Reborn Russia As An Oligarch

Wang Ye nodded and continued to ask: "For the development of NTV, does Mr. Serev have any long-term plans?"

This question is the purpose of Wang Ye's meeting with Serev today!

He wanted to talk to Serev in person and listen to the senior media person's thoughts. Through Serev's answer, Wang Ye would decide whether to keep the station director.

Therefore, whether you can answer this question well and satisfy Wang Ye, the new boss, will directly determine Serev's fate!

Serev obviously realized the importance of this issue. He thought about it for a long time, organized the language in his mind, and then said cautiously:

“Actually, this issue needs to be considered in conjunction with some decisive conditions.

For example, boss, your expectations for the TV station and the budget funds invested.

If you, the boss, want to make NTV TV station self-financing and even profitable without investing a lot of money, then the development of NTV TV station will be slower and more commercial.

For example, reduce current political news and in-depth programs, and produce more low-cost entertainment programs, because only in this way can TV stations earn more advertising fees.

But this will inevitably lead to fewer high-quality TV programs and less authority and influence.

If you, the boss, want NTV to grow faster, have higher coverage, and be more influential, you must invest more budget funds in the early stage to purchase or produce more high-quality programs.

But this also has disadvantages, that is, it is not entertaining enough, the image is too serious, and there will not be much advertising revenue..."

To sum up what Serev said, the meaning is very simple. If you want to make the TV station bigger, you must be willing to spend money!

The future of NTV depends largely on the boss Wang Ye...

Wang Ye nodded without comment. He also understood that it is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice.

Therefore, I never thought that relying solely on the abilities of NTV and Serev, we could make the TV station better without spending any money.

After Serev finished speaking, Wang Ye said with a smile: "What if I invest a billion US dollars in NTV TV station every year for the next ten years, and I don't need to consider the TV station's profitability."

He had just talked a lot and felt a little dry in the mouth. Serev, who was picking up a glass of water to moisten his throat, heard Wang Ye's words. His hands shook violently and all the water in the glass spilled out.

However, he did not bother to wipe the water stains on his clothes. Instead, he looked at Wang Ye eagerly and asked: "Speaker Mikhail, how much do you think you invest every year..."

It's not that Wang Ye didn't explain it clearly, but that Serev couldn't believe his ears!

For ten consecutive years, one billion dollars per year!

This amount is really outrageous...

You must know that the largest state-owned TV station in Russia only invests more than 100 million US dollars a year!

As for NTV during the Abramovich era, apart from the station's own revenue, the parent company only added US$20 million per year...

Now the new boss directly said that he will give one billion US dollars every year, and there is no need to consider profitability!

How could Serev not be shocked by this!

He had never considered that NTV would be so wealthy...

Wang Ye had already expected Serev's shock. He smiled faintly and repeated: "One billion US dollars, every year."

After confirming that he heard correctly, Serev's eyes became eager.

If NTV TV station can really get so much funding every year, then...

There’s definitely a lot to be done!

It won't take too long, maybe two or three years, before he is sure that NTV will "dominate" Russia... no, it should be said that it is the entire Russian-speaking market in Eastern Europe!

Let NTV directly radiate to all Russian-speaking countries, and its ratings will overwhelm state-owned TV stations, becoming the undisputed most influential and highest-rated TV station!

Because with one billion dollars a year, that’s a lot that can be done…

Because he was so excited, Serev was a little incoherent for a moment, "Too much... too much! If we really have so much money, then we can produce several flagship programs at the same time. Not only current affairs news programs can be made more timely and more It is authoritative, and it can also produce entertainment programs, invite big-name stars from around the world to participate in the program, and produce some exquisite dramas with high investment..."

Obviously, Serev also has many ideas and plans regarding the development of the TV station, but he is limited by insufficient funds, so those plans and ideas can only stay on paper or in his mind, and cannot be realized at all.

Now it's good, the new boss is willing to invest heavily, and he can show off his talents.

The reason why Wang Ye wants to invest heavily in NTV television station is because he has his own ideas.

Because he felt that since the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, many old people's beliefs have collapsed, and they have begun to have doubts and lack of confidence in their own traditional culture.

With the strong cultural "invasion" from abroad, young people have begun to "Westernize" and have been exposed to European and American culture and entertainment stars since childhood.

Over a long period of time, I developed a good impression of Europe and the United States under the filter, and became seriously dissatisfied with my own country and nation.

To reverse this trend, we must establish cultural confidence, but this is obviously not an easy thing.

But this is what must be done...

Wang Ye started from two aspects. One was to control the Russian Internet and social platforms. By acquiring MAIL.RU and YANDEX, and establishing Facebook, he basically achieved this.

At the very least, the Russian-language online information platform that young people can access is in their own hands.

In this way, at some point, technical means such as keyword screening can be used to control the delivery and dissemination of information. It is inconvenient to elaborate on some things, but everyone should have some experience.

The second one is, of course, to start slowly cultivating the cultural confidence of the people. TV programs are quite effective in this regard.

Therefore, even in the Internet age, the power of TV stations cannot be underestimated.

Not to mention that it is only 2006, and the influence of television stations is still great. Among more people’s entertainment choices, televisions are still the first choice.

Therefore, Wang Yecai plans to invest heavily, using US$10 billion over ten years, to create a strong cultural export position!

That is the NTV that was just acquired...

…………

Serev was so excited that his whole body was trembling slightly. He said at a loss: "Such a lot of money... I can't spend it all!"

It's really hard for him to spend a billion dollars all at once.

To be honest, even the most daring plans he had ever dreamed up did not include an annual budget of one billion dollars.

Spending money is also a technical job. You can't just waste the money given by your boss. Serev doesn't have the guts yet...

