On September 25, a full month has passed since Satellite TV Co., Ltd. was acquired by Lam Pictures and Ming Pao Enterprises.
During this period, several leaders were parachuted into the station, the news department strengthened its review, and the variety show department expanded a lot of manpower, but the manpower increased, and there was no specific statement above.
Everything seemed so normal, and this situation made the employees who were a little worried secretly feel happy.
After all, after changing the boss, everyone is worried about the situation of one emperor and one courtier. At present, it seems that the new boss still focuses on stability.
The atmosphere in the station is a little different today. It's not that the boss has any big move, but that the station logo is going to be changed.
The word "Starry Sky" became the name of the station. From now on, it was called "Starry Sky TV" externally. Even the station logo was changed to a five-pointed star with the word "Starry Sky" next to it.
It looks a lot more grand than the previous logo, but that's all. "Hey, hey, hey, something big is happening!"
Several directors were gathering for lunch when a thin man with a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks suddenly ran over with a mysterious look on his face. Everyone was immediately curious about him.
"What's up?"
"Awei, Uncle Hua and the others have been transferred to the variety show department!"
Several people looked disappointed, "Hey, what do I think? The variety show department has been hiring people these days.
What’s so strange about it?”
The thin man said anxiously: "It's different this time, Awei and the others got a new plan after they were transferred there!
?
"New plan?"
Everyone realized that something was wrong, and they were going to start a new show!
Then everyone reacted, "The boss of the company has changed, so it would be abnormal not to launch a new show."
"You know what the heck! This show is different. I heard that audio equipment was specially purchased. The purchase alone cost 10 million!"
"What!"
Everyone finally exclaimed.
Just spent 10 million on purchasing audio equipment? What kind of program is so arrogant?
If it were placed on TVB, 10 million would be enough for two TV series. If you save a little, three TV series would not be impossible.
"Hey, are we going to have a singing competition?"
The thin man replied: "It seems so, but it looks like the competition is huge. It's not an ordinary singing competition."
"No matter how big it is, how big can it be? It's just a singing competition. TVB and ATV have done it countless times. What new tricks can they come up with?"
The thin man felt that if he dared to spend 10 million to purchase audio equipment, this singing program must be extraordinary. He wanted to refute his colleagues, but unfortunately the information he knew was limited, so he couldn't refute him even if he wanted to.
Throughout the afternoon, news of the new program quietly circulated on the brand-new Star TV, causing excitement within the company.
The news spread like this for two days, and various details about the new program were constantly discovered.
Two days later, "Ming Pao Weekly" suddenly published a report "Satellite TV changes its name to create the most expensive variety show in history."
"Recently, after Lam Pictures and Ming Pao Enterprises jointly acquired Satellite TV, they officially changed the company's name to Star TV.
Currently, Star TV is busy producing a new variety show after changing its name. In order to prepare for the show, Star TV has spent tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars to purchase the world's top audio equipment, which has attracted widespread attention inside and outside the entertainment industry.
According to insiders, the production team of this show is star-studded, including Tony Lu.
Huang Lu, Gu Jiahui and a large number of top music producers are behind the scenes.
Star TV has carefully prepared this time, spared no expense to create a gorgeous stage, invited many influential superstars in the Asian music scene to serve as judges, adopted a new production model, and strived to bring an unprecedented audio-visual feast to the audience -..."
Satellite TV, now called Star TV, has only been on the air for half a year, and originally had little sense of existence in the hearts of Hong Kong viewers.
However, the reporter of "Ming Pao Weekly" does have a good way of attracting readers' attention. The "most expensive variety show in history", "tens of millions of audio equipment" and many other factors highlighted in the article really attracted the attention of many readers and viewers.
There are also those producers mentioned in the report, any one of them is the top person in the Hong Kong music scene.
Lu Dongni’s masterpieces are "The Moon Represents My Heart", "Sweet Honey" and "Seeing the Smoke Again". Needless to say, Hui and Huang have countless classics——··
Such a strong behind-the-scenes lineup is highly anticipated.
The report also mentioned that the program invited influential superstars in the Asian music scene to serve as judges, but their names were not revealed, which aggravated readers' curiosity.
"Ming Pao Weekly" is the originator of Hong Kong entertainment weekly and has great influence in the entertainment industry and even among all readers who care about entertainment news.
Once this article was published, it immediately became a hotly discussed topic in the streets of Hong Kong.
Readers are curious, and Ming Pao Weekly naturally wants to meet everyone's expectations.
