Li Weiya didn't rush to look at the contract. Instead, she drew the curtains, turned on the projector, and showed Zhou Lu the latest episode of Tom and Jerry.

Zhou Lu is now a die-hard fan of Tom and Jerry, having watched the first two seasons many times and having vivid memories of various classic scenes.

But when she saw the familiar opening animation, she felt something was different.

The picture quality was higher and the picture was smoother. She turned her head and glanced at Li Weiya, who just smiled and remained silent, indicating that she should continue watching.

The story is about Tom discovering a beautiful white cat. No matter how Jerry teases him, Tom just stares at the white cat in a daze. In order to continue playing the cat-and-mouse game with Tom, Jerry writes a letter to a black cat, asking the black cat to pursue the white cat so that Tom will give up. After a fight, Tom is chased out of the manor by the black cat. Just when Jerry thought he could play with Tom amicably, he encounters a beautiful little mouse.

Zhou Lu laughed throughout the animated film. It was the same familiar art style and characters. The seven minutes passed quickly, and Li Weiya drew back the curtains and turned off the projector.

“Editor Zhou, this is one of the episodes from the third season. What do you think?” Li Weiya asked with a smile.

She immediately said, "Very good."

"However, isn't the picture quality much improved?" After watching the previous episode, Zhou Lu could only think of the word "silky smooth".

The smooth gameplay, seamless action sequences, and perfect camera transitions elevate the overall quality to a whole new level.

“Yes,” Li Weiya said with a smile. “We have adopted a new filming method. In the past, six people could produce a season in two months, but now it takes more than 30 people to work together and it still takes two months to produce.”

No wonder.

Zhou Lu suddenly realized that in this day and age, there was no other way to improve the quality of animation except by increasing the number of original drawings, which also meant a significant increase in production costs.

Generally speaking, few companies are willing to do such a thankless task. Since the original quality is enough to make money, why spend more money to improve the image quality? Apart from improving the company's reputation, there are almost no other substantial benefits.

Those who enjoy watching will keep watching even if the animation is choppy like a PowerPoint presentation, while those who don't like it will find it boring even if the animation is right in front of them.

But Qitian Animation Company did exactly that, which means they used the money they earned to seriously develop the product and wanted to continue making the animation for a long time, instead of being a trash company that just makes a quick buck and runs away.

In other words, as long as Tom and Jerry Season 3 airs, the company will be praised as a conscientious enterprise by countless netizens.

"If the third season is of this quality, Tom and Jerry's reputation will probably explode again," Zhou Lu said with a smile.

"This is our company's attitude: to produce better and more excellent animated works to repay the public's love, and never to be perfunctory."

"Amazing." Zhou Lu gave a thumbs up.

If all animation companies had the same attitude as Qitian Animation, the domestic animation industry wouldn't be in such a bad state now. In fact, most of them aren't thinking about creating good works, but rather about using shoddy garbage to cheat the country and government out of subsidies.

"So, what price does the TV station plan to offer us this time?" Li Weiya placed her hands on the table with her fingers interlaced, leaned forward slightly, and adopted a highly aggressive posture.

Zhou Lu suddenly realized that all the talk about showing her the animation and discussing the company's attitude was just an attempt to get the TV station to offer a higher price, since the production cost of the animation had indeed increased significantly.

She hesitated slightly. The contract drafted by the station was actually similar to the previous one: 8,000 yuan per episode, with a fluctuation of about 1,000 yuan allowed, capped at 10,000 yuan.

But given the current situation, it might not even be possible to get 10,000 per episode.

After all, no one told the TV station at the beginning that the picture quality of Tom and Jerry had improved so much; it was still the old standard.

"What amount does Director Li consider appropriate?"

Li Weiya's smile softened, she sat up straight, took a small sip of tea, and slowly said:

“CCTV Children’s Channel had previously contacted us and offered 30,000 yuan per episode for priority broadcasting rights. However, considering that our cooperation with your station has always been very pleasant, we did not agree. Later, they raised the price to 10,000 yuan. Mr. Jiang said that he would ask for your opinion first.”

Zhou Lu's expression froze. Ten thousand yuan per episode, and each episode is only seven minutes long. This is a price that Chongqing TV has not offered in the last ten years.

It's worth noting that the exclusive broadcasting rights they agreed to last time only cost 30,000 yuan per episode.

"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Jiang, but I need to discuss this price with the station's leadership." Zhou Lu took a deep breath.

Li Weiya shrugged and gestured for them to proceed.

In business, personal feelings cannot be used as bargaining chips. Besides, this is also Jiang Xia's intention. Giving the priority right to choose to Chongqing TV station is already a great concession.

Ultimately, the company isn't a charity. With production costs rising so much, the TV station has to contribute some money to cover the costs. Besides, the TV station can make a profit at this price; it's just a matter of how much.

Zhou Lu took the phone to the conference room to communicate with the station. During the conversation, she also asked Li Weiya for a sample video that was only a dozen seconds long and sent it to the station. She probably wanted the station's professionals to give a professional evaluation of the current picture quality of Tom and Jerry and to determine the final price.

More than half an hour later, Zhou Lu walked in, looking dejected, after pushing open the door that had been set up.

"How did the discussion go?" Li Weiya asked with a smile.

"Sigh, the station gave up the priority broadcasting rights for Tom and Jerry," she said with a wry smile.

Although Chongqing TV has garnered high ratings nationwide in recent months thanks to Tom and Jerry, the price of 50,000 yuan per episode is still too high.

Moreover, as other television stations also sign contracts to broadcast the content, the viewership will eventually be diluted further.

In general, the leaders of Chongqing TV felt that Tom and Jerry wasn't worth the price, and besides, CCTV Children's Channel was too wealthy for them to compete with; they were content to just follow along and get a piece of the pie.

Ultimately, Qitian Animation Company and Yudu TV signed a broadcast contract for 10,000 yuan per episode, but the broadcast could only take place after the first broadcast rights expired.

"Editor Zhou, it's a pleasure working with you." Li Weiya smiled and shook hands with Zhou Lu.

"Phew, it's finally done. I'll take my leave now." Zhou Lu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why don't you have lunch together before you leave?"

"Director Li, you're such a busy person, I won't bother you any longer. See you another time," Zhou Lu shook her head.

"Then take this with you."

Li Weiya turned around, took a scarf from the triangular clothes rack, handed it over, and smiled slightly.

"Editor Zhou, it's cold in the capital, don't catch a cold."

End of this chapter