On competition day, the Los Angeles downtown sports arena buzzed with a raucous crowd.
CBS's broadcast van was already in place.
Mark Thompson sat at the anchor desk, adjusting his tie with practiced precision, his calm demeanor masking deep reluctance for this "lowly" assignment.
"Good afternoon, viewers. Welcome to CBS's coverage of the Los Angeles DDR City Championship qualifiers. We now go to our field reporter, Sarah Chen, for a live update."
His opening was textbook professional, but his voice lacked the cadence of serious news, carrying a perfunctory edge.
The screen cut to Sarah Chen amidst a sea of people at the venue.
"Sarah, what's the scene like?" Mark asked through his earpiece.
Sarah's voice crackled with excitement over the crowd's din. "Mark, you wouldn't believe the energy here! It's like a massive party!"
The camera panned to the arena's interior—dazzling lights, thumping music, and a churning crowd filled the screen. Contestants, some in pro dance gear, others in casual wear, radiated anticipation. The judges' panel, staffed by prominent local dance experts, sat poised.
Sarah's voice carried the crowd's fervor. "The competitors are top-notch, and we've got renowned LA dance pros judging."
Mark nodded politely, clearing his throat for what he deemed a tedious broadcast. "Good afternoon, viewers. We're live at the DDR Los Angeles City Championship qualifiers."
His tone was steady but tinged with detachment.
Yet, as the competition unfolded, some performances caught him off guard. Players didn't just mechanically hit arrows. Many wove in complex street dance moves, Latin spins, even balletic grace, using the game's prompts as a springboard for personal flair. Their physical coordination and stage charisma, perfectly synced with the music, began to shift Mark's perspective.
The broadcast rolled on smoothly.
Suddenly, the director's urgent voice burst through his earpiece. "Mark! Mark! The ratings! They're exploding!"
Mark's brow twitched. He muted his mic, whispering, "Calm down, Bob. What's going on? Don't mess with me."
"It's real, Mark! Our ratings are spiking—surpassing the rival network's NFL preseason game!"
The studio froze. Staff, mid-whisper, gaped in disbelief, the hum of equipment the only sound.
Then, the front desk phones erupted. Viewers flooded the lines, asking about the event and demanding reruns.
Mark was stunned. The screen showed sweating, dancing youths and roaring crowds, paired with the director's surreal ratings data. A jolt of realization hit—this "arrow-stomping dance game" he'd dismissed held immense, untapped power.
He began scrutinizing the screen intently.
During an ad break, Mark reconnected with Sarah, his tone now earnest. "Sarah, interview standout players and judges. I want their thoughts on DDR, why they're competing, their stories—details, now."
Hanging up, he snapped at his assistant, "Get me everything on DDR—street dance culture, esports, and those judges' backgrounds. Fast!"
In subsequent segments, Mark's delivery gained passion. He wove in fresh insights, discussing the cultural roots of DDR's dance moves, analyzing players' techniques and reactions, even offering basic commentary on complex maneuvers. He started to grasp why this "simple" game drove such fervor.
He realized this wasn't just a game—or a broadcast. It was his chance to shed the "fall guy" label and score a career-defining win.
The Los Angeles DDR City Championship ended in a wave of cheers.
That night's ratings report rocked CBS. The DDR broadcast crushed all competitors, setting a six-month high for the time slot.
Mark Thompson's name was now tied to "ratings miracle" and "phenomenon program."
He sensed DDR's potential—and esports' nascent power—was far from fully tapped. He'd stumbled onto the crest of a new wave.
The next morning, Mark knocked on his supervisor's door. "I propose a deep-dive interview show with the LA DDR champion, two reruns this week, and CBS should push for full coverage of the global finals, including live Tokyo broadcast rights."
His supervisor's gaze was layered. DDR's sudden "goldmine" status had drawn attention. Colleagues who'd mocked Mark's assignment now scrambled to claim a piece of the success.
The supervisor tested, "Mark, I'll assign the interviews and reruns—"
Mark cut in, "Sir, I saw DDR's potential first. I captured the audience during the live broadcast. The interviews and reruns are mine."
Leveraging his initial "forced" role and impeccable live performance, Mark argued his case. CBS executives, swayed by DDR's revenue and buzz, acknowledged his standout work.
They greenlit his plan.
Mark retained control of the DDR coverage.
Leaving the office, he exhaled deeply. His team was already prepping the LA champion interview.
Meanwhile, DDR city championships blazed across dozens of global cities.