Among the three major broadcast networks in America, ABC started the latest, had the lowest market share and the weakest influence, which is why for many years, ABC has spared no expense in recruiting talented people in order to change its position in the industry.

After seeing the success of ITV's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire", ABC spent money to bring it in, and when they found that the average number of viewers per night could reach 29 million, they even extended the program time crazily, and at the craziest time, the total broadcast time of a week was even piled up to four hours by them!

It's quite a week to broadcast two and six episodes of "Happy Camp"!

There are no duplicate ones!

It was this kind of crazy squeezing that made the audience tired of watching it, and it was defeated by CBS's "Survivor" in less than two years, and then completely crushed by FOX's "American Idol", and finally surpassed by "Feihuang Tengda" made by Comrade Chuan Jianguo pulled by NBC, and was completely swept into the garbage heap of history.

Of course, ABC never regrets it, for them, as long as they can consolidate their market position while ensuring the growth of ratings, how much money to spend, how much to take risks, there is no problem-

As long as you can make money, what is the public opinion outlet?

They dare to do the kind of show "Wife Exchange", but now it's just a movie, the so-called risk is too big to bear, it's just that they didn't get a satisfactory price and felt that the profit was not enough.

If there is really a problem, a 'sincere' apology, a management blame and it's over, anyway, the people's memory is limited, and once time passes, isn't the new American drama fragrant? Are sporting events not good-looking? Want Disney's children's shows anymore?

Don't just scold, don't use it if you have backbone!

As a result, when the voice of the five-year binding appeared, the voice of the parent company to make a decision disappeared, and everyone who was in a meeting didn't know that someone had just mentioned it.

And after they re-pushed the decision to Sony, Evelyn, who got the new cooperation intention, directly dialed Roland's phone, because Sony, which does not have a TV network, does not act as an agent for the limited TV network sales business of "The Shawshank Redemption" at all.

Roland didn't even think about ABC's lion opening, and directly asked David to sign the contract.

At a time like this, how much money can be made on the cable network has nothing to do with him.

This kind of profit cake that can stimulate public opinion is simply impossible to be eaten by a family, and when everyone is playing games in a group, even if the public opinion is stormy, it can't destroy them, and the people's resentment can destroy a company with a market value of more than 100 million or billions, but what about the pressure of tens of billions of giants? The sound that can crush a person is just a drizzle for the giants.

That's right, ABC wants to monopolize the broadcast of the public television network, and Roland gives it to them.

Similarly, when Evelyn asked other limited TV networks to contact other limited TV networks, hoping that they could report the news 'truthfully', those guys who didn't need to take the risk looked at the boss's meaning, and lightly asked for the broadcast rights of the pay TV network, and in the face of the joint purchase of several companies, ABC, which took the biggest risk and would eat the most dividends, naturally withdrew.

In the end, ABC spent 20 million to buy the right to broadcast 20 times of the five-year public television network, and what they needed to pay was to play three movies in ten days, while the rest of the companies spent a total of 10 million to buy out the broadcast rights of the five-year pay TV network, whether it was on-demand or subscription, the profits generated by this had nothing to do with Roland.

For others, it would be whimsical to talk about this kind of contract, and cable networks are all competitors, and every fight is a matter of life and death, how can it be possible to join forces to release a message?

But for Roland, this is just a piece of the public opinion cake for the family.

Take Fox as an example, 75 million have been called to James Cameron at the hottest time of the year, but Roland hasn't signed a contract yet! In this case, blowing the movie according to his will is the most self-interested thing.

Besides, they don't brag in vain, four companies buy a pay-TV network for 10 million for five years, and spread it to everyone's head, that is, 500,000 a year, 500,000 let the popular movies rush to their own paid film library?

It's like picking it up for nothing!

Of course, whether it is picked up in vain or not depends on the final result.

If the publicity effect does not meet expectations, then even the price of 500,000 a year will be a blood loss for them!

Therefore, in everyone's expectation, from the day the contract was signed on the 23rd, ABC TV immediately changed the schedule that had been prepared, and at 8 o'clock in the evening of the 25th, ABC Public TV released the news that the winner of the 1995 Oscar Best Picture nomination "The Shawshank Redemption" would be broadcast.

…………

"The Shawshank Redemption? What movie is this? How could ABC suddenly want to show this movie? ”

In a white family in central America, there was a voice of confusion.

"The 1995 Oscar nominee for Best Picture? Is there this movie in this year's Oscars? The white old lady's neck was slightly lowered, her eyes were raised, and her gaze passed through the gap between her reading glasses and her eyebrows, and she sent a soul-like torture to her wife on the side, "Isn't the best movie of this year "Forrest Gump"? Tom Hanks! ”

In the face of her inquiry, the old man, who was about seventy, shook his head, closed his eyes and thought for a while, and after slowly opening them, his faint old eyes were full of confusion, "It seems to ...... Yes, right? ”

"But I'm not sure ...... either"

"Because I only remember Forrest Gump, Lies Behind the Scenes, Vulgarity, Four Weddings and a Funeral......"