Under the "24-hour watch" of paparazzi, information about Star TV's new programs has been continuously exposed. "PolyGram and New Artwork, the two major record companies, have joined forces to support Star TV's new programs." "Alan Tam and Anita Mui appear in Star TV."
Satellite TV Recording Studio" "Japan's most powerful singer Miyuki Nakajima lands at Kai Tak Airport"
Wave after wave of news reports have whetted the public's appetite, making people's curiosity about Star TV's new program reach its peak. The program has not even started yet, but the ratings have actually increased a lot.
After half a month like this, on October 13th, "Tiantian Daily" issued a news release revealing the official name of Star TV's new program - "Asian Idol".
The name "Asia" is indeed extraordinary, but many people's first reaction when seeing this name is to sensationalize.
It’s just a singing competition in Hong Kong, so naming it like this is an exaggeration.
But the next day, "Ming Pao", "Tian Tian Daily" and many other newspapers collectively announced the news of audition registration for "Asian Idol".
Xiangjiang, Taipei, Guangzhou, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur----"-"Asian Idol" will set up 7 audition cities in important cities in many Asian countries and regions.
The name "Asia" is worthy of its name.
Three days later, the four major channels of Star TV simultaneously broadcast the pilot trailer of "Asian Idol".
The four major judges Alan Tam, Liu Wenzheng, Anita Mui, and Miyuki Nakajima all appeared together, and top music producers such as Gu Jiahui, Huang Lu, and Tony Lu came to the rescue. Hot scenes from many audition city studios and registration sites were exposed...
"Asian Idol" sets sail!
Such a majestic momentum has never been seen in the history of Hong Kong TV. "Asian Idol" became a hit before it was broadcast, and the whole city was looking forward to it!
"Pet-p-tsk..."
Tao Yumo rested on a pair of slender and straight legs, watching the pictures on the TV with a face full of joking.
"This scene is too big, the money is really well spent!"
Maggie Cheung asked: "Did it really cost 50 million?"
"Why did I lie to you about this kind of thing? It was exposed in the newspapers. If you do the math, the stereo cost 1,000
10,000, how can these judges be invited if they don’t have 18,000,000?
There are also audition organizations in various places, travel expenses, transportation expenses, and rental of photo studios--50 million is a conservative way to spend it!"
Listening to Tao Yumo's calculations, Maggie Cheung felt dizzy. She had been in the entertainment industry for so many years and she knew a lot about film and television investments.
Xiangjiang's TV stations now only spend 30,000 to 40,000 yuan to produce a program. Small programs may only cost 10,000 to 20,000 yuan, and top programs like "Happy Tonight" only cost 20,000 to 300,000 yuan.
Calculating this kind of investment, how much does one issue of "Asian Idol" cost?
"About four million. My sister and the others plan to have 12 issues per season, one per year.
With the scale of an organization like this, one visit a year would make the staff of their TV station lose their skin.
There are more than 100 staff sent to various cities alone. No one has done this in the history of Hong Kong TV. It is unprecedented!"
Maggie Cheung exclaimed: "Sister Yu is really great!"
Her face was full of admiration, and she forgot about the movements of her hands. Tao Yumo took her hand and put the grape in her hand into her mouth.
"What a great thing! It's all made with money, and you can make a profit at a loss!"
"As long as you can attract viewers, it's not difficult to make money."
"It can't be that easy! That's an investment of 50 million. It's enough to make ten or eight TV series. It would take two big-selling movies to earn so much.
There will definitely be no chance of it in a short time. It just depends on whether the reputation can be established.
If it succeeds, it will be worth it in the long run!”
"This show has become so popular recently. People are talking about it everywhere I go. It hasn't started airing yet, so I think it's fine!"
Maggie Cheung stuffed a grape into Tao Yushu's mouth as she spoke, and then asked out of curiosity: "
Ai, what do you think about me going to participate in the audition?"
"you?"
Tao Yumo seemed to have heard some joke, and his questioning tone was full of ridicule, which made Maggie Cheung angry, "Are you laughing?"
"Don't you know why I'm laughing? You were not born to sing. Stop thinking nonsense. Good Tao Yumo's joking tone made Maggie Cheung very hurt.
Although she has a male duck voice and sings out of tune, this is not a reason for Tao Yumo to laugh at her.
"Are you still a friend?" Maggie Cheung asked Tao Yumo angrily.
"I am advising you just because we are friends. I am doing it for your own good, eldest sister!"
