บท 144: Telenovela on Hellfire channel
(3rd Person POV)
Following the HOLLOW-Waves announcement, color TVs and VHS players hit Horn Kingdom markets on December 10, 1272.
Waves Corporation took a hands-off approach to marketing, letting HOLLOW handle the promotional campaign.
HOLLOW focused primarily on television sales, knowing VHS players would naturally follow - after all, the players were useless without TVs to connect them to.
Across Horn Kingdom, posters appeared showing happy families gathered around color TVs. HOLLOW dominated the kingdom's billboards with their advertising.
Public reaction to the TV promotions varied widely. At a food stall, a group of employees studied a nearby billboard. "Have you heard about these TVs?" a white-collar dwarf asked between bites. "They say they're better than projectors..."
An imp demon scoffed. "Yeah, but look at that price tag," he gestured toward the billboard.
The prices were prominently displayed: "25 dollars" for small TVs, "45 dollars" for large models.
"That's two weeks' salary right there..." someone muttered dejectedly.
"Definitely not cheap..." the dwarf agreed.
Outside HOLLOW's new TV stores, crowds gathered at the display windows. Inside, multiple TVs played "The Demonfather" in vivid color, drawing curious onlookers.
"Wow... Mom, can we get one?" a young girl tugged at her mother's sleeve.
Her mother glanced at the price tag and gently steered her away. "Let's look somewhere else, honey."
Most people simply stood watching the synchronized TVs playing "The Demonfather," the price keeping them outside. But occasionally, wealthy customers emerged with boxed televisions, drawing envious glances from the crowd.
Those who could afford it followed suit, entering the store with determination and leaving with their own sets.
The color TV remained a luxury item, affordable mainly to the wealthy and white-collar workers. Yet ironically, it was priced lower than its black-and-white predecessor.
The stark difference lay in consumer interest - while people eagerly sought the color TV, they completely shunned the black-and-white model.
This shift occurred despite persistent negative media coverage of television technology.
Yet now, even with continuing media criticism, color TV dominated public conversation.
First-day sales proved remarkable - the small TV model brought in 154 thousand dollars, while the larger model earned 244 thousand dollars.
These figures marked a stunning breakthrough for HOLLOW. Their previous black-and-white TV launch in Horn Kingdom had barely reached 50 thousand dollars in opening day sales.
The pattern extended beyond Horn Kingdom - across Anatolia, black-and-white TVs had failed to gain traction.
HOLLOW had been forced to halt black-and-white production entirely.
Where their previous TV venture had ended in disaster, color television seemed poised to reverse their fortunes.
***
Early TV buyers rushed to watch their favorite films, only to discover a limited selection - all VHS tapes came exclusively from Hellfire Studio. Though the quality was undeniable, viewers craved more variety.
Moreover, the TV's dependence on VHS players created another hurdle. Without a VHS player, the TV remained essentially unusable.
Media outlets pounced on these limitations:
"New Technology, Color TV, Useless Without VHS Player"
"TV: An Expensive Paperweight"
"Television, Colored or Not, Still Worthless - Buyer's Remorse Sets In"
In Hellfire Studio's headquarters, Arthur discussed signal allocation with Waves Corporation representatives - specifically requesting channel "6" for the Hellfire Channel.
The number "6" held special significance for demons.
Waves Corporation's recently constructed towers, along with their existing ones, would transfer to Hellfire Studio under their agreement.
After concluding negotiations with the Waves representative, Arthur reviewed the tower ownership documents.
"Everything's falling into place... Soon, every TV in Horn Kingdom will broadcast my channel..." he mused, studying the paperwork.
Within days, "Hellfire" channel 6 would begin operations.
Beyond channel 6, Arthur had secured channels 1, 2, and 7 - all under the Hellfire brand.
The studio's newly hired directors had split their focus - while Damien and two others handled films, the remaining five each developed telenovelas. They'd produced enough episodes to fill daily programming slots, planning to repeat broadcasts to cover all hours.
Meanwhile, "Hellfire Got Talent" preparations continued, with a section of the VFX Studio designated for the show.
***
As color TV sales began to slump, buyers echoed media criticism about TVs being useless without VHS players.
Then HOLLOW and Hellfire's announcement changed everything - television viewing without VHS players.
The news sparked skeptical curiosity across the kingdom. "Hellfire channel? What could they possibly show?"
"Maybe they'll just air their old films?"
"Like Demonfather? We've seen that already. If it's just their existing films, TV's still not worth buying."
"Yeah, and once they run out of films, what then?"
Public doubt ran deep, but change was coming.
TV owners, particularly those who'd bought into the technological hype, eagerly explored this new "Hellfire" channel.
In one household, a wife watched her husband fiddle with their TV. "I told you to sell that useless thing! It's worthless without that player device!"
Her husband smiled sheepishly. "Come on, honey - there's something new about the TV! They say we can watch shows without the VHS player now..."
"We cancelled Horn's Daily subscription for this contraption, so it better be worth it," she muttered, settling beside him on the couch.
The TV flickered as her husband fumbled with the remote. "Number 6... where's channel 6?"
