Hong Kong's new giants

Chapter 515 [Don't Give Too Much]

When Lin Zuhui learned that News Corporation had purchased 27% of Dragon TV shares held by Hutchison Whampoa and the Li family at a sky-high price of 35 billion Hong Kong dollars, he couldn't help but sigh—a tiger father has no dogs.Li Zekai would cheat, and he was not at all polite to Murdoch who had given it to him.

As a matter of fact, Xiangjiang media has crowned Li Zekai as "Little Superman" one after another, and his reputation has become very loud, which immediately prestige Xiangjiang.

On July 7th, Hong Kong's "Economic Daily" commented: "It's really awesome for young people! Li Chaoren's second son, Li Zekai, finally made a good show this time, bringing nearly 25 billion Hong Kong dollars in benefits to the Hutchison Group and his father. ... Li Chaoren hoped that his son would become a dragon, and this time he can get his wish."

Li Zekai can do this, but ATV cannot be sold to Murdoch at a high price, because the two parties want to continue to cooperate, so they only sell a 15% stake to Murdoch at a small profit.

In the conference room of the ATV building, Lin Zuhui and Murdoch signed a cooperation agreement.

Both parties stipulated that "Dongfang Satellite TV" will be renamed as "Asia Satellite TV" for better promotion;
The original "Asia Satellite TV" was renamed "Asia Satellite TV Entertainment Channel", which is solely owned by the ATV Group and is only listed under the name of Asia Satellite TV;

The original five channels of Dragon TV were changed to: Satellite TV Chinese Channel, Satellite TV Movie Channel, Satellite TV Drama Channel, STAR Movies (Star Cinema), and STAR World (Satellite Family Carnival Channel).

STAR Movies (Star Cinema), STAR World (Satellite TV Family Carnival), under the responsibility of News Corporation;

ATV Group is responsible for Satellite TV Movie Channel and Satellite TV Drama Channel;
Satellite TV's Chinese channel is jointly operated by the two parties.

Of course, since Asia Satellite TV has only six channels at present, it will definitely rent more satellite receivers and open more channels in the future; whether these channels cooperate with the local government or are solely owned and licensed by News Corp. ; If ATV Group needs to open a new channel, News Corporation will unconditionally support it.

After signing the contract, Murdoch said with a smile: "It's my honor to be able to cooperate with Mr. Lin!"

Lin Zuhui responded: "Me too!"

In fact, he is not very interested in this cooperation, but it can make money and not harm the interests of the ATV Group, so it doesn't hurt to cooperate.With the development of News Corporation, the dozens of channels behind it are still very powerful. For example, the former WHO TV has more than a dozen Hindi channels in India, and many countries have TV channels in local languages.

Murdoch said: "Mr. Lin, what do you think of the mainland market?"

Lin Zuhui said with a smile: "Mr. Murdoch, will you make a choice between Taiwan Island and the Mainland?"

Murdoch was taken aback for a moment, and then said, "Can't you have your cake and eat it too?"

Lin Zuhui shook his head and said: "Impossible! Besides, the mainland will hardly allow it. Therefore, I think satellite channels in the Greater China region are not realistic. Only Chinese channels in exclusive areas may work. Of course, these It's just my guess, we have to take one step at a time."

In fact, Lin Zuhui does not value the TV market in the Mainland, because the policy does not allow (private TV stations are not allowed), let alone foreign TV stations, so there is no need to struggle.

At present, the mainland can still receive 'Satellite TV Entertainment' (formerly Asia Satellite TV), and even entered the national cable TV network. As for the future, we can only take one step at a time.

He is a world businessman, and he never wants to stand in line, but Xiangjiang has always advertised as 'news zy', so even if he is the boss, he can't interfere with some news, otherwise he will be complained or even investigated.

The only thing he can do is to tell the executives of Asian TV to pay attention, don't be a referee, and just follow the normal news broadcast.The most important thing is that Asia TV must always insist on 'entertainment first' and learn from Mango TV in the previous life.

In the previous life, Phoenix Satellite TV was almost unwatched in Xiangjiang, and it was later banned in Taiwan. Even in the mainland, it was not close at first, and it could only be watched in the Pearl River Delta through cable. The station offended the authorities because of something and was banned from broadcasting).

Hong Kong culture only accounts for about 2% of the effect of dissemination through satellite TV; the real overseas and mainland dissemination must be accumulated day after day, including drama output, foreign TV station announcements, cultural exchanges between the two places, and entertainment between the two places Company cooperation, operation of fan economy, etc., the output of "Hong Kong culture" through various channels.

When it accumulates to a certain level, it will hit the local entertainment industry like a vast ocean and cannot be resisted.

Xiangjiang's "Hong Kong culture" is more suitable for export, because Xiangjiang Free Port does not need to consider other factors, and it has more advantages than South Korea in the previous life.

