Chapter 128: Fighting for Exclusive Premiere Rights!

Meng Huan?

Jiang Lun searched his memory repeatedly, but could not find a single trace of such a person.

However, since she had already introduced herself, and it was possible they had met somewhere while he was recording a program, he smiled and asked, "Oh, is that Sister Huan? Is something the matter?"

Upon hearing Jiang Lun address her this way, Meng Huan could not help but feel delighted, sensing that the distance between them had narrowed considerably. She replied happily, "Isn't it because I heard you were producing a television series yourself? How is it going? Have you started filming yet?"

"Not yet; I am currently finalizing the shooting schedule."

Regardless, Jiang Lun's consistent public stance was that the project was still in the preparation stage.

"Oh! Have you secured a broadcast platform yet? Have you confirmed which satellite channel will air it?"

Meng Huan asked cautiously; this was the issue she cared about most.

"No satellite channel yet. So far, I have only been in contact with Boiling Audio-Visual."

Jiang Lun answered truthfully. Zhao Rong had been handling the communications with Boiling Audio-Visual from the start. They were in urgent need of a large volume of content to fill their library, and although the price had not yet been finalized, the preliminary intent had been agreed upon. Furthermore, the studio and the birth of this show were founded on the basis of Boiling Audio-Visual soliciting content from Zhao Rong; the online streaming rights were certainly theirs. As for whether it would be an exclusive release across the entire network, that would depend on the final price.

"Hmm? A video streaming site?"

Meng Huan felt relieved, but then asked with suspicion, "You aren't making a web series, are you?"

"That is the intention!" Jiang Lun said. "But it's not a pure web series; it follows the format of a traditional TV drama."

"Oh!" Meng Huan responded, then smiled. "The station just received word that you are making a drama, and I wanted to ask if you have sold the first-run broadcast rights yet. If not, our station is interested in purchasing it. Price is not an issue."

"So that's what this is about!"

Jiang Lun smiled. From the moment he received the call, he had guessed it was about buying the show. Since it was indeed about purchasing the series, he stopped beating around the bush and asked directly, "Then how much are you prepared to pay per episode?"

Meng Huan pondered, "The station hasn't given a specific quote yet. Besides, it depends on the total number of episodes and the lead cast."

Jiang Lun smiled. "The series has eighty episodes. As for the lead cast, to be honest, there are no A-list stars, but they are all seasoned actors who have performed in stage plays for years. They have also appeared in many TV dramas, so they are not newcomers."

After hearing this, Meng Huan began to hesitate. She made a rough calculation before saying, "If that’s the case, the price per episode might not be very high. However, since it is eighty episodes, if the show is truly good, the total price should be able to exceed fifteen million. What is your expectation?"

Jiang Lun said, "My estimated price is 200,000 per episode. That’s not too high, is it?"

Nowadays, TV dramas could go for seven or eight hundred thousand, or even over a million per episode. A quote of 200,000 made her wonder if the production cost itself was very low.

Meng Huan could not help but smile, feigning a tone that was half-questioning. "It is certainly not high! It seems the production cost of your show isn't very high either. I wonder how the final result will turn out."

"Whether a TV drama is good depends on the ratings. As for the costs, they are currently in the budget, so I can't say much. Besides, the price I'm quoting is a 'friendship price.' If we set the price after it's finished, it won't be this number."

This was the era of the "two-star" policy, where a 1.5-round broadcast strategy was adopted—meaning that when the first-run satellite channel aired half the show, the second-run satellite channels would begin their broadcast.

The 200,000 Jiang Lun mentioned was actually just a figure he tossed out; his true bottom line was 150,000 per episode for the first run. After all, there were still the exclusive online streaming rights and advertising revenue. According to the current budget of the production team, this price point would not result in a loss and could even turn a profit. As for the second-run broadcast, getting 100,000 per episode would be quite good. For such a low-cost sitcom, he didn't dare to dream too high.

Moreover, if the show performed well, it could be sold to other satellite and local channels after the first two rounds of broadcasting. Of course, the price would drop, but it certainly wouldn't be too low.

After pondering for a while, Meng Huan said, "We definitely want the first-run rights to your show. So don't worry, as long as the show is filmed well, the price can be negotiated further!"

"Alright, then let's wait until I've finished filming and show you the sample footage."

As Jiang Lun was speaking, his phone suddenly vibrated. He glanced at the screen and saw a call coming in from a third party—it was Liu Xiahui.

He immediately said to Meng Huan, "Sister Huan, let's keep in touch. I have another call coming in."

"Sure, go ahead," Meng Huan laughed.

Once the call ended, Jiang Lun immediately answered Liu Xiahui's call, laughing as he spoke, "President Liu, is something the matter?"

"Who were you on the phone with? An advertiser?"