"Right here," his wife pointed to the button.
"Ah, there it is..." He scratched his head, embarrassed.
The TV switched to channel 6, initially showing static.
Noticing his wife's deepening frown, he quickly added, "The newspaper said we need to adjust the antenna." He reached up to the TV top, tweaking the antenna.
Slowly, the static faded away, unveiling a scene in the hospital.
"See? We can watch without the VHS!" he declared proudly.
His wife remained unimpressed.
Deflated, he sat back down beside her.
As they watched, he realized this wasn't Hellfire's usual film fare.
"What kind of story is this?" his wife asked.
"I... I'm not sure... But it's rather engaging..." he ventured cautiously, watching her reaction.
Bracing for criticism about the program's quality, he was startled when she nodded. "It really is interesting..."
He stared at his wife in surprise.
The plot followed Kassandra, a young woman stolen as a baby and raised by a traveling circus instead of her wealthy birth family, the victim of a vengeful scheme.
The wife leaned forward, completely absorbed as Kassandra discovered hints about her true identity in this first episode. Her husband watched her reaction with growing satisfaction, finding himself equally drawn into the story.
This couple wasn't alone in their surprise at the Hellfire channel's offering.
Across the kingdom, other TV owners found themselves captivated by the unfolding drama.
Initially, viewers wondered about the title of this engaging 'film' - until the Hellfire channel cut to a 'commercial break,' revealing the name "Kassandra."
Finally, they had a name for this fascinating story that had captured their attention. No one yet used the term "telenovela" - that would come later - but something new had begun.
***
Across Horn Kingdom, media moguls celebrated what they perceived as the color TV's decline.
They congratulated themselves, believing their negative press had successfully turned the public against this "new technology."
What they failed to notice was the growing excitement among TV owners watching Hellfire channel's programs - "I Am Betty, The Ugly," "Kassandra," "The Rich Also Cry," "Isaura: Slave Girl," and "The Clone" had created a devoted following.
While the audience skewed heavily female, this proved advantageous for Hellfire channel's growth. Women's social networks spread news faster than any advertisement could manage.
The same madames who'd criticized their wealthy husbands for buying televisions now boasted about them at social gatherings.
Within days of Hellfire's launch, the channel dominated conversations in housewife circles.
"Did you see yesterday's Kassandra?" one would ask excitedly during afternoon tea.
"Oh yes! I couldn't tear myself away!" another would respond. "My husband tried to discuss business matters, but I shushed him until it finished!"
These conversations repeated across the kingdom, at market squares, social clubs, and garden parties - anywhere women gathered to share their latest viewing experiences.
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บท 145: Commercial
(Arthur POV)
The president of Waves Corporation's Anatolia region, Alfred Gold, a demon from Thorn Kingdom, sat across from me in my office.
"Your channel launched a few days ago, and our Horn Kingdom sales have seen a slight increase. Though we can't definitively link it to your channel's commercial breaks," Alfred said, settling comfortably in his chair. "As president of Waves Anatolia, I'm uncertain about payment calculations. We have no way to determine viewer numbers."
I poured him expensive tea. "I'm confident your sales increase directly relates to my channel's commercials."
"Oh? How so?" Alfred's curiosity peaked.
Leaning back in my chair, I explained, "Before launching Hellfire channel, I established Pendragon Rating."
"Pendragon... Rating?" Alfred muttered, just loud enough for me to catch.
"Yes," I nodded. "Pendragon is my new surname, replacing Morningstar. My family's continued rejection made the change necessary."
Alfred nodded. "I see, but what exactly is this Pendragon Rating?"
I smiled. "Before launching Hellfire channel, Pendragon Rating was already operational with full staff. We approached 1,000 TV-owning families and convinced them to maintain 'Viewer Diaries,' recording their daily viewing habits."
Alfred nodded, though confusion still lingered in his expression. I continued, "My team also conducts telephone surveys, randomly calling households to learn what they're watching."
"Hmm..." Alfred stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Then we apply statistical extrapolation," I added.
"Stati- what now?" Alfred asked, clearly lost.
I chuckled before breaking down the concept in simpler terms.
A few minutes later, Alfred's eyes lit with understanding. "So through all these processes, your Pendragon Rating can estimate viewer numbers and how many households watch each program?"
I noted his intrigue in my rating methods. "Yes, and our data shows the majority of TV owners are watching almost all Hellfire channel programs."
Alfred fell silent before commenting, "These rating methods are incredibly clever - far more efficient than Empirica's complicated systems."
"Indeed." I nodded, secretly grateful to Arthur Nielsen, whose rating system I'd borrowed from my previous life.
"Here's my channel's current rating data," I said, sliding the paper across.
Alfred studied the numbers. "These ratings aren't manipulated, correct?"
"Of course not," I chuckled. "That's our honest estimation. Feel free to survey the kingdom yourself about their viewing habits."
Alfred nodded. "Based on these numbers, we owe you about two thousand dollars daily for promotion. With four days passed, that's roughly 8-10 thousand dollars."
"Quite affordable compared to newspaper ads, isn't it?" I whispered with devilish charm. "And far more effective."
