 130 million per episode.

The four representatives from Shanghai TV did not directly add 10, but instead increased it by 5.

We've already spent 130 million, so every little bit helps.

When the price reached 1.5 million per episode, neither side would even raise it by 50,000; instead, they kept raising it by 10,000 at a time.

The final price was 1.6 million per episode, which was the bottom line for the four satellite TV stations, while Hunan TV added another 10,000.

Seeing that Hunan TV still seemed confident, the four satellite TV stations immediately called for a half-hour break, and then each went out to call their superiors to report the situation.

Hunan TV also went out to call Ouyang Changlin to report the situation.

Su Jin and Huang Jiaqiang also went out for a smoke.

"Boss, that's 161 million per episode! Even if the four satellite TV stations don't add any extra money, after deducting costs, we'll still make a net profit of 3652 million."

In Su Jin's office, Huang Jiaqiang couldn't contain his excitement and waved his right hand wildly before calming down after a while.

"If we had known that 'W: Two Worlds' was so profitable, we should have taken 80% of the market share."

"Don't worry about knowing this already. You need to learn to share cake; that way you'll have more friends and fewer enemies."

"W: Two Worlds" has three investors with a total cost of 1500 million yuan: Jianmu Media 900 million yuan, Xinbaoyuan and Hairun 300 million yuan each.

Million.

To be honest, he was starting to regret it.

Two-tenths is ten million.

That's just to maintain the boss's high-class image.

As a boss, how can I let myself get caught up in the money?

Besides, there's no going back now. It's pointless to tell your subordinates all this; you might as well maintain an image of treating money like dirt.

Half an hour passed quickly.

When Su Jin and Huang Jiaqiang returned to the small screening room, they saw the heads of the four satellite TV stations looking energetic and all smiles.

It seems that the leaders of the four companies have agreed, otherwise they wouldn't have such expressions.

As for Xiangnan TV, seeing the four teams across the street like this, they weren't worried at all, and had a smiling face.

It can be said that both sides felt that "W: Two Worlds" was already theirs.

Then the bidding began.

The price kept increasing by tens of thousands, but with an added condition: a viewership rating betting agreement had to be signed.

Su Jin agreed without hesitation, after all, there was a significant difference between 120 million and 160 million per episode.

Of course, the specific viewership ratings are still pending and will be discussed later.

It went from 162 million views per episode to 170 million views per episode, and then to 180 million and 190 million views per episode.

At this point, both of their palms started sweating, and they were cursing each other in their hearts, "Why the hell won't you stop?"

Is it really going to reach 200 million per episode?

That really broke the record for the price of a single episode of a domestic TV series, and it was a super record at that.

Currently, the highest-priced TV series per episode is Zhejiang TV's purchase of the exclusive first broadcast rights to Wang Jing's "The New Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain" for 85 yuan per episode.

Excluding Big Beard's "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" and "The Return of the Condor Heroes," his works were never broadcast on satellite TV; they were sold to more than a dozen local TV stations across the country.

The average cost per episode is 70,000 to 80,000, which adds up to over a million per episode.

Of course, it can't compare to "W: Two Worlds" in terms of making money, since "W: Two Worlds" only cost 1500 million.

The costs for "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" and "The Return of the Condor Heroes" were 4000 million and 3000 million respectively.

The bidding eventually reached 200 million per episode, with four TV stations bidding and looking smugly at Director Wang of Hunan TV.

Director Wang sneered, a hint of disdain in his eyes, as he prepared to crush the other side in one fell swoop.

"210 million." Director Wang's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly echoed throughout the entire conference room.

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was speechless with shock at this astonishing number.

Su Jin and Huang Jiaqiang exchanged a glance, both of them showing shock at Hunan TV's grand gesture.

Keep in mind that the opposing team has four companies with 200 million each, while Hunan TV only has one.

Director Wang couldn't help but smile when he saw everyone's expressions. This was the reason why the four people opposite him looked so energetic yet so calm.

With 210 million views per episode, who else can match me?

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""

The person in charge of Shanghai TV couldn't help but swear.

He slammed his fist on the table in anger, stood up, and pointed at Director Wang of Hunan TV, yelling, "Wang Ke, are you fucking crazy?! 210 million per episode, can Hunan TV even afford that?"

The heads of the other three television stations also glared angrily at Director Wang.

Faced with the angry outbursts from the person in charge of Shanghai TV, Director Wang didn't care at all. Why bother with a defeated general?

"There's no need for Director Xu to worry about that. Since our Hunan TV station dared to make the offer, we naturally have the financial strength to pay it."

"You—" Director Xu's hands trembled with anger as he gritted his teeth and said, "Don't give me another chance, or else—"

Director Wang ignored her and turned to Su Jin, saying, "Director Su, may we announce the results?"

Su Jin looked at the four of them and said, "Director Xu, you—"

Director Xu slumped down, looking listless, and the other three had the same expression.

Two million views per episode is already their absolute limit; they can't go any higher.

Seeing that they remained silent, Su Jin knew they couldn't raise the price any further, so she turned to Huang Jiaqiang and gestured for him to announce it.

Huang Jiaqiang understood and stood up, saying, "I hereby announce that Hunan TV has won the exclusive first-run broadcast rights for 'W One Two Worlds'."

"It's lunchtime. We've prepared a sumptuous lunch for you. If you don't mind, you can eat before you leave."

""

They were already so angry they were full of anger, what was the point of eating?

The heads of the four television stations successively gave Xi Jin a message on behalf of Huang Jiaqiang and then prepared to leave.

CCTV is interested in coming down for a meal.

However, seeing the way Xi Jin and the others were, they figured they would have to talk to Director Wang for a long time, so they took their leave.

Seeing that they were determined to leave, Huang Jiaqiang did not try to stop them, and said, "Please come this way, everyone. I have prepared a small gift for you."

The gifts were things like designer handbags and gift cards.

Before coming, Huang Jiaqiang had already found out their habits, such as that Director Xu from Shanghai TV Station, who really liked Gucci bags.

This is considered a bad habit: giving red envelopes to media reporters and TV stations.

This world is truly difficult.

After the other TV stations left, only Xi Jin helped Director Wang in the room.

Xi Jin didn't discuss the ratings betting agreement with Director Xu; instead, they chatted about other things.

He wanted to wait for Huang Jiaqiang to return, and then the two of them would face off against one of them.

While viewership ratings can be bought, they are not something that can be bought.

But if you can avoid buying it, then try not to.

Twenty minutes later, Huang Jiaqiang returned, and the three of them began to discuss the ratings.

Director Xu faced off against two opponents, and he held his own against one.

After a heated debate, the viewership ratings were set at an average of over 7% and a peak of over 12%.

Actually, he wanted to change the betting agreement.

It's also a ratings-based bet, meaning that if the viewership reaches a certain level, you can participate in GG's revenue sharing.

If the target price is not met, the price per episode will naturally be lower.

However, Director Wang disagreed, as if Fu Xin's "W: Two Worlds" would be a huge hit.

Of course, this ratings-based agreement means that if the ratings don't meet the target, the price per episode will be reduced.

It wasn't scrapped, otherwise no one would have offered such a high price.

Afterwards, both parties signed a contract.

When TV stations buy dramas, they don't pay the full amount upfront. They usually pay 30% upon signing the contract, another 30% after the drama airs, and the remaining 40% after the broadcast is complete.

If your TV series doesn't get good ratings, they'll drag it out, for as long as they can.

If things go very badly, you'll be lucky to get even half of the remaining 40% payment.

Conversely, if the ratings are very good, they'll deliver the product quickly and want to work with you again!

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