Huayu: Director started with art films

Huo Wenxi pondered for a while, picked up the phone on the table, and called Li Baoan, who was in charge of the financial department, asking him to come to his office immediately.

Li Baoan was Lin Baixin's right-hand man and had been working in the Li & Fung Group. Later, after Lin Baixin acquired Asia Television, he was appointed as the chief executive officer.

However, with Li Yishu becoming the chairman of ATV and Huo Wenxi taking over the position of CEO, Li Baoan was assigned to the position of CFO, specifically responsible for financial management.

On the one hand, Li Baoan is experienced, and secondly, in order to give face to shareholder Lin Baixin, he arranged for one of his people to serve as a senior manager of the TV station.

Five or six minutes later.

Li Baoan knocked on the office door, and after receiving the reply "Come in", he pushed the door open and walked in: "Director Huo, are you looking for me?"

In fact, he should be called General Manager Huo (CEO), but Huo Wenxi also serves as the director of strategic planning of the TV station, so most people call him Director Huo.

"Director Li, please take a seat." After Huo Wenxi asked the other party to sit down, he told him about Lin Zhengying's situation.

Under normal circumstances, the illness of a contracted artist like Lin Zhengying would not alarm Huo Wenxi and Li Baoan.

However, considering that ATV's main goal now is not only to develop itself, but also to compete with TVB, it is natural that it has to explain Lin Zhengying's situation to Li Baoan to see if it can poach TVB people.

"Director Huo, our financial department can provide help with Lam Ching-ying's situation, but isn't it a bit too radical to use this opportunity to poach people from TVB?"

Li Baoan frowned, he was from the era of Lam Pak-Hsin, he knew very well that when Lam Pak-Hsin acquired shares in Asia Television, he was full of high spirits, he waved his hand and started to poach people from TVB desperately.

The purpose of poaching people is nothing more than money and benefits.

Lam Pak-Hsin was very generous at the time. He not only raised the salaries of all the talents he had recruited from TVB, but also paid them a penalty for breach of contract.

But this also laid the seeds of disaster for Asia Television, that is, the salaries were too high, which led to financial instability of the TV station. Later, due to the decline in ratings and the market share almost reaching 8:2, a large financial deficit appeared, and the station had to rely on subsidies from Lin Baixin to make ends meet.

It can be said that since Lam Pak-Hsin joined ATV, except for the first year when a lot of talents were recruited and due to publicity, many viewers became curious about ATV, thus making a small profit, the company has been losing money over the years.

From 1988 when I bought shares in Asia Television to the beginning of last year, 1995, I lost nearly HK$ million to HK$ million in those seven years.

You have to know that it's not just the money that is lost, but also the valuation of the entire ATV. Otherwise, Li Yishu would not have acquired nearly 90% of the shares of Asia Television at a valuation of over billion last year.

"Radical?" Huo Wenxi smiled. "I don't think it's radical, right? Director Li, you are the God of Wealth of our ATV. How much money did ATV make last year?"

Li Baoan said: "If we include the TV series sold to the mainland, the naming fee of the Miss Asia beauty pageant, advertising fees, etc., it is almost 1 million US dollars. However, after deducting various expenses, the actual profit is about 5-6 million Hong Kong dollars."

Huo Wenxi asked again: "Even if the performance of the Miss Asia beauty pageant declines next year, it should still bring us 200 to 300 million Hong Kong dollars in revenue, right?"

Li Baoan nodded: "This should be no problem. We are cooperating with Shiseido this year, and they have reported that the publicity effect is very good. A few days ago, someone from the advertising department came to me and said that Shiseido intends to start cooperation with us this year in advance, and asked our finance department to make preparations."

"Director Li, you know that we now have the popular Miss Asia beauty pageant. Even if the ratings won't be that high in the future, I think it shouldn't be a problem within ten years."

Huo Wenxi smiled and said, "And you should have heard that our Asia Television has been merged into Chairman Li's Art Media Group. Before long, the Art Media Group will start raising funds to prepare for listing in Hong Kong next year. So now it's not a question of whether or not to make money, but a question of market share!"

When she said that, Li Baoan instantly understood that this was a way to use money to attack the market and talents, and at the same time, to drive up the high stock price after the listing next year.

Huo Wenxi asked again: "Do you know what the average salary of TVB employees is?"

"Ordinary staff members earn about 3000 to 1 Hong Kong dollars, and new actors earn about 5000 yuan, but they have to work full time..."

Speaking of the old rival TVB, Li Baoan was very familiar with it and immediately talked about the salaries of the neighboring station.

