Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 246 Prepare for a rainy day
In mid-February, the ancient city of Beiping seemed to be shrouded in a thin veil, and the weather became gloomy and rainy.

Fine rain fell like cow's hair, casting a somber gray hue over the sky and making people feel somewhat gloomy.

February 15th was supposed to be a pleasant weekend, but because Song Ci was going to Donghai on a business trip next week, he needed to arrange some work before leaving, so he could only call some senior executives to the company for a meeting on Sunday.

Inside the meeting room, with some time still remaining before the meeting was scheduled to begin and several senior executives yet to arrive, Song Ci chatted with Wang Jing and Zhang Yong.

Wang Jing glanced up casually and noticed the change on the chairman's wrist; the familiar Longines watch was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, a dazzling gold Omega watch appeared. I couldn't help but tease, "Oh, Mr. Song, you've changed your watch! Was it the Valentine's Day gift from Shishi yesterday?"

Song Ci couldn't hide the joy in her eyes: "It really is a Valentine's Day gift from Shishi."

Liu Shishi was overjoyed that he kept wearing the gift she gave him on their first Valentine's Day together.

However, as time went by, that ordinary Longines watch from back then is now somewhat out of place with his wealth and status.

So, on the first Valentine's Day after their engagement, his fiancée gave him another high-end luxury watch.

Zhang Yong chimed in, "President Wang, if you don't hurry, President Song will overtake you."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jing blushed instantly and replied softly, "My wedding date is already set, this year during the National Day holiday."

Song Ci looked delighted and offered her heartfelt blessings: "Sister Jing, I wish you and your husband a long and happy marriage."

"Congratulations!" Zhang Yong also offered his congratulations with a smile.

When the topic of marriage came up, Wang Jing seemed to shed her usual strong and capable demeanor, revealing a gentle beauty unique to women, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "I'll ask Shishi to be my bridesmaid."

Song Ci laughed and said, "No problem, I think Shishi will be happy to accept."

The three chatted for a while, and Song Ci took the opportunity to ask Wang Jing for advice on the various procedures involved in organizing a wedding.

As the meeting drew to a close, the attendees gradually arrived at the meeting room.

As usual, Zhang Yong chaired the meeting: "Comrades, let's gather everyone together for a quick meeting. The agenda has already been announced. Let's get started. Mr. Yang, you can begin."

"Chairman, distinguished leaders, let me first report on the relevant data from Toutiao." Yang Junfeng, president of Toutiao.com, cleared his throat and reported loudly.

According to third-party statistics, there are currently approximately 2400 million smartphone users in China. The Toutiao app has been downloaded 1280 million times, and its user and mobile phone market share has just exceeded 50%.

Backend data shows that since the three major telecom operators launched 3G network services last month, downloads of Toutiao have surged. We expect to increase the proportion of existing users to 70% by the end of the first quarter.

Song Ci nodded slightly: "The data is good. What are the clients' impressions of Toutiao?"

“Excellent!” Yang Junfeng said confidently. “We have conducted research and found that 92% of smartphone users have a positive review rate for Toutiao and are very willing to download the app.”

"What about daily active users?" Song Ci asked, directly addressing a key metric for product operations, as daily active users are the core of product development and user stickiness.

Yang Junfeng's face fell, and he replied helplessly, "No more than an hour. Users mainly browse news and occasionally look at things that interest them. The main reason affecting daily active user time is that data charges are too expensive now."

After a moment's thought, Song Ci suggested, "This issue can only be resolved by waiting for the three major telecom operators to launch cheaper data plans in the future."

Toutiao needs to strengthen its use of big data technology to push topics and content that users are interested in within their limited usage time.

Yang Junfeng quickly agreed: "Our department has been working with the big data center on this and is constantly improving the algorithm."

Seeing that the chairman was no longer asking questions, Zhang Yong continued the previous topic: "Comrades, President Song has a long-term vision and has already foreseen the opportunity. He has repeatedly emphasized that the next direction of the Internet's development lies in the mobile terminal."

The data from Toutiao now further corroborates this point. Since Apple's 2007 product launch, the group has keenly grasped the pulse of the times, actively deployed resources, and comprehensively responded to the wave of mobile development.

According to the in-depth market research and analysis conducted by the Chief Marketing Officer at headquarters, the company judged that by the end of 2009, the number of smartphone users would not be less than 6000 million, and the wave of mobile internet development was about to arrive.

According to the group's original strategic plan, the next key task is to support the launch of the Weibo app. Mr. Liu, could you please report on the progress of the preparations?

