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.
Here's another chapter since you all humored to my complaints! By the way, here's my P@treon link: p@treon.com/NewComer714 (replace the '@' with 'a').
(3rd Person POV)
Television's unstoppable rise in Horn Kingdom left media moguls like Ryder Cage deeply unsettled.
As Horns Times owner, Ryder called an emergency meeting with his editorial board. The newspaper executives shifted nervously in their seats.
"Boss, revenue is plummeting. Other publishers report similar problems - advertising clients are jumping ship, and subscription numbers keep dropping," the editor-in-chief reported grimly.
Ryder's teeth clenched. "Has our negative coverage of television made any impact?"
Silence fell as the editor-in-chief shook his head.
Their discussion halted when a panicked employee burst into the conference room.
"Can't you see we're in a meeting?!" Ryder snapped, his recent stress showing.
The employee bowed apologetically, words tumbling out. "Forgive me, Boss Ryder, but... Hellfire channel just launched their own news segment!"
"What?!" The room erupted in shock.
"Yes sir! They're calling it 'Hellfire News at Noon,' and commercials announce 'Hellfire News at Evening' starting soon!"
Ryder and his team rushed to the lobby, where their recently purchased TV showed "Hellfire News" in progress. A poised succubus demon faced the camera.
"Good afternoon, I'm Alissa Dark, welcoming you to Hellfire News, bringing the kingdom's stories directly to your home."
The broadcast cut seamlessly from studio to field coverage, showing their reporter at the scene of a high-profile drug lord assassination.
Watching the polished news broadcast, Ryder attempted bravado. "Don't worry, people will still trust our printed news over television reports!"
But his words rang hollow as they witnessed television's powerful new threat to print media.
***
Many had hesitated to purchase TVs, questioning their value despite the price. But when word spread that Hellfire channel offered free news broadcasts direct to homes, resistance crumbled and sales surged.
People also noticed newspapers' sudden silence about television. These publications, once vocal critics of TV and Hellfire channel, now seemed to avoid the topic entirely.
Behind the scenes, media moguls had realized their criticism only provided free publicity for television. They'd ceased their negative coverage, but the damage was done.
The moguls' belated epiphany came too late - their earlier criticism had already helped promote TV and Hellfire channel. Now, "Hellfire News" marked the beginning of newspapers' obsolescence.
Even before launching their news segment, Hellfire's telenovelas had wounded print media. Hellfire News was the final nail in the coffin.
Viewers quickly discovered television news offered more comprehensive coverage than newspapers.
Even those without TVs gained access to Hellfire channel through public spaces. Taverns, bars, and restaurants like Lamb's Blood installed large TV, drawing crowds to watch while dining or drinking.
These establishments found their TVs attracted new customers while keeping existing ones lingering longer. The device that media moguls had once mocked had become a powerful tool for business growth.
At Lamb's Blood Restaurant's New District branch, crowds gathered for the noon "Hellfire News" broadcast.
The restaurant had become a hot spot for white-collar workers, who discovered the novel pleasure of dining while watching television.
The succubus anchor, Alissa, appeared on screen to introduce a special guest.
"Let's welcome the man, the myth, the legend, Arthur Morningstar!" Alissa delivered Arthur's scripted introduction.
"It's Arthur Pendragon now, Ms. Dark," Arthur corrected as he entered the studio.
"My apologies - Arthur Pendragon!" Alissa smoothly amended.
The restaurant patrons stirred with surprise. "The exiled prince changed his surname?"
"Why didn't the newspapers report this?"
Indeed, print media had missed - or ignored - Arthur's name change.
Through Hellfire News, viewers learned not only of Arthur's new identity but also that the telenovelas and news segments were part of his grand vision for the channel.
The interview's revelation of "Hellfire Got Talent," an upcoming talent search show, sparked immediate excitement. Viewers who believed they possessed special abilities leaned forward, suddenly seeing a path to spotlight.
***
Arthur savored his channel's growth, particularly pleased with "Hellfire News" - a segment he'd methodically planned.
