Chapter 265 - During the Live Broadcast! (1/2)

At the venue.

At the hall on the first floor.

w.a.n.g Xiong, Zhang Ye, and company dodged the hounding reporters. After flas.h.i.+ng their work pa.s.ses to the SARFT staff, they were let inside. There were already a few television station staff members and hosts, who had their programs halted, in there. On the podium, Zhang Ye immediately noticed the pot bellied Li Tao and the few Shanghai SARFT officials who had shown up to pa.s.s down the directive at his company.

Li Tao was giving instructions.

“Check the microphone.”

“Chief Li, it’s fine.”

“The press conference will be half an hour long and will be fully broadcasted live on a provincial Shanghai station. This is the closure to us making an example out of them. It is extremely important and no mistakes will be allowed. Or else, even if we did well at the beginning, problems at the end would definitely not allow us to pa.s.s!”

“We understand.”

“Don’t worry Chief Li.”

After finis.h.i.+ng speaking, Li Tao saw Zhang Ye and company in the distance. He ignored them and found SARFT staff who was presiding over the press conference, “Little Zheng, when you are doing the moderating, when it’s Weiwo Video and Dongchu Video’s turn, you can allow the reporters to question them. As for the rest, there’s no need to after they do their reflections. It is also to save on time. We need to guarantee that it can be done in half an hour.”

The one called Little Zheng was stunned before saying, “Yes, Leader.”

Li Tao nodded and left satisfied.

Little Zheng did not ask any superfluous questions, because he knew deep down. Dongchu Video? This was a new WebTV company established just this year. Back then, it was said amongst the Administration that this company “did not play the game”, did not concern themselves with personal connections, nor did they send gifts to the SARFT, hence they were deliberately held in review for a few months by the Shanghai SARFT. Finally, the Dongchu company wrestled with them and pa.s.sed the application material directly to headquarters before managing to pa.s.s the review. Little Zheng believed Chief Li was definitely trying to make it difficult for them. As for Weiwo Video? Little Zheng was not very sure of the situation, but he knew that they had definitely offended Chief Li Tao, or it was due to interests. It could be anything else too, but it was not something a person of his level could understand. He just needed to execute the Leader’s orders.

Zhang Ye did not hear their conversation. He and a few hosts met each other and got to know one another. Maybe they had seen each other’s programs, but did not know each other, nor had they ever met face to face. Now, with them in the same boat, their relations.h.i.+p naturally grew closer.

“Teacher Zhang Ye?”

“Teacher Zhou Hao.”

“Teacher Chen, you came too?”

A few of them stood together to talk, but their tones were full of sighs.

Host Zhou Hao whispered, “What do you make of it? We were doing our programs prim and proper and in accordance with the regulations, yet we were stopping just because they say so.”

Teacher Chen looked at him, “You must have offended someone, right?”

Zhou Hao turned silent, “Hai, don’t mention it.”

Teacher Chen said agitatedly, “I’m the most wronged. My program is a f**king children’s online program, yet it got axed by them. Aren’t they forcing me to the gallows?”

Another host said, “Wasn’t there some friction with the Shanghai SARFT back when your Dongchu Video submitted the WebTV application? They are probably using this opportunity to settle scores.”

None of them would dare say these words to others, but they were now compatriots in the same war trench, so there was nothing to hide. Furthermore, even if they didn’t say it out aloud, everyone knew it in their hearts.

Zhou Hao said angrily, “The programs that should be halted aren’t, but a large number of those that shouldn’t are halted. Teacher Zhang Ye, you must be feeling aggrieved too, right? I’ve seen your program before. It’s really good. However, there are a large number of programs plagiarizing you, yet what was the result? Those programs are all fine and dandy, but only yours has been taken off the air!”

Zhang Ye asked, “Why aren’t the other Talk Shows taken off air?”

Teacher Chen sighed, “I’ve only heard rumors, so it might not be the truth. Apparently, the two online television stations that plagiarized your program have very good relations.h.i.+ps with the SARFT official, Li Tao, who is in charge of this crackdown. It seems they paved their connections well when they first applied to be online television stations. Also, recently, there is to be some adjustments to the Shanghai SARFT chiefs, and I heard that Li Tao is definitely going to be promoted. Hence, his power in Shanghai is growing. Whatever he says is the law. Our company had previously worked with a few other Shanghai SARFT Leaders, but it ended up useless. Well, these words should not be said to outsiders. Just us knowing is fine. Hai, anyway, it’s such a world!”

There was another female host who said, “Have you all prepared the reflection piece?”

“What’s there to prepare?” Teacher Chen said, “Just say a few lines would do. We are all in broadcasting, don’t we have that tiny bit of skill?”

Zhou Hao said furiously, “I really don’t f**king wish to go up there!”

“What can we do other than going up?” Teacher Chen said, “We have already spoken to Li Tao, so if you resist him, are you planning to carry on working in Shanghai in the future? As long as we are in this industry, we are under their control.”

Zhou Hao said, “But my program has no problems at all! It has been aired for half a year! Why didn’t they say it was inappropriate during the review? Why didn’t they tell us to change?”

Teacher Chen looked at him, “Even a children’s program like mine was banned. The reason was spreading negative influences to youth. So go have fun at it.”

Through everyone’s exchange, Zhang Ye got a clearer picture of the situation. This crackdown was said to be making an example out of people, but it was actually Li Tao removing people he disfavored or those who did not benefit him! Whether their programs abided to the regulations or not was not Li Tao’s concern. He only focused on the benefit that was brought to him. Clearly, Zhang Ye and the hosts present were abandoned or used as p.a.w.ns in Li Tao interests’ chessboard!

Suddenly, the reporters surged in. They were allowed in!