Exchange

Turner raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

"Hanna-Barbera has a lot of stock, but we can't keep playing ' The Flintstones ' and ' Yogi Bear ' on a loop 24/7. Viewers will get tired of it, and the producers will get even more tired of it." Nakayama Takuya tapped the table. "You need fresh blood, lots of cheap fresh blood that can keep kids hooked."

After saying that, he gave Miyagawa Yasuo a wink.

Miyagawa Yasuo immediately opened his briefcase and laid out the prepared documents on the table.

"Mashin Hero Wataru and Mado King Granzort." Miyagawa Yasuo tried to make his English sound less stiff, pointing to the brightly colored mecha on the poster. "Each episode is 22 minutes long, with a standard 'GG' (gaming) section. The stories are simple, requiring no thought, and most importantly, Ichibandai should be happy to pay a price that will satisfy you."

He placed a Bandai toy sales report on the poster.

Turner glanced at the astonishing sales figures, his previously indifferent gaze focusing slightly.

He picked up the documents and quickly flipped through them, his finger lingering for two seconds on the pictures of the exaggeratedly designed robots before he closed the folder and tossed it back onto the table.

A soft snap made Miyagawa Yasuo's heart skip a beat.

"In principle, no problem." Turner's voice was unreadable. "CN does need a lot of anime content, and I don't mind adding some Japan anime. I'll have the content evaluation department follow up; as long as there's no excessive violence or pornography, we'll accept it if the price is right."

Just as Miyagawa Yasuo was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Turner suddenly leaned forward, his hawk-like eyes looking past Miyagawa and fixed on Nakayama Takuya.

"However, Mr. Nakayama, business is business, and friendship is friendship." Turner's lips curled into a playful smile. "You personally made a trip to Atlanta for these two animated films; I don't believe it's just to help Sunrise sell their movies. I want something too."

"You said it." Nakayama Takuya was not surprised.

"I want to buy the rights." Turner's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. "I know your father-in-law is the director of TV Tokyo, and you have a lot of influence there. I've got my eye on your highest-rated Variety format."

Nakayama Takuya paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Mr. Turner, you wouldn't be thinking of ' Supermarket Battle,' would you? Forgive my bluntness, but United States today enjoy global support and the economy is booming. A show about frantically running through a supermarket to grab a few steaks is unlikely to resonate with the United States middle class."

Turner paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, the oppressive atmosphere dissipating considerably. "You're funny, Nakayama. Yes, United States don't lack that kind of stuff. What I want is that—that adrenaline-pumping, blatantly money-driven show."

"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Nakayama Takuya said the name for him.

"Bingo." Turner snapped his fingers. "That stage design, that lighting, that tension of 'only one chance to call for help.' That's what United States want to see, that's the ultimate romance of capitalism. I want the North America adaptation rights."

Miyagawa Yasuo listened in stunned silence.

He originally thought he was just there to sell animated films, but unexpectedly, Nakayama, the executive director, immediately started negotiating a major deal that could potentially change the landscape of United States television.

"A sharp eye." Nakayama Takuya put down his coffee cup, unable to help but admire the media mogul's keen intuition.

Introducing "Who Wants to Millionaire" at this time would definitely be a ratings bombshell.

"Sure," Nakayama Takuya agreed readily. "However, you'll need to send someone to Tokyo to discuss the specific details of the acquisition and the copyright fees with TV Tokyo. I'm only responsible for making the connection, not for negotiating the price."

"Deal." Turner stood up and extended his hand, his smile much more genuine this time. "As long as that program can be secured, and if we can reach an animation import agreement, I'll have someone arrange a trial broadcast during prime time after school this afternoon."

Their hands clasped together.

Ted Turner is an extremely efficient person.

As soon as he let go of her hands, he glanced at the gleaming gold Rolex, then grabbed the folder on the table and strode towards the door.

"Betty, you follow up on the rest of the details," Turner instructed the middle-aged woman who had been waiting in the corner without turning his head. "Take Mr. Nakayama and the others to Bacchanalia at noon, under the company's name. I have to go now."

Before Miyagawa Yasuo could react to this sudden order to leave, the media tycoon had already disappeared at the end of the corridor, leaving only the scent of expensive cologne.

The vice president, referred to as Betty, adjusted her glasses and wore a professional smile, "Mr. Nakayama, Mr. Miyagawa, the boss has a very full schedule this afternoon. Please forgive any inconvenience. The head chef at Bacchanalia has already prepared a table; it's the best French restaurant in Atlanta."

"No rush to eat." Nakayama Takuya waved his hand, his gaze shifting to a group of United States were walking in from the other side of the conference room carrying a stack of documents. "Let's get the business done first; you'll have a better appetite then."

The next stage of negotiations was up to the Sunrise Business Team.

The business executive brought by Miyagawa Yasuo clearly understood the essence of Nakayama Takuya's philosophy. "You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub."

When they slammed the meticulously edited sample episodes, each strictly limited to 22 minutes and even clearly marked the GG (Goblin) cut-off points, onto the table, the selection managers from CN Channel were visibly taken aback.

They were used to working on half-finished products that required extensive editing with scissors and even struggling to fill time limits.

This is the first time I've seen Japan adult film company release a "pre-made" film that can be directly added to a playlist.

But the real killer feature is the price.

"Five hundred US dollar for the first-run rights per episode."

Sunrise announced the figure, there was a brief silence in the conference room.

CN's content director even picked at his ear, suspecting there was a problem with the translation.

It's worth noting that even purchasing the re-run rights to Hanna-Barbera's old films from decades ago, or buying those crudely made stop-motion animations from an unknown small Eastern Europe country, would cost far more than that.

Five hundred US dollar? What's the difference between that and giving it away for free? In Atlanta, that amount of money wouldn't even cover the cost of air conditioning in this conference room for two hours.

"Are you serious?" The content director looked at Miyagawa Yasuo suspiciously. "This film isn't involved in any copyright disputes, or is it a banned product that was boycotted by the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association)?"

"I have a clean record and am officially licensed by Sunrise." Miyagawa Yasuo steadied himself and threw out the rhetoric that Nakayama Takuya had taught him, "But we added an additional agreement to the contract."

7