How did you know?
Faced with Li Weiya's doubts, Jiang Xia just smiled and slowly said, "Because of our previous collaboration, editor Zhou Lu mentioned the exclusive broadcasting rights for the second season to me many times. I always gave vague answers, and I guess in their minds, I would still give them the exclusive broadcasting rights for the second season."
"That's true."
Li Weiya continued, "She offered a much higher price than before, even raising the price per episode to 30,000, but the only condition was that it had to be exclusive broadcasting rights, which I did not agree to."
"Well, it's right not to agree. Tom and Jerry is already famous, and our company doesn't lack money. Like I said, the price for each episode of the second season is 10,000. Sign it if you want, or don't. Anyway, there are many TV stations willing to sign this contract with us."
Jiang Xia said with a smile, "Aunt Li, you must not give an inch. The good stuff is in our hands; they are the ones who are anxious."
"After all, Chongqing TV recognizes the talent in Tom and Jerry. Wouldn't it be better to just tear things apart like this? If this gets out, it might not be good for our reputation." She frowned slightly.
While doing business is ultimately about pure profit, public opinion can be quite important at times.
"Hmm... Aunt Li is right, then let's lower the price for them a bit, 7,000 per episode, and 10,000 for other TV stations. The same rules apply, they have priority broadcasting rights, but not exclusive broadcasting rights."
"It's good that you think that way. Okay, I'll hang up now and go back to arguing with that Editor Zhou."
After a pause, Li Weiya suddenly laughed: "I'm currently on busy. I estimate that she'll call you back herself after this call is finished."
"Haha, I already guessed it. It's alright, Aunt Li, I'll handle it."
After hanging up the phone, Li Weiya looked in the mirror and turned on the tap to wash her hands. Just then, Zhou Lu, dressed in business attire, suddenly walked in.
The two looked at each other, nodded knowingly, and then walked past each other.
Zhou Lu watched her retreating figure, sighed softly, and then took out her phone to call the young animation director.
"Hello, Director Jiang, this is Zhou Lu..."
◇
Jiang Xia tapped the table lightly with his fingers. Sure enough, less than two minutes after hanging up, Zhou Lu called back.
He calmed himself down, having already devised a plan in his mind. He deliberately waited for the phone to ring for seven or eight seconds before answering it slowly.
"Hello, Director Jiang, this is Zhou Lu."
"Hello Editor Zhou, how have you been?"
"I heard from Director Li that Director Jiang is no longer in Yudu?"
"Yes, I have to go to school. My flight was yesterday, and I'm arriving at Tsinghua University to register today. I haven't had a chance to go yet. I just finished making my bed," Jiang Xia said with a smile.
"Did you take the entrance exam for the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University?"
"Yes."
"That's really impressive. But with Director Jiang's artistic talent, getting into Tsinghua Academy of Fine Arts is more than enough." Zhou Lu didn't forget to offer a few words of praise amidst the pleasantries.
"Haha, Editor Zhou is joking. By the way, Editor Zhou, is there something you need?" Jiang Xia asked knowingly.
"Yes, something is indeed going on."
Zhou Lu pursed her lips, no longer hiding anything, and asked directly, "Did Director Jiang hand over the Tom and Jerry-related matters to Director Li?"
"That's right. Director Li can handle all company matters on my behalf. Is there any problem?"
She smiled wryly and said, "It's still about the broadcast contract. Our station knows that after your company finished producing the second season of Tom and Jerry, the leadership attached great importance to it and immediately sent me to discuss it with your company. But why is the exclusive broadcast rights that we agreed on with Director Jiang not valid now?"
Jiang Xia pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "Editor Zhou, I am very grateful that Tom and Jerry has gained the favor of your station, but we really cannot give you exclusive broadcasting rights. This decision has already gone against the company's strategic plan. However, I do have the right to lower the price a bit, and Chongqing TV will still enjoy priority broadcasting rights."
"Director Jiang, the price is negotiable, but aren't you going to reconsider the exclusive broadcasting rights? Why don't you name a price, and what would it take for you to agree to transfer the exclusive broadcasting rights to our station?" Zhou Lu's tone had unconsciously softened.
Having benefited from the exclusive broadcasting rights in the past, and with the groundwork laid by the first episode of Tom and Jerry, the leaders of Chongqing TV believed that as long as they secured the exclusive broadcasting rights for the second season, the ratings might soar to over 20%, making them the strongest dark horse of the year.
In contrast, the promised fee to Qitian Animation Company was nothing at all.
“Editor Zhou, the priority broadcasting rights are the biggest concession I can make. As for the price, we can continue with the previous contract. You should know that with the current popularity of Tom and Jerry, it's impossible to sign a contract at the original price. But Editor Zhou is my friend, and I'm willing to sacrifice some of the company's interests for my friend.”
Jiang Xia's words sounded nice—that it was for the company's interests, not his personal ones. Although Zhou Lu knew he was just making excuses, she couldn't do anything about it.
To be honest, even though Chongqing TV station made a huge profit by signing the priority broadcast rights for the most popular animation at a low price, they wanted to earn even more and monopolize the animation, but Jiang Xia refused.
His goal has always been simple: to let more people know about Tom and Jerry and Qitian Animation Company, so that in the future, every move he makes will be as he wishes and will lead to great success.
"Thank you for your friendship, Director Jiang. Well, I'll report the situation to the station's leaders right away. Director Jiang, sorry to bother you."
"It's alright, it's alright. If Editor Zhou has anything else to discuss, she can talk to Director Li directly. Of course, you can also call me directly, but in the end, she'll be the one to sign the contract," Jiang Xia said with a smile.
"OK."
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Lu sighed heavily. She hadn't expected Jiang Xia to be so stubborn. However, since she couldn't sign an exclusive broadcasting rights agreement, she could only do her best to maximize the current benefits.
The TV station couldn't just break off its partnership with Qitian Animation out of spite, since they valued the young director Jiang Xia more.
With this network of connections, every outstanding work produced by Qitian Animation Company in the future could potentially be granted priority broadcasting rights by television stations.
Therefore, this matter cannot be delayed any longer, after all, an excellent work has a limited lifespan.
If the broadcast is early enough, so that other TV stations lag far behind Chongqing TV in broadcasting, then this priority broadcasting right can be as close as possible to an exclusive broadcasting right.
After figuring out the key issue, Zhou Lu stood in front of the mirror, composed herself, and even took out lipstick from her bag to touch up her makeup.
Then, with steady steps, he walked out confidently.
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