TVB's salary can be said to be the lowest in the entire industry. After Cai Shaofen was elected Miss Hong Kong in 1991, she played the leading role in a 20-episode TV series and appeared in every episode. Her total income in 4 months was 2 Hong Kong dollars, an average of about 5000 Hong Kong dollars per month.

It sounds pretty good, but you have to know that Cai Shaofen was the third runner-up of Miss Hong Kong, and she only got 2 yuan in salary for four months. This price is not considered a high salary in Hong Kong. You have to know that a waiter in a tea restaurant can get several thousand yuan a month including tips.

This is also the main reason why many female celebrities immediately look for wealthy men after becoming famous.

The average salary at Asia Television is about 2-3% higher, and the salary levels of those leading artists are basically double that of TVB.

Just like Gigi Lai, the Miss Asia champion in 89, who became the number one actress of Asia Television with dramas like "Cello and .10", "Winner Takes All" and "Swords of Passion". Her salary is about HK$ per month.

Moreover, the commissions for advertising endorsements are not as strict as those of TVB.

After Li Yishu joined ATV, although her salary did not increase much, her welfare benefits did improve.

Not to mention that Li Yishu also developed two plans to allow ATV employees to work for the TV station for life.

For example, he planned to wait until the Hong Kong real estate economy collapsed and then buy entire buildings to start a low-rent housing model within ATV.

At the same time, he also decided to wait until the annual meeting at the end of this year to let Huo Wenxi announce the "internal house purchase" plan. In the future, the Art Media Group will bid for a piece of land in the New Territories near Shenzhen Town.

While building the new ATV building, they will also build residential houses, which will not be sold to the public but only to ATV employees. They will also allow installment payments, and the interest rate is lower than that of banks!

The reason why the welfare is so good is very simple. That is, Li Yishu wants to gather a group of elite talents in advance before the Hong Kong film and television industry completely declines, and disperse them to several film and television companies that Li Yishu will establish in the mainland in the future.

At the same time, there are actors familiar to mainland audiences, and they are also a valuable asset!

Around the millennium, Hong Kong artists were extremely popular in mainland China. At that time, there were too many business events in various places, and arranging these artists to perform and making commissions was also a huge profit.

For Lee Yi-su now, it doesn’t matter whether he is in the circle or not. Asia Television is his, and the artists and actors signed by the station are his assets. Naturally, he will focus on making money for himself first.

Li Baoan concluded: "TVB's staff salaries are about 2-3% lower than ours on average, and the top artists' pay is even lower."

Huo Wenxi said: "Then recruit people according to the current salary. If there is a penalty for breach of contract, we will pay it!"

"Okay, Director Huo, then what kind of people do you want to recruit? Behind the scenes or actors?"

“Dig it all!”

Huo Wenxi waved his hand and said, "We need to recruit everyone from top to bottom, whether it's directors, actors or behind the scenes, as long as they are willing to join us, we will recruit them all!"

Hearing this, Li Baoan was dumbfounded: "Huo... Director Huo, if we do this, I don't know if TVB will retaliate. We have poached so many people, but we don't have that many positions to give them now."

"Don't worry about the job. We will produce more TV series next year and send people to the north to cooperate with the group's film and television companies in production."

Huo Wenxi shook his head and said, "These places are enough to absorb a large number of manpower."

Gulong——

Li Baoan swallowed his saliva. It was true that it was good to lean on a big tree for shade. In the past, Asia Television's focus was limited to Hong Kong, and occasionally it would focus on Taiwan. But with the arrival of Li Yishu, Asia Television began to develop into a TV station.

Li Baoan thought about it for a while, then nodded and agreed: "Okay Director Huo, I will contact the human resources department and start poaching people from TVB."

"Well, don't be afraid to spend money. In addition to the Miss Asia beauty pageant, we will also have the Voice of Asia. Chairman Li also told me that he will personally write the plans for several variety shows. These all require talented people to be responsible for them."

"Yes!"

After chatting for a few more sentences and waiting for Li Baoan to leave, Huo Wenxi thought about it and decided to tell Li Yishu.

Because if they poach a large number of TVB people, it will inevitably annoy Uncle Shaw. She is from Hong Kong and is very clear about Uncle Shaw's status in Hong Kong.

She could choose not to be afraid, but she also didn't want Li Yishu to get into trouble because of this.

Immediately, Huo Wenxi took out his satellite phone from the drawer and called Li Yishu who was filming in the mainland. After briefly telling him about Lin Zhengying, he shared his ideas and plans.

