Chapter 132

At CCTV, Little Zhang walked out of the director's office. After gently closing the door, he let out a sigh of relief. When the female colleague saw Little Zhang return to his seat, she looked around twice, then hurriedly stretched her head over and asked in a low voice:

"Eh, how is Old Liu now?"

Little Zhang shook his head and sighed:

"How else could he be? He's depressed! He just asked me about the ratings. As soon as he heard *Burning Years* was at 57%, he went silent directly, his face dark, not saying a word. That low pressure made me not even dare to breathe."

The female colleague smiled and complained in a low voice:

"Hey, how can he not be depressed? They came to us first, but it wasn't negotiated, and then they turned to Beijing Television and suppressed us. Now in the Beijing area, they've suppressed our ratings to only 20%. This time, it's really a loss of face."

Then she continued to ask: "Eh, Little Zhang, have you watched the show?"

"Why wouldn't I watch it? Even if I didn't, my wife wouldn't agree. Plus my parents are also chasing it, so I have to watch it. But one thing is one thing, their show is filmed well. It's really a pity to have missed it this time."

"Who says it isn't? A work personally produced and written by a great director is just different. It's a boutique!

Wasn't it said that Old Liu went to negotiate it personally at the time? Why didn't he get it? Was the price offered too low?"

"Price is one aspect. It counts as our normal CCTV price, definitely not comparable to local stations. But this matter can't be blamed on Director Liu. I heard that Wu Dao was in a hurry to broadcast it. You also know about the show scheduled next; it's a task assigned from above, and it can't be moved. Hong Kong's return, the bigger picture matters most!" Little Zhang pointed upwards and said.

"Haha, it's another theme of 'both sides of the strait are one family', right? We've broadcast at least five or six of these themes this year. Let alone the common people, I'm tired of it. How can this compete with others!"

In the office, Director Liu had already lit a cigarette and was puffing away.

Actually, you could say that whether a TV series is popular or not doesn't really affect him. After all, mixing in a place like CCTV doesn't mean you can get ahead just by relying on how awesome your performance is.

But the problem is that *Burning Years* came to CCTV first, and he went to watch the footage and negotiate it personally. As a result, it fell to Beijing Television in the end, and now Beijing Television, the little brother, has ridden on their faces and outputted again.

For CCTV, this is more or less a loss of face. After all, both are in the capital, seeing each other every day, and there is still some competitive relationship.

But if you want to say he's angry at Wu Yuchen for this, that's not the case. The other party also made it clear to him that they wanted to release it early to recover funds, and the price CCTV gave wasn't even enough to cover the cost.

Now thinking about it, he also regrets it a bit. The offer given at the time was indeed too low. The price of such a hit show would be worth it even if it were tripled or quadrupled, but how could he have predicted it would be so popular at that time? After all, Miracle Film and Television had no foundation at all; this was just their first TV series.

But after this time, he didn't dare to underestimate Miracle Film and Television anymore.

After finishing a cigarette, the slight depression in Director Liu's heart dissipated quite a bit. After thinking about it, he picked up the phone and dialed. A moment later, after the other side connected, he immediately said with a smile:

"Hello, Wu Dao, congratulations! Your *Burning Years* is truly burning up half the sky in Beijing right now!

I spotted this show at the beginning, but it's a pity!

If I had known today, I would have withstood the pressure from above and bought it for you to broadcast first. After all, CCTV's influence is much greater than Beijing Television's, don't you think that's the logic?

It doesn't matter. We lacked a bit of fate for this show, but there will be many opportunities for cooperation in the future. If Wu Dao makes another move, remember to contact me again!"

Although he had some power at CCTV, Wu Yuchen on the other side was also a person with a name and surname. Everyone is a decent person. If the deal doesn't go through, the friendship remains. If it doesn't work this time, there will be a next time.

After hanging up the phone, Director Liu thought for a moment and called Little Zhang in again:

"You keep in touch with Miracle Film and Television. If *Burning Years* sells the subsequent broadcast rights..."

"No problem, Director. Are you thinking of buying the second round?"

Director Liu waved his hand: "We didn't buy the first round, so forget about the second round; it's not worth it. When the time comes, buy the third round and arrange for Channel 8 to find a non-prime time slot to broadcast it. The theme of this show is very mainstream!"

Little Zhang nodded immediately, thinking to himself that it seems Director Liu wants to maintain a relationship with Miracle Film and Television to facilitate subsequent cooperation.

