America 1982-Chapter 378 - 40: He’s Dead?!_2

"If a criminal is wearing protection akin to a bulletproof vest, how can we deter him with a handgun?" This was the topical introduction in the first episode of All-Around Gun Modding King, set by the host at the start of the program.

In just one sentence, the point was concise and to the point, but absolutely practical—falling just short of directly telling the eager viewers how to handle police in bulletproof vests with a handgun when they come looking for trouble.

Moreover, the latest issue of the American TV Observation magazine published an article by TV critic David Vanni, which featured a review of FOX Television. In it, a particular section deliberately mentioned the newly launched BT Television:

"Regardless of political leanings or program style, FOX Television keeps to conservative critiques within the industry. It sets itself apart from the three major networks, striving to attract young viewers with vulgarity, excitement, and personality. It attempts to label itself as anti-traditional among the youth audience, and everyone knows that our country’s youth flock to anything anti-traditional. What’s condemned, they will support; what’s forbidden, they will try."

"FOX has realized that capturing the attention of the youth secures them the key to viewership. Although most of their ratings temporarily lag behind the three major networks, everyone believes it’s only a matter of time before FOX becomes the fourth major network in America by harnessing this key."

"Because the three major networks cannot possibly abandon their own style and audience to blindly block FOX, they continue to talk tough, criticizing FOX at industry meetings, but fail to make a real dent in FOX’s ratings."

"It wasn’t until I saw a recorded program from the new BT Television network before finalizing my article that I found something noteworthy. From its name alone, it informs us that its primary audience is the Black community. First and foremost, I want to state my opinion that it’s only a matter of time before this network folds due to significant issues in its management and business operations, which are not the focus of this review. However, if it can survive for a while, it is very likely to greatly delay FOX’s rise as the fourth major network. A large portion of its audience overlaps with FOX, which makes it a true threat. Moreover, the method BT Television uses to further segment its audience also provides a new competitive landscape for the three major networks to consider, namely, the piecemeal dismantling of FOX’s viewership."

"In my view, what’s smarter about BT Television is that viewers can’t legally criticize its programs as vulgar. It doesn’t receive weekly fines from the FCC like FOX does, but the content feels even more stimulating than FOX’s programming to me."

"If you say that NBC’s style is flashy and gentle, CBS’s style is traditional and profound, ABC’s style is playful and innovative, and FOX’s style is vulgar and spicy, then the newly launched and doomed-to-be-fleeting BT Television’s style can be labeled as sharp and shameless."

"Having a shameless competitor in the industry isn’t a bad thing for the three major networks. At least, when they are currently helpless against FOX, it’s definitely not."

Tommy sat in the backseat of the car, listening to Earl Rash excitedly relay the news he had collected about BT Television over the phone.

Earl Rash had good reason to be excited. Although he knew that he was just passing through BT Television, if it ever did grow, more professional individuals would sooner or later replace him to manage it. As a Black CEO, he was there because of his identity and connections, to manage things for Tommy in the initial phase until someone could take over. Later, he would continue his journey as a politician, but then, he would have the powerful platform of BT Television at his back.

"So, when do you plan to acquire several big-city stations to serve as your flagship channels?" After discussing the external views on BT, Earl asked Tommy, "Some magazines have called for interviews and have also brought up this question."

But the answer Tommy gave the next second left Earl Rash dumbfounded:

"BT Television has no plans to acquire or establish its own regional flagship stations within the next two years."

"Have you lost your mind?" Earl Rash asked in disbelief.

Just because BT Television managed to gather over a hundred affiliate stations to form what’s called the BT network doesn’t mean it’s truly a network. At best, it’s a loosely associated alliance. Even someone who isn’t an industry insider like Earl understands that if you want to solidify the structure of a network, BT Television has to own at least five to six flagship stations in major cities.

The purpose of these five or six flagship stations would be to ensure that even if other affiliate stations in the area breach their contract and cease cooperation, BT Television could still guarantee a certain viewership in the local market and prevent being completely ousted from the area.

The three major networks and FOX all operate this way, and they don’t just fully own a few flagship stations; they also hold shares in several high-rating stations, appointing their own professionals to manage and operate them. Only after these layers do they have affiliate stations as the base.

If Tommy does not follow this model and fully acquire a few large stations as flagships, and if he doesn’t own and manage a dozen stations, relying solely on the current hundred-plus affiliates, just as the review said, it’s a certain road to ruin.

Firstly, BT Television would have no clear picture of the advertising revenue situation at the various affiliate stations, and might not even notice when they breach contract—for instance, if a station airs BT’s proprietary programming but sneaks in its own ads during that time, or if they have under-the-table contracts with local advertisers to bypass BT’s revenue-sharing. Say BT knows the station is charging $100,000 for ads, but the station has a separate million-dollar deal with advertisers, and if BT doesn’t catch on, they’d only receive a cut based on the $100,000 while the affiliate pockets the rest. Having a stake in local stations means a clear understanding of the local advertising market, and affiliates wouldn’t dare engage in such underhanded dealings.