Chapter 97 Ratings [VIP]

Chapter Summary: He thought to himself: Could it be such a coincidence?

"The Blade's Edge will be broadcast on Tomato TV and North City TV. After the premiere tomorrow, we can watch the show while keeping an eye on the unofficial viewership charts. There will be a real-time [live viewership rating]. The unofficial viewership rating is calculated by multiplying the TV station's rating by the average live viewership rating. However, this rating is calculated by working backwards."

"Every Tuesday afternoon, the State Administration of Radio and Television will release the ratings from the previous Tuesday to the following Monday, called the CVB chart. The ratings released by CVB are the standard. By the way, everyone, please note that Tomato TV's coefficient is currently 1.5, and Beicheng TV's coefficient is 1."

"The drama that we're taking over, which was co-broadcast by Tomato TV and North City TV, had its finale tonight. The average ratings were about 0.71% and 0.49%, which is about average for the dramas broadcast on the two TV stations this year."

"As of today, the top-rated drama of the year on Tomato TV is an urban romance drama with a rating of 1.191%, making it the only local TV station drama to break the 1% mark this year. The top-rated drama on Beicheng TV has a rating of 0.68%."

In summary, the highest ratings target for "The Edge of the Blade" is to achieve a rating of over 1.191% on Tomato TV and over 0.68% on Beicheng TV. At the very least, it should be higher than the previous drama's ratings of 0.71% and 0.49%.

Mu Zhi secretly made a mental note of it.

I clicked on the next "science popularization" post.

Fans have compiled a list of the dramas currently airing on major TV stations and their ratings.

In the original world, Mu Zhi had been making movies for the past three years. She remembered that when TV dramas were broadcast on satellite channels, many local TV stations had ratings that broke 1%.

Looking at the CVB ratings chart posted by fans this year, it's clear that breaking 1% is quite difficult.

Currently, apart from CCTV-1, which consistently maintains a viewership rating above 1%, some well-received dramas have even surpassed 1.5% and 2%. Last year, almost all dramas broadcast on CCTV-8 surpassed 1% without any issues, but this year several dramas have performed poorly, with ratings as low as 0.6%, 0.7%, and 0.8%.

Needless to say, the ratings for major TV stations were also quite low.

Hunan TV is currently airing a low-budget self-produced drama, which has a viewership rating of 0.4%. Hunan TV and Jiangsu TV are jointly airing a second-hand drama, which almost dropped out of the ratings, ending up at the bottom with a 0.2% rating...

Perhaps because November is a slow month, local TV stations are collectively slacking off.

The other TV dramas airing at the same time all seem to be no match for it, so it seems that there are no strong competitors for "The Edge of the Blade". After it airs, it can dominate the ratings.

In fact, the low ratings of local TV stations indicate a low production rate and a small audience for dramas. Therefore, the broadcast of "The Edge of the Blade" is unlikely to yield good ratings either, which is not a positive sign for the show.

It can only be said that the ratings of the previous drama that followed were actually quite good among satellite TV channels.

"The Edge of the Blade" will air tomorrow, so at least we won't have to start from the bottom and climb out, which is pretty lucky.

Mu Zhi then browsed through some more posts from fans.

Most fans seem to have a relatively optimistic attitude towards "The Edge of the Blade". It was originally scheduled to air in October, but it was reported that it failed to pass censorship, one episode was cut, and it was delayed until November.

The fact that it's airing now is a victory.

They didn't say they hoped the viewership rating would definitely break 1%.

However, fans say that after watching the trailer, the plot, costumes, props, visual quality, actors' performances, and the production team of "The Blade's Edge" are all very good for a TV series, so it should have higher ratings than the previous series.

The trailer for "The Edge of the Blade" was released a few days ago.

Mu Zhi read the netizens' comments on the trailer and her performance in the trailer, and most of them were positive. She was quite looking forward to the show.

She watched the trailer herself, and with confidence in the script and director Pan Yan, she believed that the show would be well-received by audiences after it aired.

While viewership ratings are important, the quality and reputation of a work are also crucial.

After logging out of Weibo, I received a screenshot from Minmin on WeChat.

Upon clicking, I found that netizens on the forum had started a thread betting on the ratings of "The Edge of the Blade".

This is a tradition among gossip enthusiasts: when a popular celebrity has a new work airing/released, they will predict its ratings/box office, betting on whether it will be a flop or a hit.

Mu Zhi opened the link to the post that Minmin had sent her later.

The netizens in the post were "fighting" and each had their own opinion on whether "The Edge of the Blade" would flop or be a hit.

Half of the people are not optimistic about "The Edge of the Blade," and their reasons for betting against it are:

"Although Yin Xiuran, the lead actor of this drama, won the Best Actor award and is a talented actor, he can't carry the ratings. A lot of his previous dramas were flops, not to mention Mu Zhi's first TV drama, no one knows her."

