"Ms. Fang, Phoenix Channel, and Dongshi Company have reached an adjustment agreement with the Recording Association to pay HK$8 million in one lump sum for major record companies. What do you think about this?"
"Manager Fang, Phoenix Channel and Dongshi Production Company promised to abide by the World Copyright Convention and would not use other companies' music works in the future. What does the TVB mean?"
"Manager Fang, the Recording Association will formally file a lawsuit against TVB in early January next year. Are you confident of winning this lawsuit?"
"Ms. Fang..."
In front of the TVB building, reporters surrounded Fang Yihua's car and asked various questions through the car window like firing shells.
It took nearly 10 minutes for Fang Yihua's driver to drive into the garage from the side of the road. Fortunately, TVB's security guard stopped him, otherwise these reporters would have to follow him into the garage.
Fang Yihua came to her office with anger in her stomach. Before her butt was hot, the phone on her desk rang. Fang Yihua pressed the hands-free button and heard a voice from inside: "Manager Fang, the chairman asked you to go to her office."
"I understand!" Fang Yihua stood up depressedly. She knew what it was for Shao Yifu to look for her.
By the way, due to the continuous development of Phoenix TV and the ratings of Macau TV, TVB is in poor condition this year. The total ratings of the program were on par with Phoenix TV for the first time in the third quarter, and there is a possibility of being surpassed at any time.
A few months ago, the Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant was suppressed by Miss Oriental, but Miss Hong Kong runner-up Wu Wanfang became famous for promoting the World Cup and performing at the Hong Kong Pavilion at the World Expo, which made Miss Hong Kong this year's Miss Hong Kong look very hard. Unfortunately, after Wu Wanfang became famous, she was plagued by scandals. And her airs became increasingly ruthless. She became arrogant and began to dissatisfied with the discipline of the TV station. Finally, after she refused to star in a TVB TV series on the grounds of being sick, she was ordered to be banned by Shaw Yifu himself.
The only highlight of the TVB newcomers this year is Wu Wanfang. When the ban order was issued, all the resources used on her were wasted in the past few months. When Shaw Yifu just sent Wu Wanfang to the Hong Kong Pavilion at the Canadian World Expo, he took a lot of effort and even used some official relationships from the Hong Kong government.
Now the ratings of "Happy Tonight" have been tied by Phoenix TV's new variety shows. TVB wants to compete with Phoenix TV for ratings, but only the last weapon of "Jin Yong Drama" is left. This is also due to the good personal relationship between Shao Yifu and Kim Yong. The copyright fees for the TV series are very discounted.
However, Phoenix TV is not a vegetarian. Oriental TV Production Company took advantage of Gu Long's death and bought the copyright of 14 Gu Long's 20-year TV series in one go. Moreover, since the heirs of Gu Long's copyright are unclear, Oriental TV Production Company bought these things at a bargain price, and the total cost is less than NT$10 million (a total of HK$1.8 million).
By the way, "The Two Prodigals", which made Liang Chaowei so popular, will definitely not be filmed, because Phoenix TV bought 14 Gu Long novels exclusive 20-year TV copyrights in Hong Kong.
It is difficult to adapt a TV series by Gu Long's martial arts novel. But the awesome thing is that there is a screenwriter leader named Wen Ruian from Dongshi. The ratings of "The Martial Arts of the Wulin" broadcast at the end of last year, and even the ratings are slightly higher than the TVB's "Snow Mountain Flying Fox".
Although the average viewership rate only won two or three points, this is already an amazing achievement. Because, except for the "Chu Liuxiang" series, other novels in Hong Kong have far less influence than Jin Yong's novels, and they are not inherently advantageous compared to Jin Yong's dramas.
Today's TVB has veterans such as Liza Wang and Xie Xian. They also have new generations of red stars such as the Five Tiger Generals and Kowloon Girl (not yet officially has the title of Kowloon Girl), but Phoenix and Dongshi also have won a large number of popular TV stars.
