Chapter 1844: Sponsor?

Should a great person be magnanimous?

Zhao Fusheng didn't think so.

For him, repaying a drop of water with a gushing spring was what he should do.

Similarly, for those who provoked him, Zhao Fusheng wouldn't play the goody-goody or engage in any magnanimous charades.

If you're wrong, admit it; if you're hit, stand straight—that was Zhao Fusheng's principle.

"Fusheng, are you really going to do that?"

Yu Feihong was about to leave the capital to return to her hometown for the Spring Festival. Before leaving, she came specifically to see Zhao Fusheng.

"Of course." Zhao Fusheng smiled and reassured his sister, "Don't worry. After this, no one should dare to cause trouble recklessly."

This time, he even sent a lawyer's letter to Baidu, putting on a show of being ready to fight a lawsuit to the death with them.

To be honest, when they received the news, Baidu's legal department was also taken aback.

Generally, in such situations, the best response was to minimize the issue, turning big problems into small ones and small ones into nothing. Few people chose to blow things up like Zhao Fusheng did.

But he did exactly that!

They could only sigh, thinking that this chairman of Future Group really did march to the beat of his own drum.

"You..."

Yu Feihong shook her head helplessly. She knew Zhao Fusheng's temper—he always yielded to persuasion but not to coercion. In such a situation, making him bow his head and admit fault would be harder than killing him.

Moreover, since the other side had used such methods to pressure him, it would be strange if Zhao Fusheng didn't lose his temper.

"By the way, how about starting filming for 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' around April after the New Year?"

Zhao Fusheng asked Yu Feihong.

Yu Feihong nodded: "Old Jiang told you, right? We discussed it, and that time is the best."

"I think so too."

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "And I think we can shoot half first, air it, see how the audience reacts. If the response is good, we can shoot more."

"You mean, follow the American TV model?" Yu Feihong was startled, somewhat surprised.

In the US, most sitcoms are broadcast in seasons.

For example, 'Friends' and 'The Big Bang Theory' are like that, and sometimes they even take irregular breaks.

But the more they did that, the more audiences loved those shows.

This time, Zhao Fusheng planned to test the waters with 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes,' at least to set a foundation for the audience.

As for how things would develop afterward, he wouldn't worry about that.

He was always like that—start something without finishing it, only responsible for setting the direction, leaving the rest to those below him.

For Zhao Fusheng, Future Film and Television would not be the focus of his career in the future. Or rather, he would eventually consider exiting the film and television industry.

For now, he treated it as doing good deeds.

"The American TV model has both advantages and disadvantages for the development of TV dramas."

Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Yu Feihong: "Think about it, how much does it cost to shoot fifty episodes of a drama? How much for twenty episodes? And how much revenue comes from advertising and promotion?"

Yu Feihong was taken aback, then realized what Zhao Fusheng meant.

Thinking carefully, his idea wasn't wrong.

The production models for TV dramas in China and the US are completely different.

In the US, TV dramas are basically uncensored. As long as they aren't late-night shows and don't contain excessive violence, nudity, or content that encourages bad behavior in minors, they can be aired. That is, TV stations have full content review rights, of course within the legal framework.

In China, due to the censorship by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, there are many content restrictions. Besides the well-known prohibition of content that violates the current system, there are now more and more taboos. For example, in a few years, the administration will explicitly ban time-travel, fictionalized history, and palace intrigue themes.

That is, if you don't get a filming permit, you can't shoot normally, and you can't get a broadcast license. Without a broadcast license, TV stations won't air your show.

This content review mechanism leads to differences in the production models of TV dramas between the two countries.

The US TV drama production model is relatively simple. If you have a good script and idea, you can find a production company to get investment, then shoot a pilot. Once the pilot is approved by a TV station, the station signs a contract, and the production company can shoot while revising the plot based on market feedback.

Of course, TV stations can also cancel a drama at any time based on ratings, or increase the budget further.

In China, production companies must first pass script review, obtain project approval and a filming certificate from the administration, then shoot. After completion, they can get a broadcast license after content review.

Mechanically, shooting while airing is impossible. And in the drama procurement process, there is considerable potential for under-the-table deals. To compete for ratings, TV stations air two or three episodes daily.

This difference makes US and Chinese TV dramas very different in content.

