Lord of Entertainment

Chapter 147: Desired Product

(3rd Person POV)

One week into Hellfire channel's launch, viewers noticed longer commercial breaks - featuring Rook Automobiles, Waves electronics, cosmetics, and a new fashion brand called "Pendragon."

Arthur had launched Pendragon fashion using designs from his previous life, adapting iconic styles from luxury brands he once knew.

The commercials showcased everything from Hellfire films on VHS to branded merchandise.

James Blaze's band, Nirvana, even sold shirts featuring their distinctive yellow smiley face logo.

These TV advertisements proved remarkably effective, reaching households throughout Horn Kingdom.

The channel's reach extended beyond color TV owners - even older black-and-white sets could receive Hellfire's signal, dramatically expanding their audience.

Yet most businesses and media outlets remained skeptical, dismissing TV advertising as foolish.

Still, some smaller enterprises were willing to gamble on commercial slots, even if they could only afford a few seconds of airtime.

Neil, who owned several restaurants, represented these risk-takers. Unable to afford the premium rates newspapers commanded due to overwhelming advertiser demand, he invested thousands in daily Hellfire channel spots.

"This seems reckless, Neil. We shouldn't trust Finance Times blindly. Their claims about TV advertising effectiveness seem exaggerated," Larry, his business partner, protested.

"Growth requires calculated risks," Neil countered. "Haven't you noticed how engaged people are with TV content? I think we're looking at a genuine opportunity."

Larry sighed, still doubtful but choosing to trust his partner's instincts.

"Look, our commercial is playing!" Neil's wife called from inside the restaurant. Neil and Larry rushed in.

They watched their brief advertisement for "Lamb's Blood Restaurant" - featuring Neil taking a bite of beef and exclaiming, "Tastes good!"

{Visit Lamb's Blood Restaurant today!}

The screen switched to another commercial.

"Well, there it was - our first TV advertisement," Larry muttered, already regretting their investment.

A few seconds of airtime seemed painfully brief. If this failed, they'd thrown away good money.

"Have faith, Larry. Our advertisement will play multiple times throughout the day. People will notice us," Neil assured him, his optimism unwavering.

The first day brought a modest increase in customers.

Neil's excitement grew, while Larry remained skeptical - they hadn't yet recovered their advertising costs.

But as days passed, the customer surge became impossible to ignore.

Several menu items ran out as crowds filled their restaurants.

Larry stared at their profit sheets in amazement. The returns after just days of TV advertising left him speechless.

"The commercial worked beyond our wildest expectations!" Neil beamed.

Larry could only nod, realizing how severely he'd underestimated television's impact.

"Let's check on the main restaurant," Larry suggested. Neil agreed eagerly.

They drove to their flagship location, finding a crowd before they even entered.

Inside, customers pointed at Neil with recognition. "Hey, isn't that the guy from TV?"

"Yeah, the one enjoying the beef in the commercial!"

Unexpectedly, Neil had become a minor celebrity among their patrons.

Neil finished chatting with patrons before inspecting the restaurant with Larry. Outside, they continued their discussion.

"We need to secure more commercial slots!" Neil declared.

Larry hesitated. "Haven't we achieved enough? Maybe we should focus on expansion instead of more advertising..."

Neil shook his head firmly. "Don't you see, Larry? People recognizing me from TV proves its marketing reach. If we stop advertising now, our competitors will take those slots and capture viewers' attention with their own restaurants!"

Understanding dawned in Larry's eyes. "So you're saying... if we prioritize expansion over TV presence, competitors could steal our momentum by becoming the new faces on screen?"

"Exactly," Neil nodded. "Expansion is crucial, but what good are new locations if we can't effectively promote them? We need both."

Larry nodded, finally grasping the strategy.

***

Two weeks after Hellfire's launch, businesses could no longer ignore television's impact.

Companies advertising on TV consistently showed increased visibility and sales.

The rush began - restaurants, electronics manufacturers, fashion brands, all scrambling for commercial slots.

As demand soared, Hellfire raised their rates. Even a few seconds of airtime now cost more than premium newspaper advertising.

