After the successful closure of the Century Cup registration, Bi Binghuo once again contacted Jiang Shi several times. However, because during this period, Jiang Shi was urgently acquiring equipment materials, dealing with dungeons, and leading the guild to snatch wilderness map bosses with seven silver coins. So, he just casually mentioned it to the guild’s main and vice presidents, not really paying much attention.
In Jiang Shi’s view, he even felt that Bi Binghuo was a bit too impatient, until Lianxing TV arranged for a manager to contact them regarding the seven silver coins’ team’s primary perspective live streaming rights for the Century Cup.
“Brother, didn’t you mention earlier that you also have friends interested in streaming rights?” What Pen Carries Fragrance remembered something Jiang Shi had told him.
“No worries, personal relationships are one thing, business is another. This matter should be decided by the guild management. You can also have your people come over to discuss, and we’ll make a decision after comparing both sides,” replied Jiang Shi.
Jiang Shi was well aware of Bi Binghuo’s clear division between public and private matters. Moreover, this matter wasn’t solely his concern. Comparing options and making an objective decision was not an issue. So, while What Pen Carries Fragrance and Lianxing TV finished their conversation, Jiang Shi also contacted Bi Binghuo and arranged a meeting.
The location was the conference hall in the Seven Silver Coins Guild’s territory.
As one of the most well-known live streaming platforms, Lianxing TV seemed quite adept at handling streaming rights contracts. The manager, upon meeting them, directly handed over a prepared contract: “Regarding the Century Cup streaming rights, all the terms are laid out in this contract. We have not previously collaborated with a first-time participating guild. The terms in this contract were finalized after meetings. We believe it’s a very favorable offer for a new team.”
The manager from Lianxing TV maintained a polite and smiling demeanor throughout the conversation.
If it were any other first-time participating small guild hearing this, they might have readily accepted. However, Jiang Shi meticulously went through the contract, page by page, without displaying any emotional fluctuations.
Island Forest and What Pen Carries Fragrance, the two main and vice presidents, stood quietly beside, eagerly awaiting Jiang Shi’s feedback.
It was only when Jiang Shi finished the last page that he remarked, “I’m sorry, it’s a bit low.”
The Lianxing TV manager was momentarily surprised, asking, “What do you mean by ‘low’?”
“In various aspects,” Jiang Shi smiled. “The buyout for exclusive streaming rights is low, the profit split is only fifty-fifty, and the provided live streaming duration is also inadequate.”
The Lianxing TV manager took a while to regain composure. “You can check elsewhere. For a new guild, the terms we’re offering are already excellent. I might be able to negotiate a sixty-forty split, but regarding the live streaming duration, that’s not negotiable. As you know, without knowing the strength, we can’t promise to sacrifice other guilds’ streaming time just for your team.”
“I don’t doubt your company’s sincerity, and I understand that the terms given are top-notch for any new guild. However, I’d prefer Seven Silver Coins not to be treated as just another ‘new guild‘,” Jiang Shi handed over the contract. “Especially regarding live streaming duration, I’d prefer a partner that can provide 100% coverage to showcase our team’s perspective throughout.”
The Lianxing TV manager came in full of confidence but was left utterly shocked.
A high buyout, a better profit split, plus a 100% live streaming duration—this treatment was something that not just new guilds but only well-established guilds that regularly participated in century cups could expect!
Especially that last point, how daring was that request!?
It was common knowledge that all professional tournaments of <Genesis> didn’t permit streaming outside of official channels.
Even well-known gaming platforms usually opened specific streaming rooms within the game’s built-in systems, such as “Lianxing TV,” to indirectly attract attention and gain popularity.
Hence, companies with visibility paid significant attention to the quality of their streams in order to gain attention.
Among the guilds participating in the Century Cup, even the most acclaimed ones are merely secondary event teams. The intensity of these matches is far lower than what’s seen in the Century Cup. Therefore, Lianxing TV often opts to buy the streaming rights of several guilds simultaneously. Then, based on the match situations, they conveniently switch perspectives in their official streaming room.
Such practices aren’t exclusive to Lianxing TV; other moderately well-known companies also make similar choices. Unless they’re top-tier powerhouses like Blood Roses, Rattlesnake, or Crusaders, considering the Century Cup—a secondary event prone to upsets every year—frankly speaking, even the immensely popular Iron Pagoda or Old Dream Time guilds are not entitled to demand 100% live streaming coverage.
Not to mention the Seven Silver Coins, a completely new guild team that just applied for the first time.