"Dear leaders, Weibo completed the internal testing of the app last year. After repeated testing and optimization, the various functions are now stable."

The mobile app is tentatively scheduled to launch on the Apple App Store on March 1st. At that time, the company's various official websites will simultaneously provide the Weibo app installation package for users to download and use. It is also planned that Toutiao (a Chinese news aggregator) will be responsible for driving traffic to the mobile platform.

At this point, Liu Yan paused slightly, his gaze unconsciously glancing at Song Ci, as if waiting for the chairman's reaction, or perhaps seeking approval.

"In addition, the development and growth of Weibo is inseparable from the strong promotion of a series of events. This mobile launch is also to further consolidate the advantages of the PC version, and our department has also carefully planned an event."

Zhang Yong asked with great interest, "What kind of activity is it? Tell everyone about it."

Liu Yan nodded and continued reporting: "Back in 2002, the entertainment section of the Southern Metropolis Daily selected four promising young actresses."

As time has passed, Zhou Xun, Zhao Zhetian, and the others have grown older and more experienced, and are now known as the Four Dan Actresses. They have always been leading figures among actresses in the entertainment industry.

The Chinese film and television industry has developed rapidly in recent years, with a constant emergence of new generation actors, making it entirely possible to hold another round of "Four Little Actresses" competitions.

“That’s interesting. Mr. Liu, please continue.” Song Ci leaned forward slightly, showing great interest in Liu Yan’s idea of ​​selecting the new Four Little Actresses.

He secretly calculated the time in his mind. It was around this time in his previous life that Tencent Entertainment launched a new selection of the four little actresses. Nowadays, Tencent is far inferior to Tencent, so it is not unreasonable for Weibo to launch this event.

Seeing the chairman's enthusiasm, Liu Yan's confidence soared, and he looked radiant: "Weibo is preparing to join forces with a hundred mainstream media outlets in the industry to create an entertainment extravaganza for all. We will call on all Weibo users to participate in the 'Post-80s New Generation Entertainment Stars' event, and select the new Four Little Actresses and Four Little Actors through open, fair, and just voting."

After hearing this, Wang Jing couldn't help but clap her hands and praise, "A very good idea. Considering the group's influence in the media industry, and the fact that Weibo has gradually become the gathering place and base of entertainment traffic, this event can be extremely grand."

Song Ci also highly regards this selection event. Since the initial launch of Toutiao.com, Tengda Group has always adhered to the model of win-win cooperation.

Most major domestic media outlets have registered accounts on Toutiao and Weibo, so they'll likely give them some face and cooperate actively now that the campaign is underway.

"The group will fully cooperate with you."

With the big boss's promise, Liu Yan was full of energy: "Within a week, our department will submit the event plan to the leadership for approval. If you have any good ideas or suggestions, please feel free to bring them up. We will strive to make this event as perfect as possible."

Chief Marketing Officer Yu Shengming, well-versed in hype and marketing, spoke first, suggesting, "President Liu, the idea is indeed good. However, if we could get state media involved, such as CCTV reporting on it, to increase the authority of the selection, that would be even more perfect."

After Yu Shengming took the lead, the presidents of other departments also helped to fill in the gaps and offered suggestions. Liu Yan carefully wrote down all the good ideas in his notebook.

"Thank you all for your suggestions. After the meeting, I will arrange for someone to refine and improve these ideas."

After Liu Yan finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Song Ci and said, "President Song, our department can handle everything else, but President Yu just suggested that CCTV report on this. We would appreciate your support."

"I understand, I will communicate with the leaders of CCTV." With the words of full support still echoing in the air, Song Ci naturally could not refuse at this moment, so she could only agree and prepare to ask Director Jiang of CCTV for help.

Liu Yan was overjoyed, his face beaming with a smile. With the chairman personally inviting CCTV to participate, this selection event was sure to be a success.

An impromptu meeting was supposed to be a quick and efficient one, but there were so many topics that it ended close to noon.

Song Ci glanced at the brand-new gold watch on her wrist: "Brother Yong, Sister Jing, if you don't have anything else to do, let's have a meal together. There are some things we need to discuss between the three of us."

"Why don't you go back to be with your wife?" Wang Jing teased with a light laugh. The chairman would go back to have dinner with Liu Shishi whenever he had time, making him a model of loving husband.

"Shishi isn't home. She had some business at her company and flew to Donghai this morning."

