nashuaworldcup Chapter 159 Mr. Shao's Anger
Chapter 159 Mr. Shao's Anger
In Lin Zhou's view, Hong Kong in 1981 had begun to enter the peak of the development of the Four Asian Tigers.
Whether it's finance, education, or business activities, they have reached the level of development seen in other countries.
On this afternoon, when the spring air had not yet completely faded, the scorching sunlight shone through the glass curtain wall of the office building, refracting into dazzling rays of five colors.
Inside the conference room on the 20th floor of the TVB building, the slightly hot weather outside did nothing to dispel the stagnant, almost suffocating air inside.
The conference room is in a typical Hong Kong-style luxury setting, with a long, dark brown solid wood table that is so shiny it reflects light, and a ring of genuine leather chairs placed on both sides of the table.
On the wall opposite the main seat hang group photos from TVB's anniversary celebrations and posters of award-winning dramas, showcasing the former glory of this long-established television station.
But at this moment, these accolades feel like invisible thorns, piercing the hearts of every executive sitting at their desks.
At the head of the long table, Mr. Shao's face was ashen. His gray hair, which used to be neatly styled, was now somewhat disheveled.
Even his tie was loosened, and his eyes, which usually held a hint of a smile, were now like ice, his sharp gaze sweeping over the silent crowd under the table.
After making eye contact with him, everyone subconsciously shrank back, wishing they could bury themselves in their seats.
"Snapped!"
With a crisp, loud thud, Mr. Shao slammed his palm heavily on the table, causing the bone china teacup on the corner of the table to tremble slightly. A small amount of tea splashed out and landed on the clean table, spreading out a small, dark water stain.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"
The aged yet still powerful voice exploded in the conference room like thunder, filled with suppressed anger that made everyone's eardrums buzz.
The sound pierced through the heavy solid wood door and spread along the long corridor. Even the secretary guarding the door turned pale with fright and unconsciously took a step back, afraid of being caught in the crossfire of the rage inside.
"Am I supporting you lot just so you can eat and do nothing? Huh?" Mr. Shao suddenly stood up, placed his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and swept his gaze across the crowd like a sharp sword.
"Look! Look at the recent viewership ratings!"
He grabbed a thick stack of documents from the table and slammed them down in front of everyone. The papers scattered all over the floor, and the clattering sound was particularly jarring in the quiet conference room.
"For several weeks in a row! The ratings have been plummeting! From 50% to 15%! Tell me, what's going on?"
Mr. Shao's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of hysterical roar!
"Rediffusion Television! Now renamed Chung Wah Television! They were just acquired by a company that manufactures game consoles. What gives them the right to hog our TVB?"
The executives under the table all lowered their heads, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Zhang Wenhua, the operations director sitting on the far left, had a fine layer of cold sweat on his forehead. He secretly glanced at Mr. Shao's ashen face, then quickly lowered his head, his fingers clenched into fists nervously.
These people knew better than anyone else that the culprit behind the declining ratings was the wildly popular "A Step into the Past" on Zhonghua TV.
That TV series was just as captivating as the original novel when it was serialized. It was groundbreaking and unmatched among all the martial arts novels about revenge and vendettas!
Using time travel as a starting point, the story connects the turbulent changes of the seven Warring States. The plot is full of twists and turns, the scenes are grand, the actors' performances are excellent, and the costumes and props are exquisite. It became a sensation in Hong Kong as soon as it was released.
When it premiered, the ratings soared to 70%, setting a new record in Hong Kong television history.
What's even more outrageous is that Chung Wah Television seems to have figured out what the audience wants, rebroadcasting the shows again and again in the morning and afternoon. Each rebroadcast consistently achieved a viewership rating of over 30%, effectively suppressing several prime-time dramas on TVB.
"Mr. Shao..." Marketing Manager Li Zhaowen mustered his courage and spoke cautiously, his voice barely audible.
"This...this 'A Step into the Past' is really too popular. The audience is completely drawn to it, and we are...we are also helpless."
"Completely helpless?"
Mr. Shao sneered and his gaze fell on Li Zhaowen, making Li Zhaowen tremble with fear. It's true what they say, a person's reputation is like a tree's shadow.
"I hired you here, not to have you say you're helpless! I need solutions! Solutions to bring the audience back!"
He took a heavy breath, his chest heaving violently, clearly very angry.
After a long while, he slowly sat back down in his chair, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly and his tone softening a bit, though he still maintained an unquestionable air of authority.
"Alright, enough with the scolding. Let's get down to business. Zhong Hua's 'A Step into the Past' was a hit the first time it aired, and it's still a hit on reruns, with consistently high ratings. What do you all think TVB should do?"
The meeting room was silent for a few seconds, then a murmur broke out.
The executives whispered among themselves, their brows furrowed, clearly racking their brains for a solution.
Chen Zhiming, the planning department head sitting in the middle, rolled his eyes, leaned close to Zhang Wenhua next to him, and whispered:
"Director Zhang, what do you think...? Should we hire some paparazzi to publish articles in the newspapers to smear Zhonghua TV? Say that their 'A Step into the Past' distorts history and corrupts children?"
Zhang Wenhua frowned, shook his head, and responded in a low voice:
"It's useless. Someone used this trick when the novel was being serialized."
And haven't you seen the recent newspapers? Several historians have been invited by Zhonghua TV to say that "A Step into the Past" is an entertainment drama set in a fictional history, and there's no need to make a big deal out of it.
Moreover, audiences love this kind of thing; the more you smear them, the more curious they become, and the higher the ratings will be.
Chen Zhiming sullenly pursed his lips and stopped talking.
Soon, someone brought up the suggestion. A young planner stood up and stammered:
"Mr. Shao, I...I have an idea. We can...we can find some media outlets to expose negative news about Zhonghua TV, such as...for example, that they withhold actors' salaries during filming, or...or that they cut corners on costumes and props. This way, the audience will have a bad impression of them, and maybe they won't watch 'A Step into the Past' anymore."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than someone immediately retorted:
"This approach won't work! Zhonghua TV spent a lot of money on this production. The actors were paid generously, and the costumes, props, and sets were all made by top masters from Suzhou and Hangzhou in mainland China. There's simply no fault with it."
Even if we fabricate news, Hong Kong viewers are very discerning and will easily see through it. That would only backfire and damage TVB's reputation.
Mr. Shao listened expressionlessly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a "tap tap tap" sound that seemed to strike everyone's heart, making their hearts tighten.
"Is there any other way?" he asked, glancing around at the crowd.