Among the more experienced ones are Wan Ziqi, Liu Songren, Pan Zhiwen, Zheng Wenya and Yu Anan, the younger ones include Yin Tianzhao, Li Ming, Jiang Hua, Tang Zhenzong, and the females include Chen Xiuwen, Rong Huiwen, Ni Shibei, Mai Cuixian, Ye Yuqing, Qiu Huixin, which does not include He Jiajin, Mo Shaocong and others who have moved from TV series to the big screen.
As Phoenix TV's ratings are rising year by year, the above stars are not inferior to those of the Wireless Five Tigers and Kowloon Girls, and even to a certain extent, they are even better.
For example, Tang Zhenye belongs to the Five Tiger Generals of the Wireless. But his brother Tang Zhenzong is now a male actor supported by Phoenix Channel and Dongshi.
Fang Yihua walked into Shao Yifu's office and said, "Brother Six, are you looking for me?"
"Sit," Shao Yifu waved his hand, and waited for Fang Yihua to sit down before asking, "What's going on with Phoenix Platform and Dongshi Production Company?"
Fang Yihua said: "I only found out this morning that I have sent someone to inquire."
The two discussed countermeasures, and the people sent by Fang Yihua finally came back and went directly to Shao Yifu's office to report the news: "Uncle Liu, Manager Fang, the reason why he promised not to infringe on other companies' music in the future is that a new music department director has come to Oriental TV Production Company."
Shao Yifu was very curious and asked, "Oh? What kind of ability does that person have to solve the soundtrack problem in the series?"
"That person is Hu Weili, and he is a very famous composer in the mainland," the man reported. "He was brought to Dongshi Company by Kang Jianfei and announced his appointment. After knowing that Dongshi and Phoenix Station lacked songs, he immediately expressed that he would donate all the music scores he had created for decades to Dongshi Company to enrich the music library for free."
Shao Yifu and Fang Yihua were speechless after hearing this for a long time. Kang Jianfei had found a big advantage this time.
"I didn't expect that there would be such a fool in the world. All the decades of creative achievements were donated for free." Fang Yihua said in a sour tone, but she felt very regretful. Because Fang Yihua vaguely remembered that someone mentioned Hu Weili a few days ago, she just asked someone to test the other party's real talent and knowledge.
Shao Yifu and Fang Yihua are now having a headache. Phoenix Taiwan and Dongshi Company are naturally happy with Hu Weili, but TVB does not know how to deal with the infringement lawsuit.
It is impossible to negotiate a private solution now, because Phoenix Channel and Dongshi provide the copyright fee of 8 million yuan for the Recording Association. This price is far beyond TVB's bottom line, and it is impossible for both parties to reach an agreement.
To put it simply, Phoenix TV, while resolving copyright disputes and future TV series soundtracks, also paid high copyright compensation fees to cheat TVB, which is now making TVB unable to advance or retreat.
"Prepare to sue." Shao Yifu sighed. He was going to spend three to four million yuan in lawyer fees to fight a lawsuit, and he was unwilling to be blackmailed by the Recording Association for 8 million yuan.
This is not because Shao Yifu is stingy. He has donated tens of millions of educational donations to the mainland this year alone. Now he is unwilling to pay money. This is a business philosophy issue.
As for the soundtracks of TVB TV series in the future, don’t use Hong Kong local music. Try to use Japanese and European and American music, as the record companies there can’t be suing them.
After Fang Yihua and Shao Yifu discussed a solution, they immediately asked the full-time lawyer of the TV station to prepare for a lawsuit. As soon as they finished giving the order, someone from the Artist Department came to report the situation: "Manager Fang, Liang Chaowei refused to renew his five-year contract, and there was no way to persuade him."
"This rebellious boy!" Fang Yihua cursed in a low voice. The five wireless tigers jointly rebelled last year. Liu Dehua had only left TVB for a few months. Liang Chaowei made a fuss here again.
Liang Chaowei is now the leader of the TVB, so naturally he cannot sit idly by and watch him leave. Fang Yihua asked, "What are his requirements?"
The artist, the man from the Artist, replied: "Liang Chaowei said that he was only willing to renew his contract for two years and could not interfere with his filming of movies outside."
"I was very obedient when I entered the TV station, but now everyone is about to rebel," Fang Yihua said in a cold tone. "Promise him!"