"I glanced at the ratings of the major TV stations, and they were absolutely atrocious. If 'The Edge of the Blade' had aired on CCTV-8, we could have boasted about its ratings, but now? Let's all just lie low."

"Initially, it was rumored that this drama was scheduled to air on CCTV-8, but the platform was changed, and the originally planned prime time slot in October was postponed to November. Duomeili Company just had a major drama flop in the first half of the year, and this is director Pan Yan's first time directing a drama alone. I really don't have high hopes for the quality of this drama. Do you think it will have a ratings explosion? Breaking 1 is just wishful thinking."

......

Reasons for being optimistic:

"Didn't they say that the industry thinks 'The Edge of the Blade' is a great show? Even the press releases from Duomeili are touting it as a top-quality drama of the year, so it should easily break 1, right?"

"Tomato TV has a high rating. This year, it already has a drama that has broken 1. It has a TV King, a popular young actress, and a group of powerful actors in supporting roles. Its marketing is so beautiful and famously awesome. Don't just compare the ratings with TV stations. Its online popularity should also be number one, right?"

The report stated that ratings are crucial for satellite TV dramas, and if "The Blade's Edge" doesn't break 1%, it's considered a flop.

Mu Zhi: This... puts "The Edge of the Blade" on the fire of a broken 1.

It's not that she's genuinely optimistic; to use Minmin's words, isn't this a deliberate attempt to jinx her?

In fact, whether people are optimistic or pessimistic online, or whether they are being warned against or accused of being "poisoned milk" (a Chinese idiom for jinxing something), is meaningless.

The remote control that influences viewership ratings is in the hands of the audience.

Most offline viewers who watch TV don't go online or frequent entertainment forums, so the final ratings will only be known after the new drama premieres tomorrow and finishes airing.

November 8th, Wednesday.

The day the spy drama "The Edge of the Blade" premiered.

It airs on Tomato TV and Beicheng TV around 19:32 every night, with two episodes a day and one episode on Saturdays.

The Owl platform broadcasts the content in the same way as satellite TV platforms, with episodes released at the same time. Members can watch two episodes at once at 7:30 PM sharp, while non-members can watch one episode for free each day.

The agent did not arrange any schedules for Mu Zhi that day.

In early October, Mu Zhi was filming in Tibet and was unable to attend Five Flowers' farewell concert. She only posted on Weibo to wish the concert a successful event.

After Beicheng's farewell concert ended.

Xia Xinyan and others have been developing their businesses in their individual capacities for two months.

Zhou Jingzhu and Liu Cai knew that Mu Zhi had finished filming and returned in mid-October, and they suggested having a meal together in the group chat, but they still haven't been able to make it up until today.

Mu Zhi posted in the group that she was free today and asked if she could have dinner with someone.

Zhou Jingzhu suggested, "Zhizhi, your new drama premieres tonight. Shall we come to your house and watch it together?"

Liu Cai said she had no objection and that either way was fine.

It's been almost a year since we moved to Donghua Mansion, and apart from my agent, no one else has ever visited Mu Zhi's home.

Mu Zhi is not the type of person who would proactively invite friends over for gatherings.

But she wouldn't refuse if a friend asked her to come.

So they ordered hot pot to eat at home.

Zhou Jingzhu and Liu Cai visited Mu Zhi and brought her gifts: one brought a painting, and the other brought a limited-edition cat figurine from a certain brand.

The sunscreen set they gave Muzhi last time wasn't actually worth much, but when Muzhi reciprocated by giving them a new luxury brand bag, she was very generous.

So Zhou Jingzhu and Liu Cai also brought gifts this time.

"A housewarming gift for you."

Mu Zhi: "...Thank you." She accepted it and carefully put it away.

In fact, among the three of them, Mu Zhi was the least talkative, while Zhou Jingzhu and Liu Cai were the ones who usually livened up the atmosphere, and they got along quite well.

At 7:30 pm, "The Edge of the Blade" will be broadcast.

Mu Zhi and the others sat down on the sofa. Liu Cai turned on the TV, which had been turned on 10 minutes earlier, and switched it to Tomato Channel. Just as they changed the channel, the opening theme song was playing.

In the first two episodes, Mu Zhi didn't have many scenes, but the character in the drama changed from an innocent and carefree rich girl who appeared in the first episode to someone who experienced the destruction of her family and escaped death, and now lives only for hatred.

She reappears in the latter half of the second episode, now as a songstress in the Merry Ballroom.

Two scenes were particularly captivating.

The first scene is the tango danced by the female and male leads, filmed in one continuous shot, which is absolutely brilliant; the second scene is the devastating blow of a major family tragedy, and the female lead's crying scene is incredibly moving.

At 9:04 PM, the second episode ended.

When Mu Zhi checked Weibo, wow, #Yin Xiuran and Mu Zhi dance the tango# was ranked 8th on the overall trending list, along with #The Blade's Edge premieres#, #The Blade's Edge cast are all great actors#, and so on.

With several trending topics on the list, Duomeili is sticking to its usual aggressive and blitzkrieg marketing tactics...

