HBO Headquarters
President Krah Willy looked at the people in the conference room, his joy evident on his face.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the financial report for the fourth quarter of 1998 is out. I'm here to tell you that, as of now, our HBO's subscriber base in the US has exceeded 38 million, surpassing Paramount Online and ranking first in the US in terms of user numbers."
As his voice faded.
Denont, Head of Production; Smith, Vice President of Operations; Trina, Head of Advertising; Eva, Head of Marketing; and other executives all applauded in unison.
"Yes, we finally got first place."
"Now that we've claimed the top spot, we must not lose it."
"That's for sure. Redstone is old, but he refuses to admit it. It's only natural that they lost to us."
"Haha, in short, we won!"
"Yes, our hard work from a while ago was not in vain."
38 million subscribers, truly number one in the US.
It's worth noting that just one quarter ago, HBO and Paramount Online, two cable pay-TV stations, competed for the top spot for a full three years.
Now, the results have finally been revealed.
HBO's 38 million subscribers surpassed Paramount Online's 37.2 million subscribers.
"Quiet, ladies and gentlemen."
President Krah Willy raised his hand and said again, "At the same time, our revenue for the last quarter was 420 million US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 6.7%."
"This achievement, among Time Warner's subsidiaries, is higher than Time Inc.'s 310 million US dollars, and second only to Warner Bros. Pictures' 1.2 billion US dollars and Time Broadcasting Company's 850 million US dollars, ranking third."
In his words, President Krah Willy's face was full of pride.
Since 1992, President Krah Willy has served as the president of HBO.
He implemented a series of reforms that truly allowed HBO to develop.
In 1991, HBO's annual revenue was 3.4 US dollars.
But by January 1999, HBO's revenue for a single quarter reached 420 million US dollars, with annual revenue exceeding 1.5 billion US dollars.
For all of this, Krah Willy can be said to have made outstanding contributions.
He is the undisputed chief hero!
"Without Mr. Willy's leadership, our current achievements would have been absolutely impossible!" praised Denont, Head of Production.
"Exactly!"
Smith, Vice President of Operations, echoed, "I estimate that by the group's mid-year conference in June, Mr. Willy will surely be promoted to the group's (Time Warner) First Vice President."
Haha!
Who doesn't like a subordinate who speaks nicely?
"Oh, oh, oh, it's too early to say. I haven't done enough, and I will continue to work hard in the future," Willy said, waving his hands modestly.
"Huh?"
Just then, a subordinate pushed open the conference room door and handed a report to Smith, Vice President of Operations.
Smith looked at the report in his hand and immediately let out a sound of surprise.
"What's wrong?" Willy asked with a smile.
Smith didn't speak but instead handed the report to President Willy.
"Smith, today is a day of great joy, don't look so grim, be happy…"
Willy's words trailed off midway, his expression changed, and his smile vanished.
Willy's loss of composure was fully noticed by everyone around him. Denont, Head of Production, glanced at the report and saw the title: "UPN Report!"
...
Paramount Online (Viacom Television)
"Damn you, Kyle!"
Sumner Redstone, Chairman of Viacom, roared, "It's one thing for us to be surpassed by our old rival HBO, but I never expected that Kyle's UPN television network would quietly amass 21 million subscribers nationwide, trailing only our Paramount Online and Warner's HBO."
UPN Network's subscriber count ranked third in the US cable pay-TV sector.
This achievement was startling!
After all, whether it was Paramount Online or Warner's HBO, having over 30 million subscribers was the result of many years of development, during which the human and material resources invested were undoubtedly enormous.
However!
How many years has Kyle's UPN television network been acquired?
To develop into the third-largest paid television network in the US, you tell me, how could Redstone not be utterly astonished?!
HBO President Willy was also filled with shock when he saw this report.
"Gentlemen, in the realm of cable pay television, from now on, we will have one more competitor!" Redstone said in a deep voice.
"Yes, boss."
The several executives present immediately responded.
The Walking Dead is definitely indispensable to UPN's ability to rank third in the US in terms of user numbers.
Of course, the two animated series, SpongeBob SquarePants and Peppa Pig, are also important mainstays.
The most crucial factor is the "no-commercials strategy"!
The "no-commercials strategy" for American cable pay television was first pioneered by HBO, implemented in 2001. This groundbreaking initiative won countless viewers and received widespread praise and favor, laying a solid foundation for HBO to dominate the cable television sector.
But now, its originator is Kyle!
It's Kyle's UPN network!
The no-commercials strategy is absolutely one of the most influential measures in the history of cable television!
...[TV Little Emperor Kyle — Well-Deserved!]
This was the headline splashed across the front page of the California Entertainment News this morning.
[UPN Network, 21.25 million subscribers, ranking third in the US cable pay-TV sector;]
[WB Network, overall ratings and viewership in the fourth quarter of 1998, ranked fifth among American public television stations;]
Once the report was released, who would dare say that Kyle's title of "TV Little Emperor" was undeserved?
On this day, many people who bought the California Entertainment News couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Mr. Page, cool~!"
"I originally thought he only made cartoons and variety shows, but who would have thought he could be so good at making TV dramas too!"
"According to the newspaper's estimates, Mr. Kyle Page's current assets have already exceeded 3 billion US dollars."
"Yes, this huge fortune is enough to place him in the top 400, no, even the top 300 of the 1999 American Forbes rich list."
The public discussed, and major media outlets also forwarded the report.
In America, the pursuit of wealth transcends all else.
However… when Kyle saw this report, his eyelids couldn't help but twitch.
"Still can't compare to HBO."
"In 1998 alone, HBO's annual revenue reached 1.5 billion US dollars. I remember that in a certain year in the future, its annual revenue was 13 billion US dollars, and its subscribers exceeded 80 million."
"UPN Network, the road ahead is long and arduous!"