Tao Yumo sat up from the sofa and shook Maggie Cheung's shoulders, trying to make her wake up, "Be your best actress and stop having such unrealistic dreams!"
Maggie Cheung said angrily: "I'm going!"
Tao Yumo didn't shed tears when she saw that she didn't see the coffin, and smiled jokingly again.
"Think carefully! If you go, don't worry about whether you passed the audition or not. You will definitely be on TV. The audience will laugh at you much more than I am now. Maybe you will become the 'Shame of Hong Kong'!"
"
The more frightened Tao Yumo becomes, the more rebellious Maggie Cheung becomes.
She has loved singing since she was a child. When she participated in the Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant in 1983, when she was asked which of her three wishes she would choose between "acting, singing or dancing", she chose singing without hesitation.
Unfortunately, she later took the path of an actress when she debuted, which she has always deeply regretted.
Listening to Maggie Cheung talking about her singing story, Tao Yumo couldn't help but complain: "Don't you really understand why our company would rather let you be a vase than support you in singing?"
"Shut up! Stop talking about breaking up the relationship!" Maggie Cheung threatened.
For the sake of friendship, Tao Yumo had to shut up.
After holding it in for a while, she couldn't help but ask, "How about I give you a back door?"
"Go away!"
Maggie Cheung let out a loud cry, and the two of them were torn together, with their shoulders exposed and their hair flying.
After arguing for a long time, both of them were exhausted, so they lay down on the sofa and exhaled like blue.
After resting for a while, Tao Yumo remembered something and glanced at his watch.
"Gotta go home!"
"You're so boring, you just agreed to come out to have fun!" Maggie Cheung complained.
"We've been shopping all day. That girl Yan Yan has been pestering me a lot lately. I won't sleep when I'm not at home."
As Tao Yumo said that, she got up and put on her clothes, and called the bodyguard guarding downstairs. Maggie Cheung had no choice but to get up and see her off.
When I went downstairs, the car and bodyguards were already waiting there.
"You are really a rich man now!" Maggie Cheung said quietly.
Tao Yumo waved his hand to her and said with a smile, "I'm just trying to impress someone else's real big boss!"
After saying that, she got into the car and drove all the way to Deep Water Bay.
Since being interviewed by the Hong Kong Economic Journal last year, Tao Yumo has tasted the sweetness of Juan's career. It's like being given a dose of chicken blood, and the Juan King gene in his body has been completely activated.
So for the past six months, I have been out of character, either working or working overtime.
However, her kind of writing is different from Tao Yushu's unrestrained writing. She rests when she is tired and eats when she is hungry, without delaying anything.
I will never do that kind of thing where I forget about food and sleep, and worry about everything, because I can't live with myself.
In the past two days, she felt a little tired at work, so she decided to make an appointment with Maggie Cheung today. The two of them ate, drank, and went shopping. They had a great time and had fun all day long. Now she just felt that her condition had improved and she was resurrected with full blood.
When I got home, as soon as I entered the door, I heard Yan Yan crying hoarsely.
"Okay, my aunt is back, let's go!"
Seeing Tao Yumo coming back, Tao Yushu breathed a sigh of relief and let go of his daughter who couldn't be coaxed no matter how hard she tried.
"Aunt~"
Yan Yan, whose eyes were almost too sleepy to open, saw Tao Yumo and immediately rushed into her arms and fell asleep within a few seconds.
"I'm sleeping. I've been waiting for you and you haven't come back. Why are you playing so late?"
"What do you mean it's so late? It's only half past nine. Do you think I'm a middle school student?'
Tao Yushu's tone softened, "I'm also worried about you."
"I really don't know if it's your child or mine." Tao Yumo mumbled and carried Yan Yan into the room.
After she came out, she saw Tao Yushu and his wife watching TV leisurely. She couldn't help complaining: "I really owed you two in my previous life, so I can't coax the child."
"Come on, it's not coaxing." Lin Chaoyang poured a glass of water for his sister-in-law, pushed it towards her, and said seriously: "This child, I have been kissing you since he was a child!"
The corners of Tao Yumo's lips curled up slightly and he snorted, "Stop filling me with ecstasy!"
Then he added: "I watched tonight's trailer, and the effect is good. The money is really well spent!"
Hearing her mention tonight's trailer, Tao Yushu became excited, "Tell me, what's a good idea?"
For more than a month, in order to run "Asian Idol", she has spent a lot of money, put in a lot of hard work, not to mention the pressure is not ordinary, and now she urgently needs recognition from the outside world.
