Hong Kong was one of the three Special Administrative Regions. While its land area and permanent population were both much smaller than the capital's, its population density was far higher. It had a thriving economy, bustling trade, and an overwhelming number of media outlets.
Television alone was dominated by two major free-to-air broadcasters, Hong Kong TV and ATV, along with numerous small and medium-sized cable channels. Competition for viewers was fierce. Sometimes a difference of just 0.1% in ratings could mean shifting several places in the rankings.
Although Hong Kong TV and ATV had consistently controlled more than seventy percent of the television market between them, in recent years, they had come under increasing pressure from Pearl River Channel, Hong Kong Island Cable TV, and other competitors. Their program resources and ratings had been gradually chipped away.
The rivalry between Hong Kong TV and ATV itself was even more intense. The history between the two stations was so full of conflict that it could have filled a television drama hundreds of episodes long. By now, both sides were obsessed with ratings.
In recent years, the veteran ATV had consistently found itself on the losing end. Its internal problems were no less serious; different channels fought fiercely over resources, internal competition was rampant, and morale was poor.
Even 'Entertainment Three Talks', one of the Variety Channel's flagship programs, was facing enormous pressure.
As a prime-time interview show, 'Entertainment Three Talks' had averaged around a 3% viewership rating over the past ten years. But if only the most recent three years were counted, that average dropped to about 2.2%, sometimes even falling below 2%. That was undoubtedly a dangerous sign.
Chen Shuling, the show's host, understood this better than anyone. She had done everything she could to improve the program's quality because she didn't want to see it canceled.
The market was merciless. ATV wasn't a charity or a retirement home, and plenty of younger hosts were eagerly waiting for a chance to replace her.
On the surface, Chen Shuling seemed glamorous. Behind the scenes, however, she was constantly under pressure.
---
That was precisely why she had insisted, despite considerable opposition, on inviting the recently controversial Lu Chen onto 'Entertainment Three Talks' to discuss Hong Kong's new film support policy.
At the time, many members of the production team, as well as people within the station, felt Lu Chen was just a newcomer from the mainland. He had no established fanbase in Hong Kong. Given his status, they believed he wasn't qualified to appear on the show, worrying that viewers and industry insiders would criticize them for lowering their standards.
The results proved Chen Shuling's gamble had been the right one.
Perhaps Hong Kong audiences were curious about this handsome young star from the mainland, or perhaps the government's new film policy had touched a nerve and sparked widespread interest. Whatever the reason, the program's ratings climbed steadily throughout the broadcast.
By the final segment, they had broken through 5%.
Five percent. That was an astonishing achievement, comparable to the ratings of truly top-tier programs. The last time 'Entertainment Three Talks' had reached such a figure was when they had invited the film, television, and music superstar Yanni as a guest.
The ratings weren't the only success. Lu Chen had performed brilliantly throughout the interview. His "catfish" story, in particular, was refreshingly original and offered viewers a completely different perspective on the issue. Rather than lowering the show's prestige, Lu Chen had injected it with fresh energy and vitality.
Chen Shuling was convinced that his looks, charisma, and eloquence would soon become the talk of Hong Kong. It felt as though a new star was slowly rising over the city.
---
The program continued, though it was nearing its conclusion.
Chen Shuling said, "Actually, the first time I saw you wasn't in person. Someone shared a video with me from Hong Kong Island Blog. You were singing in a bar in Lan Kwai Fong, weren't you?"
Lu Chen nodded. "That's right. It was my first time visiting Hong Kong, and a friend recommended Lan Kwai Fong."
Chen Shuling smiled. "And then you entered La Dolce Vita 97's singing competition and performed the song everyone knows now, 'Favorite in Life'. I heard you wrote it yourself for your girlfriend?"
Lu Chen nodded again. "That's right."
The earlier part of the program had been almost like a debate, full of disagreement and confrontation. Now that the show was drawing to a close, the atmosphere had relaxed. It was time for lighter topics and celebrity gossip. Chen Shuling had an excellent sense of pacing, and Lu Chen was more than happy to go along with it.
The only person who probably wasn't happy was the other guest, Zhuang Dong. After Lu Chen had countered him several times in a row, he had practically fallen silent. The aggressive attitude he displayed at the beginning of the show had completely disappeared. Everyone watching could tell who had gotten the better of the debate.
A defeat was a defeat. If he continued arguing irrationally, he'd only embarrass himself in front of the audience and make Lu Chen look even better. Chen Shuling had clearly noticed Zhuang Dong's awkward situation, so she deliberately changed to a lighter subject.
Turning toward the camera, she smiled. "Many viewers may not know this, but Mr. Lu Chen's girlfriend is the mainland pop diva Chen Fei'er. Her two most recent television dramas have both achieved phenomenal ratings at home and abroad. I should also mention that the screenwriter and male lead of both dramas was Lu Chen himself."
She looked back at him. "So, Lu Chen, is Chen Fei'er the heroine of your first movie as well?"
This time, Lu Chen shook his head. "No. The heroine is a new actress from Hong Kong. Aside from me serving as both the male lead and director, most of the cast of 'A Chinese Ghost Story' consists of Hong Kong actors, including our production partners."
The Hong Kong government's new film support policy included strict requirements. For example, more than sixty percent of a film's cast had to be local Hong Kong actors in order to qualify. That rule was mandatory.
Of course, the main reason Chen Fei'er hadn't been cast was simply because of scheduling conflicts.
Chen Shuling smiled. "Then we'll all look forward to your film's release. Before we wrap up today's program, could you answer the viewers' requests and perform 'Favorite in Life' for us one more time? I love that song too."
Lu Chen readily agreed. "Thank you. Of course, I'd be happy to."
This had been arranged by the production team beforehand, so it wasn't a surprise request; Lu Chen had expected it. Even without an official release, 'Favorite in Life' had become a hit across Hong Kong solely through a cellphone video. By now, the song had practically become Lu Chen's trademark.
This Cantonese classic had played a huge role in helping him break into Hong Kong's entertainment industry and establish a following among young audiences. It had fulfilled its purpose perfectly.
And so, this episode of 'Entertainment Three Talks' came to an end with Lu Chen sitting at the piano, singing 'Favorite in Life'. After the program aired, it sparked an enormous response both inside and outside Hong Kong's entertainment industry.
(End of Chapter)
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