Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 276 Gathering
[I've been busy these past few days, so I'll resume three updates a day tomorrow.]

December 1994, 1.

Ouyang Changlin, director of the Hunan TV production center, walked out of the train station with two staff members. Looking at the familiar scene outside, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

I came around the same time last year. Although a lot has happened in the past year, it feels like a year has passed in the blink of an eye since I revisited this place.

Just then, someone next to him pointed to the left and said, "Director, it looks like there are people picking people up over there."

Ouyang Changlin looked over and saw a sign in the northwest corner that read, "Yuanmeng Film Industry welcomes leaders from all provincial TV stations."

He led his men closer and saw a 20-seater Iveco van parked under the sign. There were already six or seven people inside, and two young women were guarding the door.

Seeing Ouyang Changlin approach, the two girls quickly got out of the car and asked with smiles, "Are you leaders attending this trailer auction?"

"We are from Hunan TV."

As the staff behind him spoke, they pulled out the invitation letter issued by Yuanmeng.

Ouyang Changlin asked curiously, "Is this car newly bought?"

One of the girls carefully checked the invitations, while the other explained with a smile, "We just bought them before the New Year. They sent two cars this time. Once the other car comes back, we'll head straight to the hotel, whether it's full or not."

"You guys at Yuanmeng are really rich and powerful, buying two such expensive cars at once."

Ouyang Changlin couldn't help but sigh. Although Iveco had completed the domestic production of the 91 model, the core components still had to be imported from abroad, so the price was not cheap, not to mention the 20-seat super-large version.

But then the girl smiled sweetly and proudly corrected herself, "Actually, we bought four at once. Our boss Zhang said we should never forget those who dug the well when we drink the water, so he donated one to Tianjin TV Station and one to the Economic Development Zone Management Committee."

Tsk~
No wonder Yuanmeng is thriving in Tianjin. If I were a local leader, I would definitely prefer a company like this.

Seeing that another girl had returned the invitation, Ouyang Changlin got into the car with his two followers.

The two passengers in the front row immediately stood up, smiling and asking, "Brother, which company are you from?"

"I am Ouyang Changlin from Hunan TV." Ouyang Changlin extended his hand to the two men and asked, "May I ask who you gentlemen are?"

The person on the other end introduced himself: "I am Cheng Weidong from the Zhejiang TV Production Center, and this is Chen Liang from the Shanghai TV News Center."

[PS: For detailed biographical information about the characters, please see the author's notes.]

Upon hearing the words "news center," Ouyang Changlin was slightly surprised, but he didn't show it. Instead, he laughed and said, "Your Yangtze River Delta region is so united—but why didn't the representative from Jiangsu come?"

"The representatives from Jiangsu arrived a long time ago."

Cheng Weidong laughed and said, "Jiangsu TV sent a female general this time. She has an impatient personality and is not willing to team up with us."

Ouyang Changlin sat down next to the two across the aisle, while the staff went to the back to socialize.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Cheng Weidong asked with a smile, "I heard that Hunan TV has been quite active this year, even co-producing two films with Taiwan. You must be determined to succeed in Tianjin this time, right?"

"We are not as wealthy and powerful as you in the Yangtze River Delta region."

Ouyang Changlin quickly waved his hand: "I watch your Zhejiang TV's 'China's Divine Fire' and 'China's Merchants' all the time and always find something new—as for Hunan TV, we can only play a supporting role for them."

Both of our co-productions with Taiwan are historical dramas that fictionalize history, so the main reason for this visit is to see what the similarities and differences are, so we can learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Hearing him speak so politely, Cheng Weidong was somewhat dismissive: "These fictionalized historical dramas were started by Taiwan. Hunan TV rode this wave, how could our mainland dramas possibly compete?"

"I wouldn't dare say that. Last year, I had the opportunity to have some exchanges with Mr. Zhang. His ideas and vision are very advanced, some of them even ahead of those in Hong Kong and Taiwan."

"Brother Ouyang, have you met General Manager Zhang?"

Chen Liang, who had been sitting and listening attentively, suddenly became interested and turned to ask, "Could you elaborate? For example, what are some of Mr. Zhang's more forward-thinking viewpoints?"