I clicked on the trending topic #Yin Xiuran and Mu Zhi dance the tango#, which was ranked 8th on the hot search list, and took a look at the comments section.

The top-rated comments say that Mu Zhi, who plays a wealthy and beautiful woman, dances so beautifully. She and Yin Xiuran's character dance the tango together, and they look like a perfect couple with great chemistry.

Especially after watching episode 2, the reunion three years later, the male lead, who had returned from studying abroad, had become a womanizer who seemed to be flirting with everyone, while the female lead, who had gone from a pampered and wealthy young woman, had become a singer in a nightclub.

This couple is both heartbreaking and somewhat adorable.

Perhaps because she's in the same company as Yin Xiuran? Mu Zhi feels incredibly awkward seeing netizens shipping her and Teacher Yin.

Zhou Jingzhu handed her phone to Mu Zhi: "Zhizhi, the average ratings for the unofficial viewership charts are out."

Mu Zhi: Jing Zhu actually knows this too?

Sensing Mu Zhi's questioning gaze, Zhou Jingzhu smiled and said, "I really enjoy watching dramas, and since your drama is about to air, I specifically looked into it."

He took Zhou Jingzhu's phone and looked at it.

The average ratings for Tomato TV and North City TV during the 19:32-21:04 time slot today were 0.622% and 0.59% respectively, with a market share of around 5% for both.

Based on coefficients of 1.5 and 1, the calculated viewership ratings are 0.933% and 0.59%, respectively.

Compared to the previous drama's finale (0.71%, 0.49%), the ratings rose significantly on the first day of airing, showing a promising upward trend.

According to unofficial TV ratings charts, "The Edge of the Blade" topped the list, taking the first and second spots for prime-time dramas on local TV stations.

Zhou Jingzhu was happy for Mu Zhi: "On the first day of broadcast, the ratings on Tomato TV were almost 1. 'The Edge of the Blade' is amazing!"

Liu Cai nodded: "I've watched two episodes. The plot is intense. The male lead returns from studying abroad and resolutely joins the revolution, while the female lead loses her family overnight. With the country in crisis and the situation turbulent, the lives of both the male and female leads undergo significant changes..."

Especially the male lead, who walks a tightrope to complete his mission, constantly facing various dangers, with viewers on the edge of their seats, worried he might die before he can resolve them...

As the plot unfolds, it's inevitable that the viewership ratings will rise.

Next, the two, as audience members, praised Mu Zhi's performance in the new drama.

Zhou Jingzhu and Liu Cai had both watched Mu Zhi's first two works, "The Bell Ringer" and "Back to 17". They were not professional judges or actors.

It means watching the show from the audience's perspective and thinking that Mu Zhi's performance was good.

She has acted in 3 dramas, and each character in each drama is very different, vivid and lifelike. For example, the female lead in "The Edge of the Blade" has a Republic of China style. Her figure in a cheongsam is amazing. She is eye-catching as soon as she appears. Her image is completely different from other characters.

She dances the tango very well, not just with a few fancy moves. And when she sings on the stage of the Meigao Ballroom, you can't tell at all that Mu Zhi used to be a trainee.

Despite having limited screen time, Mu Zhi's character design and rich details make the character feel real and believable, giving the audience a three-dimensional and vivid impression. It's also completely different from the subtle mannerisms she displayed in her previous two roles.

Some actors are criticized for always playing the same character, or for always playing themselves.

I've known Mu Zhi for two years.

In their eyes, Mu Zhi is completely unrelated to the character in the drama, which precisely demonstrates Mu Zhi's excellent acting skills. She is simply a highly talented acting genius, truly amazing.

After watching two episodes of the TV series, we discussed the plot for a while.

It's getting late.

You need to swipe a card to take the elevator. Mu Zhi escorted Zhou Jingzhu and Liu Cai to the parking lot on the basement level.

As soon as Liu Cai got to the parking lot, she realized she had forgotten her phone.

Mu Zhi and Liu Cai went upstairs to look for them, while Zhou Jingzhu received a phone call and said she would wait for them in the parking lot.

Going upstairs and back home, Mu Zhi dialed Liu Cai's number and found the phone in the shoe cabinet by following the sound of its vibration.

When I went downstairs again, I waited for the elevator at the elevator entrance.

When Mu Zhi saw that the elevator had come up from the basement level again, she thought: Could it be such a coincidence?

What a coincidence!

As soon as the elevator doors opened, a person stepped out—it was none other than the boss, He Zhiyue.

He Zhiyue saw Mu Zhi at first glance, and the next second she noticed the slender boy standing next to Mu Zhi, wearing a black baseball cap with the brim pulled down low, a black mask so his face was not visible, and a black hoodie.

Mu Zhi stood side by side with this person, and they looked somewhat intimate.

Out of politeness, Mu Zhi was about to greet the boss.

However, the boss pretended not to know her and walked right past her.

Mu Zhi: ? So she didn't say hello.