Tao Yumo said a few good things smoothly, but she was still not satisfied and urged her sister to give her some "opinions."
After finally replenishing blood outside, Comrade Yumo felt very tired when he returned home and had to provide emotional value to his sister.
"That's almost it. I never saw you praising me!"
Tao Yushu said: "Why didn't I praise you? "The Legend of Sword and Fairy" was a hit, didn't I praise you?"
"Nonsense, isn't that what it should be? I've made money for you!'
"What do you mean by making money for me? You are the major shareholder!"
The two sisters bickered for a while, and the topic shifted from "Asian Idol" to game companies.
In June, Tanguang Games’ fairy tale RPG game “Legend of Sword and Fairy” was released for sale. This game, adapted from the comic book of the same name, has received widespread attention from comic fans since the day it was announced for development.
Until it was launched, sales exceeded 10,000 copies on the day of release.
Within one week of its launch, sales exceeded 50,000 copies.
Subsequent sales have broken records all the way, and sales in markets such as Bay Island, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand are also booming.
Three months after its launch, Xiangjiang's local sales exceeded 150,000 copies, and the cumulative sales of the game exceeded 320,000 copies.
This number not only broke the sales record of Sugar Games in the three years since its establishment, but also set a sales record for Chinese video games. Well, the previous record was "Xuanyuan Sword".
320,000 copies were sold, bringing 64 million in sales to Sugar Games.
In September, "Monopoly 2", the sequel to "Monopoly", Sugar Games' original venture, was completed and launched, with sales easily exceeding 80,000 copies in the first month of launch.
According to this efficiency, and counting the sales of the company's other old games such as "Swordsman" and "Xuanyuan Sword", it is a foregone conclusion that the sales of Sugar Sugar games will exceed 100 million this year, but we don't know when it will be achieved in December.
Tao Yumo expects sales to exceed 100 million. Excluding agency, development, labor and other costs, Sugar Game's gross profit is around HK$42 million, an increase of more than one and a half points from last year's HK$17 million.
All this is inseparable from the hot sales of "Legend of Sword and Fairy".
Mr. Tao was very proud of this and even dreamed of going public.
"You're not short of money, so why go public?"
"How majestic! A listed company, hehe, it's so embarrassing to tell it!"
Her sister's answer made Tao Yushu fall silent. She didn't understand why she worked so hard every day to open a company, but her sister could just run the company like a housewife.
Mr. Tao's defense was broken, not because of his sister's pride and showing off, but because she had calculated that Sugar Games did indeed meet the requirements for listing on the Hong Kong stock market.
When a company goes public, other requirements are trivial, and profit requirements are the focus.
Today's Hong Kong stock market listings are not as stringent as later generations. It only requires a total profit of HK$50 million in the three years before listing (and a total of HK$20 million in the most recent year).
This is the third year that Sugar Games has been in operation, and the profit scale is sufficient. Everything seems to be falling into place.
"Think carefully. It is true that the company can raise funds by going public. With the size of your company, it can support Rong 1
100 million.
However, after listing, you must be responsible to investors, your finances must be able to withstand audits, and your business development and profit targets must be supervised by investors.
If it's done well, the stock price will rise; if it's done poorly, the stock price will fall, like a roller coaster."
Tao Yumo hesitated for a moment. She didn't know how to spend even 10 million, let alone 100 million. The key was that when she started her own company, she had to be managed by others.
"Forget it, it won't go on the market!" Tao Yumo said.
Tao Yushu breathed a sigh of relief.
In the bedroom at night, the couple was lying on the bed. Lin Chaoyang joked: "I don't think Yumo puts as much pressure on you as the company goes public!"
Tao Yushu suddenly felt a little embarrassed and said angrily: "You dislike me!"
"I didn't, I'm not, don't talk nonsense!"
Lin Chaoyang, full of desire for survival, pulled her into his arms, "I find it funny to see you two sisters fighting like this!"
As soon as she entered Lin Chaoyang's arms, Tao Yushu softened immediately, and she said in a faint tone:
"Alas! Everything she does seems to be done easily without any effort, but I have to put in a hundred and twenty percent effort to do it. This has been the case since I was a child."
Lin Chaoyang thought about it carefully, and it seemed that it was true.
If nothing else, let’s take college entrance examination as an example.
He noticed his wife's hard work before the college entrance examination, and then she got admitted to Yanzhou Normal University.
When it came time for Tao Yumo to take the college entrance examination, she was studying normally at home and did not miss any fun.
