The Zhejiang TV representative was the first to arrive.
The Eastern TV representative was the second.
In 2006, if provincial satellite channels were ranked by viewership share, Xiang Province TV would undoubtedly be first, followed by Anhui Channel One in second, and Shandong TV in third.
Zhejiang TV’s performance wasn’t as strong as last year, failing to make the top three.
Eastern TV ranked even lower than Zhejiang TV.
Zhejiang TV was on Mrs. Wang’s invitation list from the start, while Eastern TV was added only after Wen Ying’s reminder.
Though Zhejiang TV’s viewership ranking had slipped this year, Wen Ying recalled that this station could go toe-to-toe with Xiang Province TV for years.
Zhejiang TV, if nothing else, consistently innovated in variety shows, producing several popular and well-regarded programs, siphoning off a chunk of Xiang Province TV’s viewership share.
A temporary ranking didn’t mean much for a TV station. The real danger was complacency, lying flat when viewership dipped, and not bothering to create new programs to compete.
This was why Wen Ying insisted on adding Eastern TV to the invitation list.
In the same year Xiang Province TV launched Super Girl, Eastern TV started its own talent show, “My Style, My Show.” It showed Eastern TV wasn’t conservative or lacking innovation.
However, “My Style, My Show” wasn’t as broadly appealing, garnering less attention than Super Girl. Perhaps learning from this, Eastern TV launched a new show in April this year, “Go! Good Boy,” which kicked off the era of male idol consumption in domestic entertainment.
Though high school girls at key provincial schools once mocked that voting for “Go! Good Boy” contestants was less worthwhile than admiring Xie Qian back at school, the show undeniably lifted the veil on male idol consumption, wielding significant influence.
The program had only started in April, and Eastern TV couldn’t yet predict its popularity. Receiving Tianjiao’s invitation caught them off guard, if not flattered.
They thought, “Oh, we’re eligible to bid for a hot drama of the year?”
When the Eastern TV representative arrived and saw that all invited stations outranked them in viewership share, they felt a mix of emotions. Tianjiao had an eye for potential.
Mrs. Wang, juggling representatives from multiple stations, was both stressed and thrilled.
The Zhejiang TV rep was enthusiastic.
The Eastern TV rep was stylish and eloquent.
The Anhui Channel One rep dressed plainly, spoke without flourish, but exuded a quiet confidence, and rightly so. If Xiang Province TV weren’t present, Anhui Channel One would be the top-rated station in the room.
Surrounded by flattery from the representatives, Mrs. Wang was overwhelmed, like a playboy picking a consort on the spot.
Ugh, why did adults face such choices? Each station had its own charm, couldn’t she have them all?
Mrs. Wang steadied herself, “Why don’t we watch the sample episodes first?”
Without showing the episodes, how could she justify asking for a high price?
Mrs. Wang was flattered into a daze by the stations’ praise but hadn’t lost her senses entirely.
Wen Ying worried Mrs. Wang might buckle, but surprisingly, while Mrs. Wang soaked up the compliments, she stayed clear-headed. Wen Ying whispered to Xie Qian, “Teacher Yuan didn’t misjudge her. If Aunt Dong threw herself fully into work, she’d be a powerhouse at Tianjiao.”
Not that Mrs. Wang could replace Yuan Fenghui. A good company needed more than one capable manager, piling everything on Yuan Fenghui would burn her out.
Xie Qian had his own take, “Aunt Dong has high resistance to flattery.”
Wen Ying: …!
It sounded alarming at first, but on reflection, it made sense.
As the top dog in the Wang family food chain, Mrs. Wang thrived in an environment of constant praise and was adept at praising others. This level of flattery couldn’t sway her.
So, was Mrs. Wang deliberately acting smug to lower the representatives’ guard?
Now, the ones in danger weren’t Mrs. Wang but the station representatives. Did they realise the peril they were in?
Clearly, they didn’t.
After chatting briefly with Mrs. Wang, they realised she was largely an outsider.
Talk data or industry jargon, and Mrs. Wang just smiled.
She didn’t get it.
Because of this, Mrs. Wang didn’t favour any station, treating them equally. The representatives sized up their competitors and unanimously agreed to watch the sample episodes first.
A promotion event organised by an amateur, yet to secure the rights to ‘Star River and You,’ the stations would have to rely on their own merits.
The venue had been set up as a temporary screening room.
A booklet with the story synopsis and character outlines for ‘Star River and You’ was handed to each representative, allowing them to read while watching the episodes for a deeper understanding.
Female lead: Li Mengjiao.
Male lead: Yun Chen.
Guest appearance: Hu Man.
This lineup hit like a visual thunderbolt.
Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen were wildly popular, their collaboration in ‘The Princess’s New Clothes’ a massive hit, exclusively aired by Xiang Province TV. The industry was eager for their reunion.
Hu Man, a pop diva with a huge, loyal fanbase, rarely appeared in dramas. How much screen time she had in ‘Star River and You’ was unclear.
Regardless, she was a major promotional draw. Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen could hook young viewers, while Hu Man was a nostalgic pull for middle-aged audiences.
The screenwriter, Wen Ying, caught the Anhui Channel One rep off guard. Unfamiliar with the name, he muttered it under his breath.
The Eastern TV rep, annoyed at the “bumpkin” next to him, couldn’t resist whispering, “Bestselling author, she worked on Tianjiao’s last drama, ‘The Princess’s New Clothes.’ This is her first solo screenplay, seems Tianjiao values her highly.”
Halfway through, the Eastern TV rep wanted to slap himself.
Why run his mouth?
The Anhui rep’s ignorance was perfect, less competition in bidding.
“Thanks, brother, you’re a real one.”
The Anhui rep’s eyes lit up. The Eastern TV rep gave a dry laugh, “No need to thank me, do your homework next time.”
A new screenwriter raised doubts, but flipping through the ‘Star River and You’ booklet, the plot was smooth, logical yet fresh, with a novel setting and a strong cast. Wen Ying being the screenwriter didn’t dent the representatives’ evaluation.
They all wanted to see the sample episodes.
No opening credits or ads, watching two episodes wouldn’t take long. They’d rushed from other provinces, what was a bit more time?
As the screening began, the room fell silent, all representatives focused on the show. A Tianjiao assistant tiptoed in, intending to find Mrs. Wang, who was seated among the representatives. Recalling Mrs. Wang’s regard for Wen Ying and Xie Qian, the assistant approached Wen Ying instead.
“What’s up?”
Wen Ying asked proactively. The assistant whispered, “Screenwriter Wen, two more groups arrived outside, Liang Dan from Xiang Province TV and pop diva Hu Man. They want to enter, but they don’t have invitations, should we let them in?”