Conversely, for producers, the US model can save costs to some extent. If a drama doesn't perform well, it can be canceled directly.

Otherwise, in the Chinese model, if a lead actor in a drama that has finished filming or is airing gets caught in a scandal, the entire show is ruined.

The most obvious examples are Dr. and Uncle Bo. The most hateful thing about them is that they really caused investors to lose everything.

For those investors, that is undoubtedly the most unacceptable outcome.

"Forget it, forget it. You're the boss; the issues you consider are definitely different from mine." Yu Feihong shook her head helplessly. Although she agreed with Zhao Fusheng's words, as an actress, she naturally felt a bit uncomfortable.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and didn't continue discussing the topic with Yu Feihong.

People in different positions naturally have different perspectives on issues.

"By the way, do you have any thoughts on this year's Olympics?"

Yu Feihong suddenly asked Zhao Fusheng.

"Olympics?"

Zhao Fusheng was stunned: "What does that have to do with me?"

He was genuinely puzzled. What connection could the Olympics have with him? What was Yu Feihong trying to say?

"Look, this time you got into trouble, and the company was besieged by many media outlets. Don't you think we should improve our image?" Yu Feihong looked at Zhao Fusheng helplessly and explained.

"Ah, you mean doing some image-building projects?" Zhao Fusheng raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised as he looked at Yu Feihong. He hadn't expected Sister Feihong to bring this up voluntarily.

After all, she rarely cared about such things on a daily basis.

"Not exactly image-building."

Yu Feihong shook her head and said to Zhao Fusheng: "What I mean is, we could fund some rewards for athletes who achieve good results in the Olympics."

"Okay."

Zhao Fusheng smiled. Wasn't that something a certain tycoon in Hong Kong often did?

As a fellow Chinese, Zhao Fusheng had no objection to that.

In fact, he admired the athletes who won glory for the country. At the very least, they were truly working hard.

Whether for themselves or for the country, at least they achieved good results, and in the eyes of the outside world, those were achievements by Chinese people.

That was enough.

Take the number one female tennis player, for example—she was an athlete outside the system.

But regardless, she was Chinese, and that was enough for most people.

"Then I'll contact President Zheng."

Yu Feihong said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng smiled, thought for a moment, recalled China's performance in the Beijing Olympics, and said to Yu Feihong: "How about this: we hold a celebration party for the athletes afterward."

"Huh?"

Yu Feihong was stunned, never expecting Zhao Fusheng to have such an idea.

But after thinking it over, she found that Zhao Fusheng's suggestion was actually quite feasible.

After all, it wasn't a bad thing; at the very least, it could build a good reputation.

"Not just the Olympics."

Zhao Fusheng seemed intrigued by Yu Feihong's suggestion and said with a smile: "In the future, we can increase sponsorship for Chinese sports. But we won't support hopeless projects like men's football; we'll support some niche sports. How about that?"

Niche sports?

Yu Feihong was puzzled, didn't quite understand, and ultimately said nothing more.

Zhao Fusheng smiled. Yu Feihong didn't understand, but if it were Zheng Yao, she would definitely grasp his meaning.

Of course, it was just a matter of different perspectives.

For Yu Feihong, she might only be thinking about how to improve Future Group's reputation, but Zhao Fusheng and Zheng Yao were considering how to use this for the company's promotion.

After all, every sport is a promotional window.

They chatted for a while about arrangements after the Spring Festival. Yu Feihong had dinner at Zhao Fusheng's place before leaving.

After personally seeing his sister to the door, Zhao Fusheng turned around and dialed Zheng Yao's number.

"Something up?"

Zheng Yao was a bit surprised. It was almost New Year's, and the previous issues had been resolved. Why was Zhao Fusheng calling her?

Zhao Fusheng smiled, recounted what he had discussed with Yu Feihong, and finally asked Zheng Yao: "What do you think?"

Hearing Zhao Fusheng's words, Zheng Yao didn't speak immediately but fell into thought.

Clearly, this proposal might not be understood by others, but Zheng Yao had other ideas.

As expected of someone who had worked with Zhao Fusheng for so many years, she was undoubtedly the one who understood him best.

Zheng Yao knew very well that in China, the sports industry, though seemingly inconspicuous, had extremely high visibility. If Future Group entered the sports industry, it would indeed be a good move.