From time to time, I had to help take care of my two nephews, so I was admitted to Yanda University easily.
Of course Yan Normal University is a very good school, but there is still a small gap between it and Yan University.
"Those things of hers are just little cleverness, you are the real great wisdom!" Lin Chaoyang said softly.
"What great wisdom? Tell me!"
Tao Yushu knew that he was trying to comfort him, but he deliberately made things difficult for him.
Lin Chaoyang didn't panic, held the plump hand, and whispered in her ear, "Then let me explain this 'big' problem to you!"
Early the next morning, Tao Yumo yawned and walked out of the room. Tao Yushu was eating breakfast with a glowing face.
Seeing her coming out, he said:
"Come over for dinner and let's talk about the listing."
Tao Yumo:?
"What are you doing standing still? Come here!" Tao Yushu urged.
Last night, after a night of "enlightenment" by Lin Chaoyang, she realized that everyone has their own strengths, and she could not always compare her own shortcomings with the strengths of others.
Tao Yumo had just woken up and had not yet recovered from his sleep. He was called to the dining table and listened to her talk about the listing plan and future prospects for a long time——···——·
"Sister, didn't I tell you? It's not going public anymore! And didn't you say last night that going public would be a lot of trouble?"
"Everything has pros and cons. I didn't think carefully last night and only thought about the bad things.
The company is doing so well now, so there’s nothing wrong with going public. We can just take this opportunity to grow bigger and stronger!”
Tao Yumo shook his head, "You don't need to make it big, I feel like I can't handle it now."
"No future!" Tao Yushu scolded her.
"Yes, yes, I am worthless, as you always teach me."
It is better to do less than to do more. Tao Yumo gave up decisively, "You——" Tao Yushu glared at his sister angrily, and finally said helplessly: "Forget it, you decide for yourself."
Just at this moment, Lin Chaoyang appeared in the restaurant with dark circles under his eyes and yawning all day long. Tao Yumo looked at his sluggishness, then looked at his sister's rosy face, thoughtfully.
"What are you looking at?" Tao Yushu asked.
"nothing."
Tao Yumo said something and immediately ran away.
A woman with plenty of ammunition is scary!
After breakfast, Tao Yushu was getting ready to go to work, and he did not forget to tell Lin Chaoyang, "When you pick up someone, please arrange to go to the Peninsula Hotel. I have arranged a reception banquet in the evening."
"Judith is here for publication. There is no need for you to come forward. I will just entertain you."
"It's okay. There happens to be a food show on the TV station. She has been doing a compilation of food from various countries for many years. She and I can learn from it."
"That's okay."
The "person" Tao Yushu mentioned was Judith Jones. She made a special trip to Xiangjiang to discuss the publication of "A Bite of China" with Lin Chaoyang.
The "A Bite of China" column was published in The New Yorker in late June, one article per week, and a total of 15 articles were published.
During the publication period, the article received rave reviews from the American cultural circles and readers, and caused a great response.
"A Bite of China" is different from ordinary food column articles. It seems to be about food, but it is actually about humanistic feelings, historical development, and social changes.
This unique style has been unanimously praised by the American intellectual class.
The New York Times published an article praising Lin Chaoyang for "writing like a master."
A review in Book Review magazine stated:
Lin Chaoyang introduced the selection of ingredients, cooking techniques, dietary etiquette, as well as the historical inheritance, regional characteristics, family stories behind the food, etc. in a skillful and elegant way.
It enables readers to have a more comprehensive and in-depth knowledge and understanding of Chinese food culture. It no longer just stops at the level of "eating", but gives food an unprecedented connotation with rich humanistic care.
The Atlantic Monthly, which is as famous as the New Yorker in the American cultural world, wrote:
"The real fascination of "A Bite of China" is not the food itself, but the way food and people's lives intersect with each other.
It is not only about filling your stomach, but also about family gathering around a steaming hot pot. Generations share stories and laughter, and the boiling soup base becomes a container for shared memories.
It's about the grandmother who carefully cooks special dishes for her grandchildren, passing down recipes that are passed down from generation to generation like precious heirlooms.
In the world depicted in A Bite of China, food is the thread that weaves the tapestry of life, tightly connecting people to their roots, their communities and their pasts."
The critical acclaim from the cultural community and readers alike has been reflected in sales, allowing The New Yorker to publish
Sales have been rising.
By September 23, the "A Bite of China" column had been running for three months, and it was also the day when the last article of the column, "Three Meals," was published.
Chapter completed!