On this side, Wu Yuchen also hung up the phone with a smile, feeling in his heart that his name as a great film director is indeed useful. Otherwise, it wouldn't have led this CCTV deputy director to turn around and call him back. Usually, people wouldn't even bother with a new company; only they would have to fawn over CCTV.

Regarding the current 57% ratings in the Beijing area, he was already very satisfied. These ratings were very high. And the show hadn't finished airing yet; there were still the last two or three episodes, including the climax where Shi Jing and Hu Dakai reunite on the train. Watching Hu Dakai's prosthetic leg made many viewers who were looking forward to their romance sad and tearful, full of regret for this beautiful romance.

Therefore, the ratings for the last two or three episodes should jump up a bit more. If it can rise to 60%, then a higher price can be negotiated when selling the second round.

Regarding ratings, the two highest-rated shows, *Journey to the West* and *Yearnings*, once reached 98%.

How should I put it? Actually, just thinking about it, you know that real ratings couldn't possibly be as high as 98%.

The reason for such high data is mainly due to the unscientific statistical methods of that era. With the development of the times, statistical means have become more advanced, collection more precise, and data will become more real and lower. Moreover, with the increase in entertainment means in the future, the number of people in front of the TV will inevitably become fewer and fewer, and that kind of TV series that empties the streets will be difficult to be born in the new century.

Sure enough, as Wu Yuchen expected, with the broadcast of the last few episodes, Shi Jing's romance, Shi Guangrong's myocardial infarction and coma, Chu Qin's inner monologue to Shi Guangrong, and the eldest son Shi Lin returning home, these successive plots constantly impacted the audience. In the finale, the highest rating of *Burning Years* once rushed to 62%!

In the current year of 1997, being able to exceed 60% ratings is a remarkable achievement!

Cai Yinong also found Wu Yuchen happily: "Wu Dao, your decision was wise. We suppressed the first few that came to negotiate. Now that we've rushed to 60%, the second and third rounds will definitely sell for a good price!"

Wu Yuchen smiled and asked: "What is the specific situation now?"

"Beijing Television has contacted us many times, strongly requesting to continue buying the second-round broadcast rights, and they hope for exclusivity. Others like Dragon TV, Zhejiang TV, and Guangdong TV have also taken the initiative to contact us to participate in the second-round purchase..."

"Beijing Television wants exclusive second-round rights? Can they afford this price?" Wu Yuchen asked with a smile. If the price was high enough, he wouldn't disagree. Originally, these subsequent rounds were meant to be sold for money.

"They are willing to pay the same price as the first round, 7 million!" Cai Yinong said.

Actually, usually, a TV series will be much lower in the second round than in the first round, and a drop of half is the norm. But *Burning Years* is too popular now, and the public's calls keep coming one after another, causing a high degree of topic discussion and a great response. Therefore, for such a phenomenal TV series, Beijing Television is not stingy with money, directly willing to pay the first-round price, showing their sincerity.

Wu Yuchen smiled and shook his head: "7 million is far from enough. Beijing Television already took advantage by paying 7 million for the first round.

President Cai, let me give you a bottom line. My bottom line for the second round is to sell for at least 15 million, with at most 4 TV stations broadcasting jointly. The price for the second round must only be higher, not lower."

Cai Yinong also knew that her pattern was small upon hearing this and nodded immediately. She estimated in her heart that it meant at least 4 million for each TV station. However, with the quality of *Burning Years* here, she also had some confidence to handle it.

The number of TV stations broadcasting in each round is also particular; it's not the more the better. There are at most 4 in the second round; otherwise, it's not conducive to selling in the third round.

The price will be lower after the third round. If a single station buys it, maybe it only needs 1.5 million or even 1 million, but the quantity can be sold more later.

There are too many TV channels in the country, and each prefecture-level city has its own TV station. This kind of price of over a million is still affordable for everyone.

For a TV series with explosive word-of-mouth like *Burning Years*, the money earned after these three rounds will actually be more than the first round.

Wu Yuchen's goal for *Burning Years* is to earn 50 to 70 million within 3 years. He doesn't dare to think higher. The price of the domestic TV series market is not that high yet.

*My Fair Princess* can earn hundreds of millions, partly because it is indeed popular, and partly because Mango TV itself is a TV station, and they earn advertising fees directly. There will be no middlemen to earn the price difference.