Murdoch smiled and said: "I think you are too pessimistic. It is probably because of this reason that you agreed to cooperate with us, because you don't want to offend both sides."

It seems that Murdoch has never seen it before, so let him touch the ashes.

Lin Zuhui spread his hands and said: "We run Satellite TV with only one purpose, that is 'entertainment first', so no one will be offended."

Murdoch thought to himself, it is best for you not to intervene, and to guard the entertainment industry in the future. I will intervene in news and sports.
Only by walking in the city of ATV can you really feel the greatness of this company. In fact, the word "great" is used to describe Lin Zuhui.With the promotion of Hong Kong culture, it has affected all aspects of Hong Kong, the more important one is tourism.

Many Asian tourists come to Hong Kong to check in one after another. They come because they are influenced by Hong Kong dramas and idols.For example, the house of "Full House", several filming locations of "Blue Life and Death", etc.; another example, some fans came to Xiangjiang to chase stars.

These have all driven the tourism industry in Xiangjiang, and people in the industry and the media in Xiangjiang have praised ATV Group.

Lin Zuhui was visiting ATV City alone. From time to time, staff and artists greeted him, and there were a lot of handsome men and beautiful women.

It was a very refreshing feeling, and I visited ATV City for a while, which made Lin Zuhui feel happy.

In order to turn ATV City into an "Entertainment City", Lin Zuhui asked New Times Group to purchase a large piece of residential land in the southeast of "ATV City" two years ago, planning to build a noble community and a "star hotel" .

In the future, this star-rated hotel can cooperate with ATV Group, and then it can receive those fans who chase stars, or tourists who visit ATV City's "Film and Television City", or guests who come to cooperate.

Back in his office, Lin Zuhui asked his assistant to call Li Zhuanglie, the head of the drama production department.

Lin Zuhui said to him: "Have you watched Zhou Xingchi's movie "A Chinese Journey to the West" recently?"

The contract with Zhou Xingchi ended in 1992, and soon he and Liu Zhenwei formed a film company.

Li Zhuanglie shook his head and said, "I didn't go to the cinema, but I heard that I lost money. The company thought it would be a hit at the box office, so they also rented Zhu Yin to him."

Athena Chu signed a five-year contract with ATV, and it's only been two years now, but she has already filmed two Hong Kong TV dramas, "Blue Life and Death" and "Full House".

Lin Zuhui said: "I didn't watch it either, I planned to let the company shoot "Journey to the West"."

Li Zhuanglie immediately understood, and said, "The boss wants to shoot the nonsensical Journey to the West?"

Lin Zuhui nodded, and said: "Well, a large number of adaptations are required, and entertainment is the overriding pursuit. Except for costumes, other things are completely free from the constraints of costume dramas, so that the characters can be fleshed out."

Li Zhuanglie immediately said: "I understand, I will arrange a producer as soon as possible."

Lin Zuhui motioned him not to worry, and continued: "Sun Wukong, I have a candidate, and that is Zhang Weijian from TVB. Go and inquire about his contract. If it doesn't expire, just wait for him to expire. Don't rush to shoot this movie. This is a big production, and it is best to add computer special effects."

Li Zhuanglie immediately became serious, and quickly said: "Okay, then I'll poach someone first. I know Zhang Weijian. He has filmed many boring and funny movies, and his singing is not flattering. He won't have any prospects in TVB."

Lin Zuhui was taken aback, and immediately said: "Since this is the case, then don't be in a hurry to contact him, first look at his contract period. Anyway, don't give him a chance to ask for a high price, and the salary can't be too much."

Li Zhuanglie was a little confused, the boss has always been very generous, why did he have to explain that he was so 'harsh' on Zhang Weijian alone.Of course, he won't ask so many questions, guessing that maybe the boss is going to reduce the cost.

"Well, I will definitely sign him, but I won't let him talk like a lion."

"Just a little higher than TVB, so as not to say that we are being taken advantage of. Now the movie stars in Xiangjiang are all self-important, and the asking price is higher than the other. Therefore, we TV actors should not go that way."

Li Zhuanglie said with a smile: "Boss, don't worry, we are all TV drama actors who have discovered themselves. It is our TV drama that is popular, not their stars. Besides, our current ratings account for [-]% of Xiangjiang, and these stars are reluctant to leave. "

This is a fact, and it is the same as wireless back then.

However, ATV is more domineering now, it is a TV station all over Asia, if you sign up with ATV, you can hope to become famous overseas, which is what those stars prefer.

Especially Hong Kong stars, it is even more impossible to go to TVB.

Lin Zuhui asked Li Zhuanglie to prepare "Journey to the West" this time, which was a rare proposal from him. He also saw the popularity of Zhang Weijian's "Journey to the West" in his previous life, so he didn't want to give Wireless a chance to turn around.It is said that in the previous life, this series earned 2 million in advertising fees (not pure profit), not to mention being introduced to the mainland.

(End of this chapter)