…………

"What is The Shawshank Redemption? Religious films? ”

“Oh！ Wrong! I think it seemed like 'Hope for Spring' in Stephen King's Four Seasons? ”

In New York, Jin Ling, who had just gotten off work, went into his study and found "The Tale of the Four Seasons" in his collection.

"That's not right! I remember "Tales of the Four Seasons" was the top seller list! ”

"How is it possible that a movie based on it doesn't have a voice?"

"The most important thing is that "The Shawshank Redemption" actually won this year's Best Picture nomination?"

"But the problem is, I don't think I've ever seen this movie in the theater before!"

"I really haven't heard anything about it! Was the movie really released? ”

…………

“Damn……”

"Wouldn't ABC be able to put on a little more entertainment? Why do you have to put on such a fun-free Oscar movie? ”

"Isn't it good to play 'Vulgar'? Is it bad to play "Strange Heroes in Disguise"? Is it bad to play "Nuns Are Crazy Too"? ”

"Why do you have to play 'The Shawshank Redemption'? It's not interesting to hear the name! ”

"I don't know what these big companies think! You said that ABC was acquired by Disney, so naturally it is entertainment-oriented! How to make it the same as those old stations, put some movies with no bright spots. ”

"But...... Morgan Freeman......"

"You can take a look."

In Atlanta, a black man leans back on a couch and beeps.

…………

When ABC's program trailer came out, except for a very small number in the circle, the other guys were all confused-

What is "The Shawshank Redemption" about?

I don't know.

Who is the protagonist of The Shawshank Redemption?

I just watched TV to find out.

How attractive is "The Shawshank Redemption" to people?

In the case that Roland and Sony have never advertised, it is already good that someone is willing to see it.

But it doesn't matter!

When the first wave of screenings was held, I didn't expect to attract many people!

But those guys who are supposed to stay in front of the TV to watch movies have already received all kinds of news and are ready!

So, when the vast majority of Americans didn't feel anything, at 8 p.m. on October 25, ABC TV broadcast "The Shawshank Redemption" on time, and after the movie was over, those who had received money immediately started writing, holding the development policy of adhering to peace and friendship, and wrote a film review of hundreds of words in two hours.

Then, they immediately had people forward the long-awaited paper media, and asked the daily newspapers, the mail, and the newspapers to print their film reviews overnight, and spread the latest news throughout America on time.

So much so that the next morning, almost everyone who has the habit of reading newspapers can find the same news on different pages - "The Shawshank Redemption", the best movie I've seen this year, this is a story about hope. 】

In addition, the major cable news stations that can also get a share of the follow-up revenue have inserted a positive recommendation related to "The Shawshank Redemption" in their morning broadcasts on the 26th, and what everyone didn't expect was that ABC, who could eat big heads, directly invited Roger Ebert to his studio and made a comment.

"Unlike other prison movies, 'The Shawshank Redemption' is about the continuation of friendship and hope in the ups and downs of life."

"The protagonist is Andy, played by Tim Robbins, who has been sentenced twice to life for the murder of his wife and lover."

"Although he is the protagonist, there is not a single shot from his point of view, from entering the prison to the end of the film, we can only see what other people think of him, and those opinions move me: the weak Andy has never fought for anything, he is just staying true to himself, at all times, hopeful, patient, leading by example, waiting for opportunities."

"Compared to movies that can stimulate people's senses, "The Shawshank Redemption" has a terrible title, it doesn't appeal to young people's prison themes, and there are no action scenes in it, and the leading actor's fame is quite limited, but-"

"It's still a very good movie."

"Shawshank Prison is a place where humanity is annihilated, and the long-term mental destruction of the dark day has institutionalized every prisoner, and the guys who live in it are depressed, desperate, and numb, but with the arrival of Andy, he sticks to his humanity, always cherishes the hope and imagination of freedom, and at the same time chases freedom, he also gives his companions a new life."

"Of course, he is not a moral person, he also has his own feelings, he also has his own ideas, in order to pursue freedom, he can escape from prison, in order to teach the warden a lesson, he exposed the other party's crimes, and stole the warden's ill-gotten gains, he brings hope to people at the same time, and the response that follows is full of truth, although there is no revenge, but it is this feeling of reaching the point that is the most real place."

"Because Andy, he has never been blinded by hatred."

"He knows better than anyone else that he is seeking freedom, not endless hatred......

Almost overnight, news about "The Shawshank Redemption" spread throughout America.

No one knows how an ABC movie could suddenly be discussed by so many critics.

No one knows that this movie, which has been in theaters for a year and has no highlights at the Oscars, suddenly became sought after by people, and the sudden love even made many people feel that they have lived a few days less?

But it doesn't matter if you're surprised!

Or rather, that's what everyone wants!

What's more, on the 31st, the movie will continue to be broadcast on ABC TV!