The Artist Department asked again: "Liang Chaowei seems to be chasing Li Meixian now. Should he warn him? This matter is not good for his image if it is exposed."
"Isn't Liang Chaowei dating Zeng Huaqian? Why is it related to Li Meixian again?" Fang Yihua asked in surprise. Li Meixian was a rising actress promoted by TVB after Lan Jieying left. The relationship between Liang Chaowei and Zeng Huaqian has been going on for many years. It has been known to the public. Now if it is revealed that Liang Chaowei falls in love with Li Meixian, the images of Liang Chaowei and Li Meixian will be greatly damaged. The audience will regard them as unfaithful men on both sides of the boat and the vixen who seduces a "married husband".
The artist department said: "Liang Chaowei and Zeng Huaqian seem to have a quarrel and a conflict, but they have not completely broken up. Now Liang Chaowei is pursuing Li Meixian."
Fang Yihua thought for a while and said, "Don't talk about this with Liang Chaowei. She privately warned Li Meixian, just say that if she was in love with Liang Chaowei, just ban her!"
"I understand." The man said that and then left the office.
Liang Chaowei is a leading actor who is about to be completed. Naturally, such an actor is not good at warning him, but the TV station can teach and warn Li Meixian, who is becoming more famous.
Fang Yihua was the only one left in the office. She sat for a while and felt her head almost burst out. TVB is now messing with all kinds of troubles, which makes Fang Yihua physically and mentally exhausted when she goes home from work every day.
Especially the old actors on the TV station are all ready to move. If there is no contract restraint, they will have already changed jobs, and the TV station can't stop them at all.
More than 20 years later, TVB's top-tier TV stars had a monthly official salary similar to that of taxi drivers in Hong Kong. Celebrities mainly make money by shooting advertisements and other announcements, while actors who cannot receive advertisements do a very bad job, their salary is similar to that of ordinary working class, but their work is exhausted.
TVB was already declining at that time, and the salary was naturally much worse, but TVB actors are not much better now. Take Liang Chaowei, the TVB leader for example. If he did not accept advertisements, movies, or helped people cut ribbons to make money, his monthly salary would only be more than 3,600 yuan, while the median salary in Hong Kong at this time was 2,800 yuan.
Based on monthly salary, Liang Chaowei is at most a senior white-collar worker income. He can only save money to buy a house with extra money. What makes TVB most dissatisfied with the actors is that it always restricts its artists from taking films outside, which is equivalent to cutting off people's and financial resources.
The person who wants to change jobs most is TVB's quasi-first-line artists. These people cannot receive advertisements. Due to TVB restrictions, they have very few movies and films, and they can earn 3,000 yuan in a month. Now Hong Kong films are beginning to flourish, so these people naturally want to get rid of them as soon as possible, so that they can fight in the tide of Hong Kong films.
Phoenix TV is much more flexible. All actors are contracted artists from Oriental Entertainment Agency. You can take whatever movies you like. For example, if you are a popular TV star who wants to switch to the big screen, then you can just discuss it with your own agent and company. However, if you delay filming TV series because of filming movies, then there will naturally be someone who will take your position.
So now, although artists under Oriental Entertainment Agency can freely accept advertisements, TV series and movies, they generally do not try to transform easily. For example, Chen Xiuwen, the leading actress of Phoenix TV, has gained a lot of popularity on TV and sold records very well. In this case, she chose to switch to the big screen, but the response to filming two movies in a row was not very good.
Chen Xiuwen had to continue to go back and act in the TV series obediently, but for the past six months after she left the TV screen, her position as the No. 1 Sister in Phoenix Station was already in danger, and the limelight was stolen by several other actresses.
Because of Chen Xiuwen's example, artists from Oriental Entertainment Agency are now very cautious. For example, the number one brother Wan Ziqi is calm and filming TV series, and at most he will come out to take on one movie a year.
Sometimes it is impossible to suppress it by relying on strong pressure. If you really let go, there are not so many people who want to change careers. Now several companies under Kang Jianfei are mobile live water, while TVB seems too autocratic and lifeless.
Chapter completed!