Though he'd maintained a stoic front against newspaper publishers' negative campaigns and intimidation tactics, their actions had irritated him more than he'd shown.
Now "Hellfire News" would deliver his counterstrike, likely destroying most Horn Kingdom newspaper publishers, with plans to extend this media revolution across Anatolia once TV distribution expanded.
His news team came primarily from a recently bankrupted newspaper publisher - skilled professionals he'd acquired along with their entire operation, transforming it into Hellfire News.
***
The Hellfire newsroom buzzed with tension as reports arrived about thugs vandalizing several TV stores.
The news team - reporters, fact-checkers, and editors - worked their sources. Reliable informants suggested media moguls' involvement in the attacks.
That evening, "Hellfire News" led with comprehensive coverage of the vandalism. Their focused reporting and implied connections to media moguls sparked public outrage.
The attacks on TV stores continued for days, with Hellfire News relentlessly covering the violence and confronting unresponsive police and authorities.
Viewers' anger mounted at law enforcement's apparent indifference.
News of public outrage reached the Horn Kingdom's King, who immediately ordered an investigation.
Under royal pressure, police finally acted. Within days, they revealed the masterminds: Ryder Cage, Shane Rights, and several other media moguls.
This exposure transformed public perception of newspapers. Trust crumbled as readers realized the extent of media manipulation.
Meanwhile, Hellfire News, though barely a week old, had established unprecedented credibility.
***
As 1273 dawned, "Hellfire Got Talent" launched its auditions, drawing hundreds of hopeful demons, elves, and dwarves.
Arthur had strategically recruited aging, once-popular Horn and Morningstar singers as judges, giving these veterans new relevance while lending the show credibility.
Television ownership had exploded to 780,000 households across Horn Kingdom.
Though this represented only a fraction of the kingdom's millions, achieving such penetration in mere weeks signaled a cultural transformation.
Hellfire channel's programming continued driving TV sales upward, reshaping Horn Kingdom's entertainment landscape.
January 3, 1273 marked television's expansion as color and more affordable black-and-white sets launched across Morningstar, Thorn, Japon, and Choson.
Empirica, already familiar with black-and-white TV, buzzed with anticipation for color sets.
Arthur acquired broadcast frequencies there, though Empirica's stricter media regulations posed challenges unlike Horn Kingdom's open market. Despite some bureaucratic delays, he secured broadcasting rights. His channel would launch soon, albeit with delayed telenovela episodes.
Existing channels in Empirica had struggled until recently. Now, adopting Arthur's commercial break model, they found new life as TV's popularity surged, sparked by Horn Kingdom's success.
Arthur had already secured broadcast frequencies across Morningstar, Thorn, Japon, and Choson - their proximity to Horn Kingdom simplifying the expansion.
His success brought both financial rewards and entertainment points. Though he'd accumulated 80 million EP, he noticed telenovelas generated fewer points than films.
Yet television's triumph overshadowed this minor concern. Sponsors overwhelmed his telenovelas with offers, forcing him to turn many away.
The channel generated 10 million dollars from sponsorships, commercial slots, and production services featuring Hellfire talent.
While not matching his film revenues, these earnings proved remarkable for a weeks-old channel.
Hellfire channel's future would extend beyond telenovelas into anime and cartoons. Though eventually requiring separate channels, Arthur planned to initially test these formats alongside telenovelas.
Channel segregation could wait. His immediate focus was "Hellfire Animation Studio," newly approved for operation.
This opening allowed him to expand his artist recruitment, particularly eyeing Japon and Empirica's talent pools.
Empirica's established animation industry offered experienced artists ripe for poaching, while Japon's smaller but promising studios showed unique potential.
Despite Japon initially copying Empirica's style, both nations had developed distinct animation aesthetics.
[Hidden Quest Completed: You have successfully established your own TV channel!]
[Reward: Ancient Tree.]
Arthur blinked at the unexpected notification. "A reward for establishing the channel?"
"What exactly is this 'Ancient Tree'?" he muttered, examining the reward details.
"What use could I possibly have for a tree..."
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