It was with that inexplicable blowing of water that at 8 p.m. on the 31st, during the embarrassing time period of Tuesday, 21 million people in America stood in front of the ABC station and watched the movie on TV!

Anyway, don't want money, don't look at nothing!

And people's reactions are not the same-

Don't take a break:

"What is this movie about? Why are you so boring! ”

"Why is this story so bland? It's good that I didn't go to the cinema to see it! ”

"Stoned open the sewer pipe? Would I believe this kind of plot? ”

Critically acclaimed:

"Andy faces every day with a smile, he firmly believes that he is a bird in a cage, and he is always looking for freedom!"

"Oh! That's the movie we want! Why can that rotten person become a prison warden? Why can those rotten people exercise their rights unscrupulously! It's because they're there! That's why we're being treated like this injustice! ”

"No wonder those media and critics are strongly recommending this film! Because we used to have the same hope as Andy, but after a long time, we all ended up becoming Red! We used to believe in them! But what they did brought us endless disappointment! If it weren't for their excessive greed! Why are we angry? ”

Despite the bad reviews, the name of the movie has been completely played out anyway.

Just after America, nearly one-tenth of the group watched this movie, and the voice of public opinion has risen.

Under the analysis of the media and the recommendation of film critics, many blacks no longer care about whether whites are oppressing blacks on the continent of America, and whether they need to continue to fight like the 'Million Black Men's March' half a month ago, and use more fierce methods to seize the interests that should belong to them.

Instead, he set his sights on the white cops who, like in the movie, tried to use perjury to deprive Simpson of his freedom.

The white people, who were already dissatisfied with Simpson's behavior, also saw the news revealed by the major media intentionally or unintentionally, and when they learned that the Foreman policeman who was convicted of perjury by the court actually gave an interview to a female playwright for money, and told the other party about the process of solving the crime in his career, the flames of anger were also aimed at him.

As a result, on the afternoon of November 1, an evaluation came from Washington.

Although Roland didn't listen to it, he understood it to the effect: it is nothing more than saying that "The Shawshank Redemption" is a good movie, Andy sticks to hope, yearns for freedom, and gains friendship; And in the face of injustice and the pursuit of freedom, he is not bound by hatred, but transforms hatred into forward momentum; The whole movie also reminded him of Foreman, and although the whole case is still under investigation, he believes that with the perseverance of all the people in the country, the light of hope and freedom will surely come to the world.

In fact, these are all known things, but there is no way, who made the plot of the movie so similar to reality?

Blacks and whites, no one likes anyone, and at this time, a guy who has clearly done something wrong is pushed out......

Then you can carry this pot well!

Who made you a stumbling block in everyone's quest for freedom?

Although there was only a one-day gap between the second and third broadcasts, unlike the five days between the first and second broadcasts, with a bunch of bigwigs popping up to recommend, the number of guys who watched the movie in front of ABC on the third night reached 30 percent of the total number of Americans, that is, more than 50 million!

What is the concept of 50 million?

Compared to the number of viewers at the Super Bowl, and compared to the number of people who listened to the verdict of the Simpson murder case, more than 50 million viewers were simply not enough to watch the movie!

But it's watching a movie!

I'm not watching a game!

Even if there are definitely guys who hate the movie, that's okay!

Under the condition that public opinion does not make trouble, the so-called protests will eventually be dissipated by anger against those who abuse their power!

Long live freedom!

And while ABC was rejoicing at the 50 million viewers, and several others were waiting to put the movie on the pay TV network, Roland, who was hiding at home as a boss, also received a phone call.

"Hello? Who is it? ”

"I'm Ronald."

“Oh~~~”

"Thank you."

"We're just in business."

"Doing business? Yeah！ Trade! You're doing a great business. ”

"I'm honored to be complimented by a rich man like you on the Forbes list."

"Really? Can you honor me too? If I'm not mistaken, the next time you're in New York should be the premiere of "Spider-Man"? That...... Almost next June? ”

"yes, what's the problem? If you need to advance it, then I can also discuss it with Sony. ”

"In advance? No, no, no, I just wanted to tell you, next time you come to New York, I'll treat you to dinner, Carl has always wanted to see you, but he hasn't been able to find the opportunity, and, I heard James say before, you own 20,000 shares of Berkshire Hathaway? Oh! The total share capital of their company is less than two million! You have more than one percent, and Warren didn't invite you to the company's annual meeting, that's really unreasonable! But it doesn't matter, the next time you come to New York, arrange a few more days, and I'll take you personally to ask Warren what the hell is going on, of course, I still have a lot of friends who want to meet you......"

When Roland hung up the phone, his face was full of excitement.

"The Shawshank Redemption" is known to the American public?

What does this have to do with him?

Even if this film can shine in the videotape market next, Roland is not uncommon!

Earn 100 million a year?

He doesn't care if he makes a billion!

Because compared to Ronald's bald invitation, isn't money the same as paper?

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