The salaries for such talent shows were calculated per episode. Generally, even a popular talent show would have at most twenty episodes, and the top special effects artists and lighting technicians could earn a maximum of $30,000 to $50,000 per episode!But now, Evan had offered $5 billion!$5 billion! That equated to $250 million per episode, and with a crew of at most 100 people, each person could earn $2.5 million!One had to wonder, how many people could resist such a lucrative opportunity – completing one episode in three days and earning $2.5 million?With such generous rewards, brave individuals would surely emerge!If Lumina City Television Station released such recruitment notices, it was likely that even the top special effects artists and lighting technicians from their own television stations would rush to Lumina City for interviews!Just imagining it was terrifying!"Mmm, the third problem is also solved. Let's proceed to the fourth problem!"Evan pondered for a moment a
"Mr. Smith, the situation is as follows!" Sean briefed Evan. "Due to the boycott from major networks and the industry, our audition sign-ups contain no celebrities whatsoever. We can only select from the populace, forfeiting any innate advantages celebrities possess.""I understand," Evan replied calmly to the grave-faced Sean. "It's a minor issue, inconsequential to the bigger picture. Our talent show targets the masses, does it not? This development makes our discoveries even more relatable. And if grassroots stars we cultivate outshine pampered celebrities, won't we earn greater satisfaction as their benefactors?""Speaking of judges, have you selected them? Remember Connor? Is he still our gopher? Bring him on as a special guest judge. Also, make Ava, Bella, Michelle, and Violet judges too—can't let our star power go to waste, can we?""Enough worrying—get to work. I eagerly anticipate our show's premiere and the emergence of Splendid Music's newest star talents!""Yes, Mr. Smith,
"Thank you, esteemed mentors, thank you!" she cried. "Allow me to say more. I hail from a rural village without professional training. Earning your approval is immensely difficult, especially as an underestimated student. My relatives and friends all dismissed my dream as impractical."Backstage, Evan stood arms folded before the monitor, observing the scene. Sean stood ramrod straight behind him. "Mr. Smith, I'll have post-production edit that segment out.""Edit what? You want to cut poignant background?" Evan turned, gazing contemplatively at the flame tattoo on his wrist. "Leave that part unedited. Complete recording posthaste, and leave post-production to me. Also, notify Adam to prepare broadcasting across all platforms once I finish.""Our partners need their advertising revenue too. I intend to make our show a nationwide Elysian phenomenon, forcing those obstructing Splendid Music to beg us for broadcast rights!""Understood, Mr. Smith." Sean responded, frequently glancing a
"Nonsense—you'll accept my gift!" Evan tapped his phone, ordering 400 cases of chips from Amazon before pocketing it. "Let's see, you number twenty individuals, so four hundred cases—twenty per person. Those with children may bring some to school; those with friends can host chip parties. You're even privileged to consume them at the office.""...Twenty bags? I could inhale fifty in an hour as a lad," Sean mumbled under his breath.The grumbling recommenced from the peanut gallery: "Just twenty bags? Not enough!""Oy, the boss is a tightwad, eh?""Be grateful for any reward—if it's not enough, buy more yourself!"Amid the din, Evan's phone rang—the chip vendor calling to confirm the daunting four-hundred case order, needing to transfer inventory and delaying shipment until the following day."Certainly, no problem with the delay!"That call brought the full magnitude crashing home for Sean's cohorts, who gawked at Evan in stunned disbelief."You can't mean actual case sizes?" "Twent
As the shows commenced broadcasting, Adam and Sean huddled with senior staff around Tiktoc's backend databases, unblinkingly fixated on the dense data streams flooding the massive screens, palms damp with nervous sweat.Likewise, moguls from rival networks, Elysian entertainment companies, and prominent streaming platforms monitored their respective metrics with hawkish intensity—the pivotal battle was joined.Ratings for the network premieres surged rapidly, their executives' lips curling into mocking sneers. "Hah, Lumina City TV's measly 0.71% share pales compared to our 1.02%, 1.13%, 1.19%!""Splendid Music has become the industry's laughingstock, derided by networks, studios, and streamers alike!""Did you not realize partnering with that paltry local station was a grave misstep? The data speaks—look at your dismal numbers versus our soaring viewership!""Even with Tiktoc and YouClub's backing, the so-called Elysian livestream leaders offer no advantage. How richly ironic!"Amid
The bewildered Sean could only gape, dumbfounded—mere minutes earlier, the National Talent Show's viewership had begun skyrocketing at a dizzying pace none foresaw. Yet in this fleeting span, the numbers had achieved the inconceivable peak of 32.12%—a mind-boggling increase of several dozen times over!Good heavens!Such an unprecedented meteoric ascent in entertainment history strained credulity, leaving Adam and Sean understandably thunderstruck by this paradoxical phenomenon.It must be understood that the large screen in front displayed the viewing ratings of Lumina City Television, not just their Tiktoc live stream views! A local TV station achieving a staggering 32.12% viewership rating - what did that signify?It meant that one-third of the entire city was watching "National Talent Show" at that very moment!And more were continuously tuning in to join the audience for their program!This was a mere local television station! Its current rating had surpassed every channel acro
Within Lumina City Television's executive office, Tyler Knight wore a wry, almost rueful smile. His fortunes had dramatically reversed - thanks to the Tiktoc and Splendid Music collaborations, his station's influence skyrocketed. Continuing on this trajectory, challenging Music Television for entertainment programming dominance seemed plausible.Yet that very success bred his current vexation. With "National Talent Show's" immense popularity, a deluge of celebrities defied their parent companies' restraints, all clamoring to appear on the program. His phone rang incessantly.Those stars who previously brushed him off now pleaded earnestly, some even willing to forgo payment to simply participate in "National Talent Show."Sponsors too inundated him with calls, offering exorbitant sums just to air a brief advertisement during the show.While tempted, Tyler dared not act unilaterally.His entire career was owed to that youth wearing a bucket hat emblazoned with a flaming wrist tattoo -
Sean muttered, "With you around, Mr. Smith, even a zero-rated TV station could soar. Hardly surprising!""Enough digression!" Evan's smile warmed. "Help me schedule meetings with Bella and Ava. Tell them Tiktoc's behind-the-scenes mastermind wishes to meet them - the one who filmed their movies and wrote their songs is finally unveiling himself!""Huh?" Sean startled, quickly regaining composure as he blinked inquiringly, "Then, Mr. Smith, shall I also arrange the lovely hosts?""..." Evan nearly slapped him again. "No need!"Five o'clock in the afternoon.Tiktoc Headquarters, Evan's expansive office.This was the predetermined time and place Evan arranged to meet Bella and Ava."Clack, clack, clack."Echoing through the vacant Tiktoc lobby were the crisp clicks of high heels as two statuesque young women strode briskly forward.One, willowy with flowing tresses framing an exquisite visage, emanated an aura of enigmatic charm. The other, slightly taller, exuded a softer warmth, her d