TV stations are very profitable when done well. The current market value of Hong Kong's TVB is already over 20 billion Hong Kong dollars, and it will exceed 30 billion in two years. For example, last year, a *Journey to the West* by Zhang Weijian could earn over 200 million Hong Kong dollars. Its profitability is terrifying. No film company in Hong Kong can compare to it. Run Run Shaw's status is not just because of his seniority, but because his TVB truly dominates Hong Kong.

For someone like Wu Yuchen who sells TV series to TV stations, earning 50 million for one show is already a lot. It's just a pity that domestic TV stations are state-owned monopolies and cannot be opened to private enterprises. Otherwise, Wu Yuchen wouldn't mind being a media tycoon.

Although *Run Luo La Run* won a big award in Berlin, Li Xiaoran actually hadn't felt like she had become a star for more than half a year after returning to China.

On one hand, the movie was banned after all. Although it was spreading through discs, the proportion of people who had seen it compared to the common people on the street was truly negligible.

On the other hand, she had dyed red hair in the movie, and now she had restored her original black hair. Even if some people thought she looked like her, they wouldn't be sure she was Luo La.

Therefore, she had never covered herself much when going out on the street for more than half a year, just being herself.

But with the broadcast of *Burning Years*, everything changed.

Today, just as she walked to a vegetable stall near her home to buy vegetables and asked for a price, she found an auntie buying vegetables next to her staring at her intently, making her feel quite embarrassed.

"Hey, are you Shi Jing?" The auntie couldn't help but ask in the end.

Li Xiaoran smiled and nodded. She felt a little joy in her heart upon hearing this. Was she considered famous now?

As a result, the auntie didn't even buy vegetables anymore and directly grabbed her arm:

"Oh my, girl, I really like you too much! Smart, sensible, and generous. I told my son that when he looks for a partner in the future, he must find someone like you! Sigh, it's really a pity for you and Hu Dakai. After waiting for him for so long, the result turned out to be like this. It's really heartbreaking!"

The auntie grabbed Li Xiaoran and started talking endlessly. At this time, the old man selling vegetables also heard the conversation between the two and said happily:

"You really are Shi Jing! Come, come, come, take whatever vegetables you want today, just consider it a gift from me!"

The old man and auntie didn't lower their voices when speaking, which immediately attracted the attention of others. Especially after hearing the name Shi Jing, a circle of people instantly started staring at Li Xiaoran, and then they surrounded her all at once:

"Shi Jing, it really is you! I like you so much, the end made me cry!"

"Hey, Shi Jing, give me an autograph!"

"Shi Jing..."

Li Xiaoran was still declining the vegetable seller's kindness, but in a moment of carelessness, she was almost surrounded. And seeing the people inside having a tendency to squeeze towards her, she was also a little panicked. She hurriedly pulled her hand out of the auntie's grip and turned around to run back while there was no one surrounding her from behind.

With a bang, Li Xiaoran closed the door, leaning against it to calm her mood, two parts panic, three parts excitement, and five parts joy.

Then she immediately took out her phone and called Wu Yuchen. As soon as the call connected, she shouted happily: "I think I'm famous!"

"Ah? You just found out? Have you been playing games at home for days without going out again?"

"Hey, that's not the point. Why didn't you tell me earlier? I just went to the vegetable market to buy vegetables and was almost blocked inside!" Li Xiaoran chattered about her experience just now.

"Hahaha, doesn't this have to be experienced by yourself to be a surprise? How is it, are you happy?"

"Happy!" Li Xiaoran smiled beautifully.

"Come over in a while, I'll make you something delicious~" She urgently needed to share her joy with someone now.

"Oh my, a big star cooking, then I have to come and taste it~" Wu Yuchen teased.

"Remember to buy vegetables when you come later. I didn't buy anything just now."

"Sigh, you want me, a big director, to go buy vegetables?"

"If you don't buy vegetables, what will we eat later? Are we both going to starve?"

"No need, I'll make noodles for you to eat when I come over later~" Wu Yuchen chuckled.

"How can just eating noodles be enough..."

Li Xiaoran was just saying this when she heard Wu Yuchen's strange laugh and suddenly reacted, a blush appearing on her face:

"Disgusting! You stinky hooligan!"

"Sister Ranran, then are you still going to let me go or not?"

There was a silence on the phone, and then Li Xiaoran's voice came out: "Come over quickly!"