The manager from Lianxing TV took a while to recompose his words: “Why not leave the contract for now and reconsider after comparing it with proposals from other interested companies?”
He was absolutely convinced that the conditions his company offered were top-notch. Hence, he didn’t even consider going back for further discussions. He thought Seven Silver Coins were unaware of market norms and were just making extravagant demands. Besides, with their own substantial viewership, setting up promotions would bring in significant additional traffic. If Seven Silver Coins eventually decided, they’d surely come back.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Shi’s stance was far more resolute than he had imagined: “If these are the current terms, then no thanks. I have other people interested in partnering with me, offering much better conditions than yours.”
The manager from Lianxing TV was taken aback. “What conditions have they offered?”
Jiang Shi smiled faintly, “An 80-20 profit split, and live streaming as I requested, 100% coverage.”
The buyout price was negligible. Based on his recent understanding, ensuring full live coverage coupled with such earnest profit sharing meant the overall deal would be significantly advantageous.
After speaking, seeing the Lianxing TV manager still dazed, he glanced at the time. “If there’s nothing else, let’s conclude the discussion for today.”
The Lianxing TV manager, losing all his earlier confidence, absentmindedly walked out of the conference room. Thoughts raced through his mind—Which company is so willing to offer such benefits? Did Mars TV intentionally compete once they noticed Seven Silver Coins? Offering such unreasonable terms to a new participating guild, weren’t they afraid of being taken advantage of?
As he headed towards the guild entrance, the Lianxing TV manager unintentionally glanced up and saw someone new entering outside. Though unfamiliar, the contract in their hands seemed oddly familiar. Was this the partner Seven Silver Coins had mentioned?
The Lianxing TV manager’s spirits lifted and he briskly approached, exchanging pleasantries before inquiring, “May I ask for your company’s name?”
Bi Binghuo arrived according to Jiang Shi’s set time, replying with a smile, “Me? I’m from the Cyber Internet Cafe, with quite a few branches. If you’re interested, feel free to visit!”
The Lianxing TV manager was completely stunned.
What… an Internet cafe?!
Jiang Shi’s voice came from behind, “Old Bi, you’re here. Come on in, let’s talk.”
“I’ll head in first,” Bi Binghuo, an affable person, patted the manager’s shoulder warmly, then turned and left.
Only when the voices of the two faded away did the Lianxing TV manager finally snap out of it.
If the higher-ups knew he hadn’t secured a deal with the owner of an Internet cafe, they might reprimand him severely.
“So, that person earlier was from Lianxing TV?” Bi Binghuo hadn’t asked for the person’s identity earlier, but combining Jiang Shi’s earlier briefing and entering the conference hall, he opened his mouth cheerfully, “How was it? I told you my offer was absolutely awesome!”
“Yeah, it’s awesome,” Jiang Shi responded noncommittally, taking the contract from Bi Binghuo’s hand and passing it to Island Forest beside him. “Chairman, take a look. The buyout price is a bit low, and the publicity intensity tends towards zero. But the profit split and live streaming ratio are worth considering.”
Bi Binghuo was speechless, “What do you mean by zero publicity intensity? Our chain of cafes has quite a broad coverage!”
Jiang Shi smiled without comment, continuing to address Island Forest and the others, “However, if you trust my judgment, the performance during the Century Cup is more critical than traffic from promotions. So, as long as profit sharing and live streaming duration can be guaranteed, the overall benefit will definitely exceed Lianxing TV’s contract, no doubt.”
“Of course, we trust you,” What Pen Carries Fragrance leaned over to Island Forest, glancing briefly at the contract, feeling a headache coming on, and decided not to read further. “Anyway, we’ve only lent our guild’s name to you. We’re entirely ineffectual in competitions. The specific partner is your call. Forest, you have no objections, right? Otherwise, let’s just sign the contract now?”
Island Forest replied, “I think What Pen Carries Fragrance’s right. We can sign it directly.”
Bi Binghuo didn’t expect things to go so smoothly. Suddenly delighted, he exclaimed, “Great! Let’s sign! Just rest assured, I am a person of absolute loyalty. Once I commit to something, I’m dedicated from start to finish. I won’t change my mind easily!”
Jiang Shi, observing the busy scene, suddenly interjected, “You don’t have to be too loyal. For instance, my sister’s case, it’s okay to change your mind, there’s no chance anyway.”
Bi Binghuo: “Get lost!”
Not getting what one desires is already pitiful, why add a sudden sting to it?!
Mc must have love poking ant nest wehn he was a kid, with that kind of personality.