Yet businesses kept coming. The commercial breaks during telenovelas expanded from fifty seconds to two minutes, with further increases likely as more companies sought exposure.

The feeding frenzy had begun, and early adopters like Neil were proving prophetic about television's advertising potential.

Arthur had instituted a bidding system for commercial spots, driving prices even higher.

Those precious seconds of airtime had become corporate gold. Businesses that once sneered at TV advertising now kicked themselves for missing the chance to secure slots at their initial bargain rates.

As competing brands flooded Hellfire channel with advertisements, Arthur spotted another opportunity. Through Finance Times, he promoted a new edge in the advertising war.

Hellfire Studio would now produce advertisements for clients - offering their production expertise and, crucially, their telenovela stars to companies wanting to outshine competitors.

At Rook Automobile Headquarters, Ivan addressed his executives.

"We've all witnessed television advertising's effectiveness," Ivan stated. "We profited by acting while others underestimated it. But the landscape has shifted."

Another executive nodded grimly. "Our competitors have caught on and secured their own slots. Viewers now have choices, which could significantly impact our market share."

"Abandoning TV advertising isn't an option - our rivals would leap ahead," the Marketing Director added.

Ivan smiled. "I have a strategy to maintain our edge."

The executives leaned forward, intrigued.

"Yesterday's Finance Times revealed an opportunity - Hellfire Studio now offers professional advertisement production services," Ivan explained. "Better yet, we can contract their telenovela stars for our commercials. This combination would distinguish our brand from competitors."

"But chairman," an executive ventured, "Hellfire Studio's services and actor contracts must command premium rates."

Ivan chuckled. "Business requires calculated risks. We gambled on TV advertising initially - look how that paid off." He leaned forward. "This is our path to standing out."

***

Days later, various automobile brands launched their TV campaigns, each seeing modest sales increases.

But Rook Automobile dominated the market - their commercial featuring Kassandra's actress resonated with viewers.

Their tagline, "Like destiny itself, some choices shape your future forever," perfectly captured both the telenovela's dramatic essence and car-buying's significance.

Kassandra's devoted fanbase immediately took notice.

Rook's sales soared past competitors, their strategic advantage clear - exclusive rights to Kassandra's actress and Hellfire Studio's premium production values.

Meanwhile, TV advertising consistently outperformed newspaper placements - causing newspaper ad rates to plummet.

Yet media moguls stubbornly maintained inflated prices for print advertising space, accelerating their own decline.

As 1272 drew to a close, Horn Kingdom had witnessed a transformation.

Television, once dismissed as a passing fad, had become the kingdom's most coveted product. Just two weeks before Hellfire channel's launch, citizens saw no value in TV ownership. Now everything had changed.

Hellfire channel had changed entertainment and advertising alike. Television had evolved from luxury to necessity in the public's eyes.

Television ownership had become a source of neighborhood status. Housewives without TVs envied those who could watch telenovelas daily.

This dynamic played out across Horn Kingdom's neighborhoods - families with TVs found themselves the object of widespread envy.

Children with TV-owning friends became regular visitors, while those less fortunate resorted to watching through neighbors' windows.

In the mere two weeks since Hellfire's launch, new social patterns emerged. Children and young adults without TVs gathered at friends' homes or peered through windows to catch glimpses of telenovelas.

Some homeowners, annoyed by these window-watchers, deliberately closed their curtains.

"One day, we'll have our own TV..." became a common refrain among those cursing their less generous neighbors.

***

HOLLOW celebrated this cultural shift as both color and black-and-white TV sales surged.

The company prepared for expansion, planning distribution across Morningstar, Thorn Kingdom, Japon, Choson, Empirica, Deutschland, and Moonlight Kingdom.

Arthur's vision extended beyond mere device sales. He planned to expand Hellfire channel throughout Anatolia.

Beyond Horn Kingdom, he targeted Morningstar, Thorn, Japon, Choson, and the South East Anatolia nations.

The "Hellfire Got Talent" studio construction had finished, occupying a dedicated section of the VFX facility.

Even if the competition copied his moves, launched their own TV channels, and produced telenovelas to ensure high ratings, Arthur will secure his dominance with Hellfire Got Talent, solidifying his hold on the TV landscape.

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