At the venue.
In a side hall on the first floor.
Wang Xiong, Zhang Ye and company dodged the encirclement of the reporters. After showing their work passes to the SARFT staff, they were allowed to enter. Inside, a few of the television station's staff and hosts, who had been taken off the air, had already arrived. At the podium, Zhang Ye immediately saw the beer-bellied Li Tao and a few other Shanghai SARFT civil servants, who had come to his company to announce that they were handling some documents.
Li Tao was directing.
"Check the microphone."
"Director Li, there's no problem."
"The press conference will last for half an hour. It will be broadcast live on a local Shanghai station. This is also the final closing segment for us to catch the role model. It is of utmost importance, so don't make any mistakes. If not, no matter how well you did at the beginning, if there's a problem at the end, it will still be unacceptable!"
"We understand."
"Don't worry, Director Li."
After Li Tao said that, he looked at Zhang Ye and company in the distance and ignored them. He then found a SARFT staff member who was presiding over the meeting, "Little Zheng, when you host later, when it's Weiwo Video and Dongchu Video's turn, you can allow the reporters to ask questions. There's no need for the others to do their self-reflection. This is to save time.
Little Zheng was stunned, "Yes, Leader."
Li Tao nodded and left in satisfaction.
Little Zheng did not ask any superfluous questions, because he already had an idea. Dongchu Video? This was a new WebTV company that had just been established this year. Back then, there was a rumor in the station that this company was a bit "uncooperative". They did not use their connections or gifts to get through the various stages of the SARFT. As a result, the Shanghai SARFT deliberately did not approve it for several months. Finally, Dongchu Video probably wanted to compete with them, so they directly submitted the application materials to the SARFT before it was approved. Little Zheng thought that Director Li was definitely trying to knock them down a peg. As for Weiwo Video? Little Zheng was not sure of the situation, but he was certain that they had offended Director Li Tao. It could be due to benefits or other things, but it was not something that someone at Little Zheng's level could understand. Anyway, he just had to carry out the Leader's orders.
… …
Zhang Ye did not know about the conversation over there. He had bumped into a few hosts. Everyone knew each other, and might have watched each other's programs before. However, they did not know each other, nor had they met before. Now, they could be considered to be in the same boat, so their relationship was naturally closer.
"Teacher Zhang Ye?"
"Teacher Zhou Hao."
"Teacher Chen, you're here too?"
The few of them stood together and spoke, but their tones were filled with sighs.
The host, Zhou Hao, said in a low voice, "What do you guys think is going on? The program was perfectly fine, and it was done according to the rules, but it was stopped just like that."
Teacher Chen looked at him, "Did you offend someone?"
Zhou Hao was silent. "Sigh, don't mention it."
Teacher Chen said angrily, "I'm the one who's been wronged the most. I'm a f * * king host of a children's online program, yet I've been stopped by them. Aren't they forcing me into a corner?"
Another host said, "When your Dongchu Video applied for the WebTV license, didn't you have some friction with the Shanghai SARFT? They are using the crackdown as an opportunity to settle scores."
They didn't dare to say these words to others, but they were comrades in distress in the same trench, so there was nothing they couldn't say. Even if they didn't say it, everyone was clear in their hearts.
Zhou Hao said angrily, "The programs that should have been stopped were not stopped, but a bunch of programs that shouldn't have been stopped. Teacher Zhang Ye must be feeling aggrieved, right? I've watched your program, and it's really good. There are a lot of pirated versions of your program, but in the end? Those programs were fine, but they were stopped because of you! "
Zhang Ye asked, "Why didn't they stop those Talk Shows?"
Teacher Chen sighed, "It's just hearsay, but it might not be true. It's said that the two WebTV stations that pirated your program have a good relationship with the person-in-charge of the crackdown, Li Tao. It seems like they used his connections when they applied for the WebTV license. As a matter of fact, the Shanghai SARFT's team has been reshuffling recently. I heard that Li Tao is almost certain to be promoted, so his words are getting louder and louder in Shanghai. Whatever he says goes. Our company had previously asked a few other Shanghai SARFT Leaders, but it didn't work. Well, don't tell others about this. Just the few of us will know. Sigh, anyway, this is how the world works! "
Another host was female. She said, "Have you prepared the self-reflection letter?"
"What's there to prepare?" Teacher Chen said, "Just a few words will do. We're all broadcasting hosts, how can we not have this bit of skill?"
Zhou Hao said angrily, "I really don't f * * king want to go up!"
"What do we do if we don't go up?" Teacher Chen said, "We've already spoken to Li Tao. If we go against him, how are we going to work in Shanghai in the future? As long as we are in this industry, we will be led by them. "
Zhou Hao said, "But my program has no problems at all! It has been broadcasting for half a year! Why didn't they say anything wrong when they reviewed it? Why didn't they let us rectify it? "
Teacher Chen looked at him, "A children's program like mine was banned. The reason for stopping it was because it spread harmful information to youths. You can go ahead and be happy."
