Chapter 104: Finalizing the Partnership with Southern Zhejiang Satellite TV

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“We have two main ways of partnering with productions at our station, though I’m not sure whether Little Ji has already explained them to you.”
“Generally speaking, there are two.”
“The first is to sell a program’s copyright directly to the station, which then organizes resources and handles both recording and broadcast.”
“The second is for your media company to take full charge of the production while the station provides distribution channels and publicity and promotion resources.”
“Of course, the earnings in these two models are certainly different. You’ll still need to decide which one you prefer before we can continue our talks.”
Zhou Qi said this, his gaze moving over Lü Yuanqing and Ji Xiangyang, then smiling as it settled on Su Chen. After a brief exchange, he had already noticed that this three-person team was centered on Su Chen.

“Mm…”
Su Chen murmured, thinking for a moment.
“This production plan is our hard-won effort, and we intend to produce it ourselves.”
Zhou Qi nodded. He was not surprised by such a choice.
If it were him, a concept this brilliant would never be sold off outright as mere copyright.

“However, as you can see, we just set up our company. If we’re to produce a major show like this, there’s too much to prepare from nothing. Could we agree on another form of cooperation?”
“Mm?”
When Su Chen said this, Zhou Qi’s curiosity was immediately aroused.
“What kind of cooperation is that? Speak.”
Su Chen met his gaze with a smile.
“Could we outsource the recording work to the station’s existing production teams?”
“Of course, only for a fixed period, and we will continue to pay them normal salaries and bonuses.”
“The crews in the station have already developed excellent chemistry. Recording would likely go much more smoothly.”
“And in this way, we can bring the program online sooner, which benefits everyone.”
Zhou Qi turned toward Ji Xiangyang in surprise.
Having spent years within the system, he instantly grasped that Ji Xiangyang must have briefed Su Chen on the station’s internal situation.

But he wasn’t bothered by that. A little digging would uncover it, and besides, they were friends.
It wasn’t even a secret.
And, to be honest, Su Chen’s proposal hit him right where it hurt.

There was a period when, to compete with Mango Grand Camp, Zhe-nan Satellite Television recruited several variety-production teams.
After eventually losing that battle, it stopped entertaining any ambition to enter variety programming.
Yet the recruited teams remained.
These crews had since become the station’s own emergency unit.
Wherever needed, they were sent.
Though they carried little in the way of performance targets, their base salaries still had to be paid.

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“Taken together, this is no small expense.”
But because these people did not produce clear profit, the station had long treated them as dead weight.
Su Chen’s idea landed exactly where Zhou Qi wanted it to.
Could he use this chance to trim that group?

“That’s not really a problem. I’m sure Little Ji has already told you all. Once I know exactly which people you need, I can have someone prepare a roster for you to choose from.”
“And how are we to split the returns?”
Now comes the heart of it.
Su Chen leaned slightly forward, eyes fixed on Zhou Qi’s face.
Deliberately, he said:
“I want sixty percent of the profits after costs.”
“What? No—that’s not possible! It’s too much!”
Zhou Qi’s first reaction was refusal.
In this industry, that proportion was indeed high. Generally, for a program produced by a media company and broadcast through a station, the station’s share should be higher.
And the split Su Chen was asking for was unprecedented.

“Director Zhou, music shows are expensive.”
Zhou Qi hesitated for a moment. He was right—the greatest risk in music programming was indeed cost.
And according to Su Chen’s plan, too many high-profile celebrities had to be involved.
Under this model, if things went as proposed, the entire burden of risk would effectively sit on Su Chen’s side.
But sixty percent was still too much.
Production input would indeed be large, yet a station’s channel resources are an intangible resource, indispensable in all but name—
in one sense, that too is a kind of cost.
Still, this planning is truly outstanding. He was torn.

Zhou Qi frowned and thought for quite a while, but he still couldn’t make the decision.
“I won’t hide it from you: this is exactly the plan I need.”
“But this split is too high; I need to think carefully. I can’t promise anything immediately.”
“I also hope you can show a little more sincerity.”
“After all, this is our first collaboration. I believe there will be many more in the future.”

Su Chen felt a flicker of disappointment. Since Zhou Qi had said this, it was clear he had not yet offered enough.
Then he would have to press the matter a bit further.
“If, after three seasons, the rights to Hua Xia Good Voice are transferred to Zhe-nan Satellite Television as part of the deal?”
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Zhou Qi looked up, eyes widening: “You’re serious?”
Su Chen answered directly: “You can put it in the contract.”
“Good.”
Zhou Qi scarcely hesitated and made the call on the spot.
A professional to the core, Zhou Qi had been deeply excited upon seeing this proposal, yet only he knew his excitement was far more intense than he showed.
Such a concept was rare beyond measure.
If Su Chen turned this show over to another station, they would be left in a weak position.
Never did he expect that in the end, Su Chen would be willing to hand over the rights after three seasons; to him, it was a complete surprise.
No form of cooperation with him would compare to eventually having the rights safely in his own hands.
So he agreed at once.

Su Chen, for his part, was thinking more plainly.
From his experience, by the third season—perhaps even by the second—the show’s momentum would begin to fade.
Though the brand could continue, it could never match the novelty and shock of a fresh new format.
To use this show to shape his own team and fire the opening shot in music variety entertainment—that was already enough for him.
Whatever comes later, he could arrange it himself. No reason to get stuck on one program.

“Pleasant to work with you.”
“Pleasant to work with you.”
Once they reached agreement, Zhou Qi stood.
“Fine. I’ll call a meeting right away and move the approvals through proper channels.”
“This shouldn’t meet with resistance; it’ll only be a matter of how long the procedures take.”
“You can begin preparations now.”
He said that and returned to his desk, immediately setting up calls.
You could tell how urgent he was.

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“Phew…”
After the meeting, the three of them stepped out of the broadcasting center building and finally exhaled in relief.
From now on they were to begin preparations for Hua Xia New Voice. At the current pace, if all went well, the first season could be filmed before the end of the year.
The only question was whether the variety team Ji Xiangyang had mentioned would meet their standards.
Once Zhou Qi sends over the staffing details, I’ll need to go there myself to inspect things in person.