Alfred couldn't disagree.
"Now, with my channel's success," I continued, "we can have HOLLOW's 'Finance Times' report on it. Our companies will profit - after all, Hellfire shares patent rights to Waves Corporation's signal technology. Others will want their own signal towers, bringing more contracts to Waves Corporation."
"Sounds like a plan," Alfred smiled, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
True enough - Hellfire's success would drive demand for signal towers. With minimal regulations governing channels and tower construction, establishing new stations would be straightforward.
And while I owned some signal patents, Waves Corporation would handle the actual tower construction, ensuring their continued profits.
***
(3rd Person POV)
Since Hellfire channel's launch, media outlets had relentlessly attacked Arthur.
"Hellfire Channel Days Old: Experts Predict Collapse Within Weeks - Another Misstep by Exiled Prince Arthur"
"Was Arthur Morningstar Manipulated by HOLLOW to Create Channel and Programs for TV Sales? Experts question whether the colored TV and VHS player were truly inventions of Arthur."
Such headlines dominated Horn Kingdom's newspapers. Then came an exception - "Finance Times," the premier publication for businessmen and investors, ran a striking front page: "Hellfire Channel's Remarkable Success - Reports Show Near-Universal Viewership Across All Programs"
This praise stood in stark contrast to the wave of criticism flooding other papers.
While Finance Times held limited appeal among common citizens, that wasn't Arthur's target. He aimed for businessmen and investors - Finance Times' core readership - hoping to attract potential clients for Hellfire channel's commercial slots.
***
(Ivan Rook POV)
In my study, I reviewed the latest Finance Times edition, searching for investment opportunities and pitfalls.
Finance Times had earned its reputation for exposing corporate scandals and predicting market trends. Its analysis had saved countless investors from disaster.
Today's headline left me underwhelmed, though I felt relieved seeing no mention of Rook Automobiles in any scandal reports or critical reviews that might affect our stock prices.
"Hellfire channel?" I muttered, scanning the main article. "Hardly seems an effective advertising platform."
Surely other businessmen shared my skepticism about television. Everyone knew TV was a poor investment.
I'd bought one myself, caught up in the technological novelty - mainly to watch "The Demonfather" in better quality. But as an advertising medium? Doubtful.
Setting aside the newspaper, I focused on company documents, signing some contracts and discarding others. After two hours of work, I stretched and headed downstairs.
Approaching the living room, I heard unexpected commotion.
"You despicable woman!" my wife's voice rang out.
My heart jumped. 'Is she in danger?'
I rushed down the remaining stairs, bursting into the living room ready for confrontation.
Instead, I found my wife on the couch, pounding the armrest in frustration.
"How dare she threaten Mariana like that! That scheming witch!"
I stood frozen, watching my normally composed wife completely absorbed in the drama.
"No! Not a commercial break now!" she protested as the screen shifted.
As the show's title "The Rich Also Cry" flashed across the screen, my wife continued her passionate outburst.
"Honey, please... it's just a television program..." I ventured carefully.
Mercy turned to me, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "What now?"
I retreated slightly, approaching her like a cornered beast before carefully settling beside her. "It's just... you seem rather invested in this program. I've never seen you lose composure like this."
This was shocking coming from Mercy. She'd always maintained the perfect image of a noble demon lady, raised in wealth with impeccable manners and eloquence.
Mercy sighed, smoothing her dress as she collected herself. "I must apologize for my unseemly behavior. These dramatic tales they call 'telenovelas' have a way of stirring one's emotions quite unexpectedly."
"Telenovela?" I questioned the unfamiliar term.
"Ah," Mercy's composure returned slightly. "It's Arthur's term for these dramatic programs on the Hellfire channel."
"I see..." I nodded, turning my attention to the screen with newfound curiosity.
A commercial played - James Blaze and his band performing. The scene shifted to show him inserting a VHS tape, the TV displaying a music video while text appeared: {James Blaze songs, now available in VHS Tape format! Current 10% discount at all music stores!}
While I barely registered the advertisement, Mercy's eyes lit up at the word "discount." She turned to me with practiced charm, laying a delicate hand on my arm. "Darling, might I trouble you to purchase some of James Blaze's music tapes?"
Her sudden switch to courtly manners wasn't lost on me.
I stared at her, baffled. "But you've always disliked his music. Didn't you call him a 'talentless showboat' last month?"
"This is entirely different!" Arianna protested. "Being able to watch the performance while listening to the music - it's intriguing!"
Ah. The 'music video' concept had captured her interest.
"Fine, I'll get you the tapes," I conceded with a sigh.
"You're wonderful!" Arianna planted a kiss on my cheek, leaving me grinning like a fool.
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.
'The TV advertising actually works!'
The realization struck just as my wife turned back to the screen, her expression intense as the telenovela resumed. Finance Times hadn't exaggerated - television promotion was devastatingly effective.
I rose to leave, my mind racing with plans to secure advertising slots. Arianna didn't even notice my departure, completely engrossed in her program.
'My competitors haven't realized television's potential yet. This is the perfect moment to act,' I thought, already calculating the possibilities.
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