Liu Xiahui was also in high spirits. "Let me tell you, the company has already received over a dozen calls from advertisers inquiring about investing in your show. Hey! I'm baffled. You were worried about funding just a few days ago. If we had known it would be like this, you could have just announced on Weibo that you were making a drama, and I bet plenty of investors would have come looking for you!"

"President Liu, you're joking. I didn't expect this either."

Everything was beyond Jiang Lun's expectations; he had never imagined such an effect. However, he knew he had to be careful when choosing advertisers; he couldn't ruin the show for the sake of money. These advertisers were acting in their own interests, and if they threw money in, they would certainly want to change the show to insert their ads. Subtle, seamless product placement was fine, but if they insisted on "hard" placement, or even demanded he have characters introduce their products directly, that would be absolutely unacceptable.

On the other end, Liu Xiahui added, "I won't meddle in the advertising; this show isn't a company project, and the calls to the company have all been handed over to Old Wu to handle. But as one of the investors, I can still make some decisions!"

When he said this, Jiang Lun became alert and gave a hollow laugh, "President Liu, what kind of decision are you planning to make?"

"The first-run broadcast rights for satellite TV!"

Liu Xiahui slowly uttered these words, then continued, "An old friend of mine at Beijing Satellite TV called me. They are willing to purchase it at a price of 250,000 per episode!"

"250,000?"

Jiang Lun's heart thudded like a drum. In that instant, he saw the gap between himself and Liu Xiahui.

He had spent ages haggling with the person from Jiangnan Satellite TV without reaching a price. Although Meng Huan hadn't said it outright, Jiang Lun could tell she felt his quote of 200,000 per episode was a bit high. After all, the total price for the entire show would reach 16 million, which was not a small sum.

But Liu Xiahui? He had directly brought in Beijing Satellite TV with an offer of 250,000! And this was even without them knowing the cast or the specific plot. At this price, the first-run broadcast on a single TV station would bring in 20 million—a net profit of 10 million!

"Really?"

Jiang Lun couldn't hide his joy. "Just now, Jiangnan Satellite TV also called me wanting to buy the first-run rights!"

"How much did they offer?"

"Haha! I quoted 200,000 per episode, but they didn't agree. They probably thought the price was too high; after all, 80 episodes is not a small amount."

"Good thing they didn't agree. Let's delegate this to Yida. Our contract clearly states that Yida is responsible for distribution and operations, so don't worry about it. I guarantee you'll make a profit. And since the price from Beijing Satellite TV is already on the table, if Jiangnan Satellite TV wants the first-run rights, tell them to come and bid."

Liu Xiahui laughed, "The highest bidder wins!"

"Alright, then I won't interfere with that side of things!"

Jiang Lun knew very well that if he tried to sell it himself, he wouldn't be able to get this price. Only Yida, only Liu Xiahui, could dig out the maximum value of this show.

After the two hung up, Liu Xiahui picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Hello! Is that Old He?"

Liu Xiahui said with a smile, "Regarding the matter we discussed earlier, there has been a new development on my end!"

"What development?" The person called Old He on the other end sounded visibly nervous. "Brother Hui, you aren't playing games with me, are you? You aren't selling it anymore?"

"It's not that I'm not selling; it's that someone else has started competing with you!"

Liu Xiahui wasn't even sure if Jiangnan Satellite TV would be willing to pay a higher price, but he dared to say it anyway.

"Who's competing with me?"

"Jiangnan TV!"

"What?" Upon hearing this, Old He was first startled, then laughed. "I expected someone would compete, but I didn't think Jiangnan TV would be the first to act. No matter, whatever they offer, we will always offer more... 10,000 more!"

"You really are stingy!" Liu Xiahui laughed. "It's not your money anyway!"

"If I spend too much, the higher-ups will investigate!" Old He chuckled. "Anyway, I'll say this: just make the price on the contract five million higher than the actual price, you handle the rest."

"Fine! You bunch of parasites. Enough talk, I'm going to play golf!"

Liu Xiahui shook his head with a smile. After hanging up, he called his secretary over. "Go tell the distribution department that the first-run broadcast rights for the show *My Own Swordsman* will be auctioned starting next week. The highest bidder wins. Also, start hyping up the show—I want it to be a massive hit!"

"Understood!" The secretary nodded and turned to leave.

...

The next morning, the top ten satellite TV stations in the country received internal news that the first-run rights for *My Own Swordsman* were being auctioned, and a certain station had already offered a high price of 500,000 per episode.

At the same time, news about *My Own Swordsman* reached a new peak online. The battleground was no longer limited to film and television forums and Weibo; the homepages of major portals, headlines on various websites, and information-based news videos on video sites were all tied to *My Own Swordsman*.

Even game and animation companies issued statements announcing they would produce games and animations based on the *My Own Swordsman* IP.

For a time, the major satellite stations that had been hesitant began to mobilize, secretly contacting Yida to inquire about the first-run rights for *My Own Swordsman*. But without exception, they all received the same reply: specific details would be announced next week.