Li Yishu, who was in Hengdian World Studios, frowned when she heard what Huo Wenxi said: "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes boss!"

Huo Wenxi said firmly: "I think only by doing this can we seize the market as quickly as possible. Next year, Art Media Group will seek to go public, and Asia Television is crucial. If we can occupy more than half of the Hong Kong market share, it will definitely play a key role in the listing stage."

"Okay, make your own decision. Since I promoted you to CEO, I naturally trust your decision."

Li Yishu only thought about it for a while and then agreed to Huo Wenxi's plan to poach people.

This is actually the same principle as later Internet companies spending a lot of money to go public.

What's more, Hong Kong is too small.

With a population of only a few million, one of the two TV stations is bound to die while the other will live.

Before Li Yishu was reborn, it was ATV that died. In this life, he took over ATV, so he naturally couldn't let ATV die. This was Li Yishu's only chance to own the TV station, the media's throat.

If ATV fails to surpass TVB and become the number one TV station in Hong Kong, problems will arise in the most important link in the media empire of the Art Media Group, which may even lead to the collapse of the development of the entire group.

So only my fellow Taoist can die, not me.

"Yes, I have confidence, boss." Huo Wenxi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief after receiving Li Yishu's affirmative answer. At the same time, she asked, "By the way, boss, what about those variety shows you told me about last time you came to Hong Kong?"

Li Yishu said, "I'll take some time these days to write you a rough plan. You can ask someone to add some details and then show it to me."

The variety shows he prepared for ATV were some of the phenomenal programs that later became "Running Man", "Where Are We Going, Dad", "Longing for Life", "If You Are the One", "Summer Challenge" and so on.

The current entertainment situation in Hong Kong is actually similar to that in mainland China a dozen years later. Both are eras of entertainment to death.

Many artists, whether singers or actors, often appear on major variety shows.

The creativity of these programs can be copyrighted, and in the future they can be taken to Japan and South Korea to be co-produced with their TV stations. Moreover, once the mainland economy develops, they can be replicated in the mainland.

After hanging up the phone.

Li Yishu thought of Huo Wenxi, who radically wanted to hollow out TVB, and couldn't help but smile and shook her head. Uncle Shao Liu is not that easy to deal with, but he can just poach people.

It is exactly two years before Hong Kong hits the financial crisis. Then all employees will be given a pay cut. I believe that not only will no one stand up to oppose it, but they will also thank the TV station for not firing them during the financial crisis.

In fact, it was precisely because of this financial crisis that the Hong Kong economy encountered huge problems. The entertainment industry, which had gradually become extremely fragile due to the loss of the Taiwanese market, completely collapsed.

Film companies closed down one after another, a large number of entertainers lost their jobs, and many had to go north to seek their fortune.

The TV stations were also affected to a certain extent, but fortunately, although everyone was poor, they could still pay the electricity bills. However, due to the reduction in advertisers caused by the economy, both TV stations began to lay off employees on a large scale.

Thinking of this, Li Yishu touched his neck and looked around. Fortunately, there were no street lights.

Sure enough, as my identity changed, I began to think more and more like a capitalist.

The old saying is true: the butt determines the head!

"Director!"

Suddenly a voice came from behind. Li Yishu turned around and saw Director Shen Haofang walking towards her with two tall middle-aged men.

Li Yishu greeted him enthusiastically: "Army officer, long time no see!"

"Long time no see, Director Li." The army officer smiled and said, "Let me introduce you, this is Officer Wang, who is in charge of veterans."

"Hello, Officer Wang."

Li Yishu shook hands with the other party enthusiastically again.

After some greetings, Li Yishu brought the three of them to the crew's tent.

Li Yishu asked, "Officer Wang, do you know what I'm talking about?"

"Director Li, Lao Lu has already told me that this is no problem. Once we tell our superiors, they will be very happy."

"is it?"

"Yes!"

Officer Wang smiled and said, "In the past few years, the placement of retired soldiers has been difficult. Director Li is willing to help us solve the employment problems of some retired soldiers. I am so happy that I can't object. Our leader also wants to invite Director Li to come over and thank you!"

"It is my honor to help these soldiers. You are too kind, Commander."

Li Yishu said modestly for a few words, then asked, "What about Officer Wang, what about the gun license?"

"In principle, private individuals are not allowed to hold gun licenses, but considering some of the situations mentioned by Director Li, the chief promised to help ask about it."

In principle, it is not allowed, so it is allowed. (End of this chapter)