Noon.
Central TV Department 1's official Weibo released an update.
The content was roughly as follows: Central TV Department 1 will be spending 80 million RMB to create a new television program. Estimated broadcast time: Tentative. Production team: The original team of The Voice. Executive producer: Zhang Ye. Executive director: Zhang Ye. Host: Zhang Ye. Broadcast schedule: Friday primetime slot.
When the news was released, it immediately caused a stir online.
"That's great!"
"Hahaha, Zhang Ye's new show is coming soon!"
"80 million? That's quite a lot! "
"It's more than quite a lot? This amount of money is enough to make a movie, and it's even going to be a blockbuster. If it were a movie with an average budget, it would be enough to make at least three or four movies! Who would dare to disregard the cost and spend so much money on a mere television program? Looking at the entire country, only Zhang Ye has this kind of appeal. Besides, did you guys notice? The Voice was not broadcast at a primetime slot, but at a normal time slot. But Zhang Ye's new show has already been confirmed to be broadcast on Friday primetime. I'm really looking forward to seeing how high the viewership ratings will be this time and whether Teacher Zhang can continue to write his legend! "
"Right, The Voice is only a Thursday night show, but it can still take the top spot in the country in viewership ratings. If it's switched to a primetime slot, it will definitely go up another level. Back then, Central TV Department 1 was too conservative with Zhang Ye and gave him a Thursday slot. Otherwise, if The Voice was broadcast on a Friday or Saturday, the viewership ratings would definitely be higher!"
"I'm looking forward to it!"
"Let's see what new tricks Zhang Ye can come up with this time!"
"This is the most exciting news I've heard today. Teacher Zhang, you can do it! I've always liked you very much!"
"Is there any concrete news?"
"What kind of genre is the new show going to be? Why aren't you revealing it? "
"I can't wait any longer!"
"I'm looking forward to 'The Good Tongue of China' showing its might again!"
"It's smashing cars and solving a case for relatives. Teacher Zhang, it's time for you to get back to work!"
There was a heated discussion on the Internet. Central TV Department 1's new program had already entered the early stages of building momentum!
...
At Central TV.
At the TV Tower cafeteria.
While Zhang Ye was getting his food, someone chatted with him.
A TV producer said, "Director Zhang, I heard that 80 million RMB was allocated for your new show?"
"It's not in yet." Zhang Ye laughed.
Beside him, a female director from another program team said, "You're now a very popular person at Central TV Department 1. Back then, when we applied for a 20 million RMB investment for our show, it was still not approved even after a whole month. In the end, it was slashed to 15 million RMB. Hai, comparisons are odious."
Zhang Ye said in amusement, "Director Chu, don't make fun of me. I heard that the various copyrights of your show have been sold for tens of millions of RMB. According to the ratio, your earnings are much higher than The Voice."
"That's enough." The female director said, "Your copyrights to The Voice will definitely sell even more."
Behind him, a middle-aged man smiled and said, "I heard that the Americans have already come to discuss the overseas copyright for The Voice. They should have already contacted Central TV."
"Is that so?" Zhang Ye did not know.
The middle-aged man said, "I only heard about it. I don't know the specifics."
The female director surnamed Chu said, "Director Zhang's contract is different from the other hosts'. He's bringing the show with him, right? He owns the copyright. "
"I only have the overseas copyright. I don't have anything else," Zhang Ye explained.
The female director said, "That's more than enough. If the negotiations really go through, you'll earn at least 10 million RMB. And that's just a low estimate. When the time comes, you can treat us to a meal."
Zhang Ye smiled. "There's no sign of that."
He had been working at Central TV for three months now. During this period, Zhang Ye had gotten to know quite a few people, but they were just acquaintances. When they met, they would chat for a while, but there weren't any who were on particularly good terms with him. Since they did not interact much with each other, Zhang Ye did not talk about certain things in detail with them. He just kept to the point and did not talk too much about it. After all, they were not that close yet.