Through the exchanges with everyone, Zhang Ye understood more and more clearly. Although it was said to be a crackdown, or to catch a good example, it was actually Li Tao eliminating dissidents to fight for his own interests! Li Tao did not care whether their program was up to standard or not. He was only concerned about whether this matter was beneficial to him. Clearly, Zhang Ye and the other hosts present were the targets of Li Tao's abandonment and use as bargaining chips!
Suddenly, the reporters swarmed in. All of them came in!
The SARFT arranged for everyone to take their seats. Zhang Ye and company also sat down.
Five minutes later.
The SARFT's Little Zheng sat on the podium and announced, "Next, the press conference will officially begin. Let's invite Director Li Tao to announce the results of the recent programs that violated the rules."
Li Tao went on stage in high spirits, "Good day to all our friends from the media."
Then, he announced the programs that had been stopped. "Online Bikini Awards", "Zhang Ye's Talk Show" …
The cameras had been turned on and the live broadcast had begun. Many of the viewers who were concerned about the large-scale ban of television programs were waiting in front of their televisions. Some people could not receive the signal from a small local station like Shanghai, so they watched it on the Internet. There was also a live broadcast on the Internet, but it was delayed by about ten seconds.
Offstage.
Wang Xiong turned his head, "Have you thought of what to say?"
"Yes, I have." Zhang Ye nodded.
Wang Xiong patted him, "It has been hard on you, but … there's no other way."
In their eyes, the SARFT was like a knife hanging over their heads. The decision to deal with it had already been made, so they did not dare to disobey.
The announcement was over.
Li Tao did not continue hosting, but went off stage to sit in the first row. He crossed his shoulders and watched.
Little Zheng took over the microphone and began the next step, which was the reporters' questions and the related personnel's self-criticism.
The first to come on stage was Teacher Zhou Hao and a middle-aged man. The person who spoke was the middle-aged man. He was the executive producer of the program that had been stopped, "As a public television media, we should have the obligation to …" He said a bunch of things before finally saying, "Here, I represent the program team and our WebTV to apologize to the public."
Li Tao smiled and nodded in satisfaction.
The second to come on stage was Teacher Chen and a few people from his program team.
But just as Teacher Chen was about to speak, the SARFT's Little Zheng, who was in charge of hosting the press conference, said to the reporters, "Now, everyone can ask any questions."
The reporters' mouths were sharp. Upon hearing this, they began bombarding him!
"Teacher Chen, why did you say something about these children's programs that violated the rules?"
"Children's programs are the most important part of children's education. Some unhealthy information will have a great psychological impact on children, or even cause them to be traumatized. What do you have to say?"
More than a dozen questions were asked!
Teacher Chen's expression turned uglier and uglier. He was about to flip out from the scolding, but after being reminded by a colleague from the program team, he endured it. "I apologize. I'm sorry." Saying that, he bowed slightly, but his eyes were filled with humiliation and resentment! He was just an ordinary children's program. Just because Little Bunny's sister had been eaten by a bear, he was accused of spreading unhealthy information? Teacher Chen had worked for more than ten years, but he had never suffered such injustice. Furthermore, he had to lower his head and apologize in front of everyone! He had admitted to mistakes that were not wrong!
Why?
It was because the other party was the SARFT!
Teacher Chen and the other broadcast hosts did not dare to say a word, nor could they say anything. All they could do was do whatever Li Tao wanted them to do. There was no room for negotiation. If they said a word of dissent, it would not only be the program being banned, but they themselves would be banned from the Shanghai entertainment circle. Even if they jumped jobs outside of Shanghai and avoided the Shanghai SARFT, as long as Li Tao was around, they would not have an easy time. The other SARFT were in cahoots with them, so how could Li Tao not have any relations with them?
Next, a female host went on stage. She looked about the same age as Zhang Ye. She was probably a recent university graduate. After saying her apology, she saw the reporters taking pictures of her. Seeing Li Tao's smile, the female host's tears of grievance rolled down her cheeks!
She was crying!
She could not take it anymore!
Wang Xiong turned his head away and did not look. His fists were clenched tightly. The other hosts, who shared the same hatred, also clenched their teeth. This bunch of SARFT people were too much of a bully!
When the reporters saw the female host crying, they looked at each other and wiped away the various expressions on their faces. They sighed in their hearts. To be honest, they also knew that a large number of the programs of the hosts present did not have any major problems. In Shanghai, there were many programs that were more problematic than them. But in the end, the other programs that violated the rules were fine, while they were used as a model!
What could they do?
This was the entertainment circle!
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