Wang Jing rolled her eyes and pretended to be annoyed: "I knew it! I was wondering this morning why you didn't spend the weekend with Shishi and instead dragged us here for a meeting. Now you're even treating me and President Zhang to dinner. Turns out Shishi isn't home."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yong burst into laughter: "Let's go, let's go! It's rare for President Song to treat us, let's make him pay big!"

On Sunday afternoon, after lunch, Song Ci returned to the company to work overtime on documents. Meanwhile, Liu Shishi returned to Tangren Media for the first time since the New Year, and everyone greeted her warmly.

Responding politely to everyone, Liu Shishi went straight to the president's office, knocked on the door and entered, where she saw Cai Yinong and Hu Ge sitting together chatting.

"Old K, Old Hu, have you missed me?" Sister Yi's voice was clear and melodious, with a touch of playfulness and intimacy.

Seeing her junior sister return, Hu Ge smiled and said warmly, "Shishi, it's been a long time!"

Cai Yinong glared at Ms. Liu: "So you finally decided to come back? I haven't seen you come back to the company for months."

The eldest sister sat down next to Cai Yinong, took her arm, smiled brightly, and said coquettishly, "Sister K, isn't it because you take care of everything at the company? It doesn't matter whether I come to the company or not."

Cai Yinong shook his head helplessly and gently patted Liu's soft hand: "I really can't do anything with you, I'm just destined to be a busybody."

"Hehe, the capable should do more!" Sister Yi playfully stuck out her little tongue, and the office was instantly filled with a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

After a few casual words, Cai Yinong got down to business with his brother and sister: "The company is about to start a new drama called 'The Weaver Girl of the Ends of the Earth,' but it's a pity that Hu Ge is going to participate in 'Bitter Coffee,' and Shishi, are you going to join the cast of 'Go Lala Go!'"

The male lead role in this drama was given to Yuan Hong, but the female lead role was left vacant. Considering the company's long-term planning, I signed two newcomers.

"Shishi, we specifically called you here today so you could get to know the company's new artists. We'll all be family from now on, so you can look out for each other."

After the farce of vying for roles, Tangren Media completely severed ties with Hong Kong and Taiwan capital. Cai Yinong and Li Guoli had a heart-to-heart talk, and the two core figures of Tangren reached an agreement that, in principle, Tangren would no longer use Hong Kong and Taiwan artists in its TV dramas.

In order for Tangren Media to align itself with Tengda Culture and achieve long-term development, Li Guoli agreed with Cai Yinong's decision. From now on, Tangren will be able to operate with a lighter burden, have more freedom in personnel management, and use all resources to cultivate its own employees.

"The company has a new artist?" The top female artist was excited when she heard the news, and she was not worried at all that the new artist joining Tangren would threaten her position.

All she could think about was that if the company had other female artists, then she would truly be the top star. Otherwise, it would be rather lonely for the company to always have only one female celebrity like her.

Cai Yinong nodded and explained in detail: "I signed two very promising newcomers at once. One is named Li Chengyuan, a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, who has a solid foundation in acting and used to work in the advertising industry."

She officially entered the entertainment industry last year after starring in "The Book and the Sword". I saw that she looked good in period costume and was a professionally trained actress, so I signed her to my company.

The other one is your junior from the Beijing Dance Academy, named Jin Chen. She's only 19 this year, and her situation is similar to yours back then. We'll be mentoring her for the next few years. Jin Chen is still young, so if you, Shishi, don't film any of the company's productions in the next couple of years, resources will be prioritized for Li Chengyuan.”

Since signing Liu Shishi, Cai Yinong has increasingly favored recruiting dance students from the Beijing Dance Academy. The girls from the Beijing Dance Academy are elegant, have outstanding temperament, and are highly adaptable.

So now that the leading lady can go out and take on roles and no longer occupies Tangren's resources, she went to the Beijing Dance Academy to find a good talent.

On the other hand, Cai Yinong also has his own considerations. Tangren's top actresses have a fine tradition of retiring from acting to return to their families. The top actress Liu Shishi and Song Ci are a perfect match; perhaps one day she will choose to return to her family and settle down as the wife of a billionaire.

Lee Sung-won was born in 1984, making her three years older than the top star. She feared that Lee Sung-won might follow in the footsteps of the third-generation top star and get married and have children during the peak of her career.

Therefore, she simply signed two newcomers with different styles and ages at once. In this way, even if Liu Shishi and Li Chengyuan are not in the company in the future, Tangren will still have female artists to support the company.

(End of this chapter)