Wang Ye said with a smile: "Let me make a request. Among the annual budget of one billion US dollars, we must use US$500 million to shoot one or two major dramas! The subject matter must be about our Russian history and culture. , it must be beautifully produced and can cause a sensation when it is broadcast, I don’t know if you can do it.”

Spending US$500 million to shoot a TV series was such a luxury that had never happened before 2006!

Even though "Band of Brothers", the TV series with the highest investment in history, actually only invested a total of US$120 million, and now Wang Ye has quadrupled it!

Obviously his ambitions are not small. The big drama he produces will not only be broadcast in Russia, but also be exported culturally...

Of course, it is not enough to have sufficient funds. There must also be a corresponding talent team to ensure that the money is spent properly and produce the effects Wang Ye wants.

Otherwise, if you spend hundreds of millions of dollars to make a bad drama, wouldn't it become a huge joke?

This is also not allowed by Wang Ye!

Serev obviously understood what Wang Ye meant, and his expression became cautious.

It is certainly a good thing that the boss is willing to give up investors, but for executives like him, the money is also very hot to hold.

Because the more money the boss invests, the higher the requirements will be.

It is not an easy thing to meet the boss's requirements.

After thinking about it seriously, Serev nodded solemnly and said:

"Speaker Mikhail, please rest assured that I will definitely organize the top team in the country. From script polishing, to the formation of the director team, to the selection of actors, and finally the shooting effects, all aspects will be improved and must be perfect!

I am confident that one or two large-scale and exquisite dramas will be produced every year, making NTV production a resounding symbol! "

To be honest, Serev felt a little guilty.

If you have enough funds to make a large-scale TV series, you can indeed make it. But the question is whether the effect can be as good as it should be, that is, to meet the boss's expectations.

No one can guarantee this.

But at this time, even if he was unsure, he had to bite the bullet and agree!

Because if he doesn't even have this responsibility, what else is he supposed to be as a stage director!

No matter what, Serev had to give it a try, but he didn’t believe it. He held a billion dollars in his hand, but after a year of hard work, he didn’t believe it would produce any results!

Even if I get fired a year later because I didn't meet my boss's expectations, then I won't have any regrets.

After all, I am a man who spends over one billion dollars a year...

This is enough to brag about for half a lifetime!

…………

After hearing Serev's promise, Wang Ye nodded with satisfaction.

Although he also knew in his heart that even if he invested so much money, it was still unknown whether this matter could be done well and whether it could achieve the results he hoped for.

But he was also willing to give Serev the opportunity to try it out.

If it really doesn't work, we can replace him next year. It's not a big deal.

So Wang Ye smiled and said:

"The funds will be available soon. I have already thought about the theme of the first major drama to be filmed this year, and it will be about Empress Catherine!

In terms of shooting, I think you can learn from American TV series and shoot according to seasons.

If the audience responds well to the first season after filming, then the second and third seasons will be filmed immediately...

If the results are not good in the first quarter, we can stop the loss in time and adjust the direction. "

Wang Ye also made careful decisions when choosing to film the drama "Empress Catherine".

Before his rebirth, this drama was the most impressive Russian drama he had ever watched. The filming was indeed very good, and it was also considered a major production among Russian dramas.

Not only did it receive a strong response in Russia, but it was also watched by many people abroad.

Now that I have invested a huge amount of money to film this drama in advance, and even invested much more than in the previous life, the effect will definitely be better than the previous life.

This is one of them.

In addition, Wang Ye still had a little "selfishness" when filming this drama.

Don’t forget, who is Empress Catherine!

That was Rosiana's ancestor, the empress of the Romanov dynasty!

This can be regarded as helping to build momentum for Rosiana and cultivate her reputation.

"Empress Catherine... is a very good subject. She is very well-known around the world, and she is a female emperor, so there are many stories that can be explored. It is indeed right to choose this subject. Speaker, you are really discerning. OK."

Serev patted Wang Ye's "flattering" without leaving a trace.

Just kidding, since this is a theme that the boss has designated, no matter what the boss chooses, I can only say yes, and I won't be ignorant and say that this theme is not good...

Wang Ye laughed, raised the red wine glass in his hand, and said, "Then I wish our TV station's new drama will reach a new high in ratings!"

Serev also quickly raised his glass.

After touching it with a "ding", they both drank it in one gulp!

…………

Wang Ye worked vigorously and resolutely, and quickly allocated the funds promised to Serev.

One billion U.S. dollars, every penny counts!

Originally, all the money he had on hand was spent on purchasing the assets of Hovchenko and Abramovich, and it was difficult to raise so much money in a short period of time.

However, the money he paid to Hovchenko is still in the First United Bank account, and Hovchenko will not be able to use that much money for the time being.

Now that Wang Ye needed it urgently, he talked to Hovchenko and temporarily borrowed a billion dollars.

With their uncle-nephew relationship, this was nothing at all. Hovchenko readily agreed and even asked Wang Ye if one billion US dollars was enough. If it was not enough, he had plenty of money in his account and could borrow it at will. !

Serev was also very efficient. He came up with a five-year development plan as quickly as possible and planned to use five years to make NTV the largest TV station in Eastern Europe, with signals covering all of Russia and all surrounding Russian-speaking countries.

His confidence is of course Wang Ye’s annual investment of one billion U.S. dollars...

As a crucial first step in the TV station's development plan, the filming of the self-produced drama "Empress Catherine Season 1" was immediately put on the agenda.

Serev personally served as the leader of the preparatory working group, distributed "hero posts" widely, and summoned the top screenwriters, directors, and actors in the TV drama and film industries across Russia and even Eastern Europe.

He made bold promises to invest US$500 million to create a drama that would shock the world.

This news immediately caused a huge shock in the Russian entertainment industry. Everyone who had nothing to do with it wanted to squeeze into the crew and get a piece of the pie.