After the meal.
Zhang Ye took the elevator. Instead of returning to his office, he went straight to Jiang Yuan's place. Jiang Yuan had told him in the morning that he had something to attend to in the afternoon.
He knocked on the door.
"Come in." It was Jiang Yuan's voice from inside.
Zhang Ye went in. "Director Jiang."
Jiang Yuan said in a pleasant manner, "You're here? Have a seat. "
Zhang Ye did not stand on ceremony and sat down. "Is it about the show?"
"More or less." Jiang Yuan went over and poured him a glass of water from the water dispenser. "I called you over because I wanted to discuss your contract with you."
"Contract?" Zhang Ye's heart skipped a beat. He played dumb and asked, "What contract?"
Jiang Yuan said, "I won't hide it from you. The contract that we discussed previously has been discussed many times by the higher-ups. They feel that it is not in line with the rules."
Zhang Ye's eyebrows twitched. "Director Jiang, about the contract, we've already —"
"Let me finish first." Jiang Yuan interrupted, "I also know that the previous contract was discussed by both of us. But there are still a lot of clauses that can't stand up to scrutiny and are not perfect. For example, the overseas copyright that you want. There has never been a precedent for this at Central TV, nor have any other television stations."
Zhang Ye's contract was indeed different from the others. Be it other hosts or program planners, as long as they signed a labor contract with the television station, they would not be entitled to the copyright of the work that was created during their employment. At most, they would be given a cash bonus based on their performance or included in their year-end bonus, but they would not be given any remuneration for selling the copyright to their employees. But Zhang Ye was different. He had already negotiated the contract beforehand. He did not want any bonuses or joining fees, but in exchange for the overseas copyright of his work. This was the only overseas copyright that he had, so it could be said that he was bringing the show to Central TV Department 1.
What was the meaning of this now?
Was he trying to break the contract? Did I hear wrongly?
Zhang Ye's tone turned a little bad. "What do you mean by this?"
Jiang Yuan looked at him and said, "The higher-ups have decided that we might have to renegotiate your contract. Don't worry, we're not targeting you, we're just trying to clarify the terms of the contract. Don't worry, we just want to change the terms of the copyrights. The copyrights for the creations within the scope of your duties will all belong to Central TV Department 1, that's all. Other than that, the contract will also add a very high bonus for you. Your bonus will be directly linked to the viewership ratings and title sponsorship fees. I believe that with your standards, your monthly bonus will definitely be quite a sum. So actually, we'll just compensate you with a bonus for the overseas copyrights. It's the same."
Zhang Ye smiled. "Then I'd like to ask, how much is the bonus?"
"The previous contract did not mention the bonus, so it was actually disadvantageous to you. That's because the overseas copyright is not easy to sell. In the entire domestic variety industry, how many copyrights have been sold? Almost none. But now that we've renegotiated the contract for you, regardless of whether the copyrights are sold or not, you'll still get a bonus. With your show's viewership ratings, you'll get at least 200,000 yuan a month, maybe even more, "Jiang Yuan said.
Zhang Ye couldn't help but laugh. "I understand what you're trying to say. It's not starting from the next show, but from The Voice onwards, so the contract will have to be renegotiated?"
Jiang Yuan nodded. "Think about it first."
Zhang Ye directly said, "I don't need to think about it. It definitely won't work."
Just now, at the canteen, someone had mentioned that the Americans had already come to discuss the overseas copyright of The Voice. Zhang Ye was still doubtful about it, but now, he did not doubt it at all. Central TV Department 1 must have already contacted the foreigners and probably already discussed a rough price. But because of the contract with Zhang Ye, Central TV Department 1 did not have the rights to dispose of the overseas copyright of The Voice, so they could only come to discuss it with Zhang Ye.
Exchange the copyright for a bonus?
A monthly bonus of 200,000 yuan?
