NABC Chapter 149 TV Series Premiere
Chapter 149 TV Series Premiere
The group went straight to the meeting room on the top floor of the TV station. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was a bustling street, and inside, the aroma of tea filled the air.
Secretary Chen took out his notebook, opened it to a blank page, and prepared to jot down the key points.
Several high-ranking officials from the television station sat upright, clearly taking this publicity plan very seriously.
Wang Wei cleared his throat and spoke first:
"President Lin, the biggest selling points of our 'A Step into the Past' are its grand scenes, strong plot, and realistic scenery, so the core of our promotion should revolve around these three points."
As he spoke, he pulled a few pages from the folder beside him and handed them to Lin Zhou.
"As you can see, this is the plan I have proposed. After discussing it with everyone, we all agree that this plan is feasible."
Lin Zhou took the proposal and carefully reviewed it.
"First, I plan to place posters in various shopping malls and bus stops in Hong Kong."
Secondly, we collaborate with major newspapers and magazines.
"Furthermore, I plan to contact several mainstream newspapers in Hong Kong and ask them to create columns for 'A Step into the Past'."
The column will not only feature exciting stills from the series, but also interesting stories about the actors during filming in mainland China...
For example, the difficulties the crew encountered while filming on location in mainland China, and the efforts the actors made to portray their characters well.
"In addition, we will invite some well-known film and television critics to watch the finished film in advance and write reviews."
These comments don't need to be all praise; appropriate objective evaluations are more convincing and can spark discussion among viewers.
"Third, we should leverage the synergy between radio and television."
"Several programs on our station will arrange for the main actors of 'A Step into the Past' to be guests."
On the show, they talked about their filming experiences and even gave away a little bit of the plot, whetting the audience's appetite.
At the same time, we will also play the series' theme songs and incidental music on the radio, so that these catchy melodies can spread to every corner of the city first.
Lin Zhou put down the plan in his hand, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, pondered for a moment, then looked up at Wang Wei, gently shook his head and said:
"Your poster-posting is too much trouble, and we don't have enough time."
So I think we don't need to do any poster advertising. It's completely unnecessary and a waste of time. Just use your second and third ones!
Wang Wei could only nod in agreement helplessly. He had no choice but to do whatever the boss said.
The following day, the streets and alleys of Hong Kong were completely ignited by a bombshell piece of news.
The front pages of major newspapers were filled with a stunning still of Xiang Shaolong in armor from the TV series "A Step into the Past".
On the morning radio news, the host reported on this matter in an enthusiastic tone.
Even taxi drivers who heard the news couldn't help but discuss it with their passengers.
"Sir, have you heard? The premiere of 'A Step into the Past' is tonight!"
"Yeah, I know. I heard it's a really good TV series... blah blah blah..."
The passenger was clearly a gossip lover, and immediately took over the conversation when the driver asked him a question.
As everyone eagerly awaited, night fell as scheduled.
At 8 p.m., there were ten minutes left before the premiere of "A Step into the Past".
In Hong Kong, countless families tuned in to RTV (Rediffusion Television) well in advance.
In a family's living room, the family sat around the sofa, with a table full of snacks and tea.
In another tea restaurant, the owner deliberately tuned several televisions to the same channel, and diners, while eating, kept their eyes glued to the screens.
Even in the usually bustling night market, many vendors brought smaller televisions from home, attracting passersby to stop and watch.
Wang Wei stood guard in the backstage office of the TV station, his forehead beaded with sweat.
"Director Wang, it's 7:55 now, and the viewership share has already reached 58%!" an employee suddenly shouted, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement. (Given the technology at the time, television stations certainly couldn't monitor viewership ratings in real time; this was just for the sake of adding a bit of dramatic effect.)
"Stay calm, everyone stay calm!" Wang Wei took a deep breath and said, trying to appear composed. "It's not time to start the show yet, the best is yet to come!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the GG countdown on the screen jumped to the last second.
The melodious theme song, imbued with the spirit of war and battle, suddenly began to play!
In the scene, rolling mountains, galloping warhorses, and ancient palaces flash by in turn.
The final image freezes on the moment Xiang Shaolong travels through time.
When the three large, gilded characters "A Step into the Past" appeared, a murmur of admiration rippled through the backstage office.
At 8:00 AM sharp, the main program officially began.
The first episode is fast-paced and captivating, with Xiang Shaolong, a modern special forces soldier, unexpectedly traveling back to the Warring States period and experiencing the hilarious and absurd moments of his first encounter with the ancients.
The actors perfectly captured the wariness and bewilderment one feels when facing an unfamiliar environment.
Especially the magnificent real-life filming scenes in the drama...
The ancient battlefield with its swirling yellow sand, the military camp with its fluttering banners, and the magnificent palace of the Zhao Kingdom—every frame exudes exquisite texture, making the audience feel as if they are actually there.
Inside the tea restaurant, someone exclaimed, "This scene is so realistic! It's a hundred times better than those studio-shot period dramas!"
Someone immediately chimed in, "Absolutely! The scene where Xiang Shaolong rides a horse, with the grassland stretching as far as the eye can see, is so exhilarating!"
Backstage, in the office, real-time viewership data skyrocketed as the plot progressed.
"At 8:10 PM, the viewership share is 59%!"
"At 8:20, 62%! And it's still rising!"
"At 8:30, we've broken 70%! Director Wang, we've broken a record!"
The final exclamation caused the entire office to erupt in excitement.
The staff members hugged and cheered, and applause erupted.
A 70% viewership share means that almost half of Hong Kong households are watching "A Step into the Past" right now.
This figure not only broke RTV's annual premiere record, but also set a new high for Hong Kong drama ratings in the past two years.
Wang Wei was so excited that he trembled all over. He grabbed the phone on the table and eagerly dialed Lin Zhou's home number.
As soon as the call connected, he shouted incoherently:
"President Lin! It's a hit! The ratings are off the charts! The first episode's real-time viewership share has surpassed 70%!"
Lin Zhou, on the other end of the phone, was sitting in the living room, watching "A Step into the Past" with his family.
Upon hearing this news, the smile on his lips was even harder to suppress than AK's, yet his tone remained calm and composed.
"Understood, thank you for your hard work. Keep an eye on the plot data and don't let your guard down."
"Don't worry, Mr. Lin!"
Wang Wei responded repeatedly, hung up the phone, turned to the cheering employees, and raised his arms, shouting:
"Brothers! Let's give it our all! Tonight, the honor of our RTV will be completely secured by 'A Step into the Past'!"