"Uh~"

Seeing his excitement, Ouyang Changlin forgot to reply for a moment.

Cheng Weidong explained with a smile, "Brother Chen, this time you came to Tianjin not only to represent Shanghai TV in the trailer auction, but also to conduct a special interview with Mr. Zhang of Yuanmeng." Chen Liang also explained, "With music videos all over the country and two seasons of 'I Am a Singer,' Yuanmeng has now firmly established itself as the leading record company, and is now also a pilot film and television company."

I heard that this Mr. Zhang is not yet 30 years old and started from scratch as a printing worker—it would be a shame not to take this opportunity to do a special interview with such a prominent figure.

No wonder it was the director of the news center who came.

"As expected, people from Shanghai are really quick-witted."

Ouyang Changlin gave Chen Liang a thumbs up, then pondered, "To talk about President Zhang's advanced ideas, it's really impossible to explain in just a few words."

Just then, another Iveco van slowly pulled up beside them. The two girls announced that they would be heading to the hotel soon, and then they got into that van.

As the Iveco slowly started, Chen Liang laughed and said, "Then why don't you tell us in detail, brother? We've got nothing else to do on this journey anyway."

…………

Meanwhile, at the Dream Fulfillment Headquarters.

Wang Zhongqi knocked on the door of the general manager's office and reported to Zhang Yan and Chen Hong: "Representatives from Shanghai, Zhejiang and Hunan have also arrived—the one sent by Hunan TV is Director Ouyang, the same one from last year."

Zhang Yan did a quick calculation and found that sixteen companies had already arrived, and he estimated that the number would eventually exceed twenty, which was better than expected.

However, not all those who came wanted to buy the broadcasting rights; some were simply testing the waters.

"The New Dragon and Phoenix" is, after all, the first official work produced entirely with private investment and sold to television stations, and it is bound to have a trendsetting significance in the industry.

"besides."

At this moment, Wang Zhongqi said again, "The guesthouse contacted us, saying that several provincial TV stations seem to be colluding."

"Collusion? Trying to jointly drive down prices?"

"should be."

"Don't worry about them for now."

If only five or six TV stations came, Zhang Yan might have worried that they would successfully coordinate, but it's impossible for more than twenty TV stations to be of one mind.

Moreover, Yuanmeng is not without countermeasures. If pushed too far, they can directly broadcast it on satellite TV and then sell it cheaply to local and municipal TV stations.

When the competition comes from both sides, whoever's ratings drop will be the one who gets anxious.

Upon hearing Zhang Yan's words, Wang Zhongqi reported, "Furthermore, Shandong TV has proactively offered to collaborate with us on a variety show, and has also suggested sharing advertising slots or taking a cut of advertising revenue."

Shandong TV also went live on January 1st. Although the satellite coverage area is relatively small, it is still the third official satellite TV station in China, and of course, it wants to have a successful start.

After planning two seasons of "I Am a Singer", one season of "Chinese Poetry Conference" and the 93 New Year's Eve Gala, Zhang Yan's abilities have been widely recognized in the industry.

So Shandong TV is really going all out this time – you should know that even at Tianjin TV, Zhang Yan couldn't get advertising slots or a share of the revenue.

but……

"If they come directly to us, we definitely can't accept their offer."

Zhang Yan looked at the table and thought for a moment, then said to Wang Zhongqi, "You don't need to worry about this. I'll find a way to get Director Ma from Shandong TV to act as a mediator."

Last year, when we planned a program for CCTV, Tianjin TV couldn't really say anything, since the two sides weren't on the same level at the time. But Shandong TV was different.

As the only two local TV stations in China to be broadcast on satellite, they are in a naked competitive relationship with each other.

However, being a state-owned enterprise and just beginning its commercial transformation, its competitive spirit is not yet very strong.

If Shandong TV were to go through the proper channels and ask Ma Yuan to act as an intermediary, given Ma Yuan's prideful nature, he would most likely agree.

The current task is to figure out how to enlighten the representative from Shandong TV.

(End of this chapter)