Are you trying to fool an idiot! If the overseas copyright was sold, it would be worth at least tens of millions of yuan! A monthly bonus of 200,000 yuan was even linked to the viewership ratings? If the viewership ratings were a little worse, the bonus would be reduced too? Do you think I'm a three-year-old who doesn't know how to count??
Jiang Yuan frowned and said, "Little Zhang, the reason why The Voice was able to become a new force to be reckoned with is not only because of your concept and hosting, but also because of Central TV Department 1's large platform. It could even be said to have played a decisive role. Without this platform, The Voice would not have become so popular. This is not your credit alone. If you insist on holding on to a dispensable copyright, don't you think you're being a little too unreasonable?"
Zhang Ye narrowed his eyes and said, "Director Jiang, first of all, I'll mention this contract at the very beginning. When you were talking to me about joining Central TV Department 1, I did not raise any conditions except for the copyright. There was no joining fee, no bonus, and only a basic salary of about 8,000 RMB a month as a host. I worked so hard to come up with the show, came up with the idea, and the production budget was all pulled in by myself. The title sponsorship fees were also obtained by me through my connections with my friends. In the end, I did not even want the online copyright and sold it all to Central TV Department 1. What else do you want me to be so particular about??"
"You have to put yourself in my shoes …" Jiang Yuan enlightened.
Zhang Ye retorted, "I'm not the one who should put myself in your shoes. I can put it this way. If you had not agreed to let me keep the copyright to my show when you asked me to join, it wouldn't have been a problem. We could have parted ways amicably and I wouldn't have joined you. But now that the contract has been negotiated and signed, I'm here, the show is done, and the copyright is about to be sold, you're telling me that the original contract is no longer valid? You even want the overseas copyright fees? All of the money has to be taken away by you? Going back on your word? Turning your back on me? Is that reasonable? Let me ask you. I'm not an unreasonable person, nor am I demanding an exorbitant price. Didn't you just say how many domestic variety shows have sold their copyright overseas? Almost none. I'm only keeping a dispensable copyright, so how is that not being reasonable? What else do you want me to do? I have to do the show well and the viewership ratings have to be good. I also have to control myself and not take too much money. Is that what you call being reasonable? That's not being reasonable, that's being stupid! "
Hearing his impolite words, Jiang Yuan's tone hardened. "Little Zhang, I suggest that you consider this carefully."
"I shouldn't be the one to consider this matter, nor am I obligated to consider it!" Zhang Ye said, "A contract is a contract. We'll go according to the contract. In a year's time, the contract will be fulfilled. If you want to renegotiate the contract, we can talk about it then. Right now, I have no reason to renegotiate the contract!"
Jiang Yuan said, "Think about it again."
"The ones who should be thinking about it are you all." This was Zhang Ye's temper. If someone treated him well, he would say anything. But if someone tried to find fault with him, he would dare to say anything. "How much money has The Voice earned for Central TV Department 1, and how much fame and glory it has brought to us, I'm sure you all know that even without me saying it. Besides, ever since I joined Central TV Department 1, you can ask anyone if I've done my best? Now that you're doing this to me, it's really too disappointing. Let me tell you clearly, the contract is written in black and white. It will not be renegotiated. If the foreigners want to discuss the overseas copyright for The Voice, I will negotiate with them. You don't have to worry about it! "
Standing up, Zhang Ye walked out.
Jiang Yuan was so angry that his face had turned pale. He said to him, "Don't forget that you still have a one-year contract with Central TV Department 1. Of all the things we lack here, we don't lack hosts!"
"What a coincidence." Zhang Ye stopped and turned around. "I can teach, do crosstalk, make music, make movies, and write books. I don't lack hosting either!"
At the door.
Two employees happened to pass by. When they saw Zhang Ye opening the door and Jiang Yuan arguing in the office, the two of them looked at each other and were stunned!
What was going on?
Why was Zhang Ye arguing with someone again??
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