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Chapter 148: Rise of TV and fall of print media

As Horns Times owner, Ryder called an emergency meeting with his editorial board. The newspaper executives shifted nervously in their seats.

"Boss, revenue is plummeting. Other publishers report similar problems - advertising clients are jumping ship, and subscription numbers keep dropping," the editor-in-chief reported grimly.

Ryder\'s teeth clenched. "Has our negative coverage of television made any impact?"

Silence fell as the editor-in-chief shook his head.

Their discussion halted when a panicked employee burst into the conference room.

"Can\'t you see we\'re in a meeting?!" Ryder snapped, his recent stress showing.

The employee bowed apologetically, words tumbling out. "Forgive me, Boss Ryder, but... Hellfire channel just launched their own news segment!"

"What?!" The room erupted in shock.

"Yes sir! They\'re calling it \'Hellfire News at Noon,\' and commercials announce \'Hellfire News at Evening\' starting soon!"

Ryder and his team rushed to the lobby, where their recently purchased TV showed "Hellfire News" in progress. A poised succubus demon faced the camera.

"Good afternoon, I\'m Alissa Dark, welcoming you to Hellfire News, bringing the kingdom\'s stories directly to your home."

The broadcast cut seamlessly from studio to field coverage, showing their reporter at the scene of a high-profile drug lord assassination.

Watching the polished news broadcast, Ryder attempted bravado. "Don\'t worry, people will still trust our printed news over television reports!"

But his words rang hollow as they witnessed television\'s powerful new threat to print media.

***

Many had hesitated to purchase TVs, questioning their value despite the price. But when word spread that Hellfire channel offered free news broadcasts direct to homes, resistance crumbled and sales surged.

People also noticed newspapers\' sudden silence about television. These publications, once vocal critics of TV and Hellfire channel, now seemed to avoid the topic entirely.

Behind the scenes, media moguls had realized their criticism only provided free publicity for television. They\'d ceased their negative coverage, but the damage was done.

The moguls\' belated epiphany came too late - their earlier criticism had already helped promote TV and Hellfire channel. Now, "Hellfire News" marked the beginning of newspapers\' obsolescence.

Even before launching their news segment, Hellfire\'s telenovelas had wounded print media. Hellfire News was the final nail in the coffin.

Viewers quickly discovered television news offered more comprehensive coverage than newspapers.

Even those without TVs gained access to Hellfire channel through public spaces. Taverns, bars, and restaurants like Lamb\'s Blood installed large TV, drawing crowds to watch while dining or drinking.

These establishments found their TVs attracted new customers while keeping existing ones lingering longer. The device that media moguls had once mocked had become a powerful tool for business growth.

At Lamb\'s Blood Restaurant\'s New District branch, crowds gathered for the noon "Hellfire News" broadcast.

The restaurant had become a hot spot for white-collar workers, who discovered the novel pleasure of dining while watching television.

The succubus anchor, Alissa, appeared on screen to introduce a special guest.

"Let\'s welcome the man, the myth, the legend, Arthur Morningstar!" Alissa delivered Arthur\'s scripted introduction.

"It\'s Arthur Pendragon now, Ms. Dark," Arthur corrected as he entered the studio.

"My apologies - Arthur Pendragon!" Alissa smoothly amended.

The restaurant patrons stirred with surprise. "The exiled prince changed his surname?"

"Why didn\'t the newspapers report this?"

Indeed, print media had missed - or ignored - Arthur\'s name change.

Through Hellfire News, viewers learned not only of Arthur\'s new identity but also that the telenovelas and news segments were part of his grand vision for the channel.

The interview\'s revelation of "Hellfire Got Talent," an upcoming talent search show, sparked immediate excitement. Viewers who believed they possessed special abilities leaned forward, suddenly seeing a path to spotlight.

***

Arthur savored his channel\'s growth, particularly pleased with "Hellfire News" - a segment he\'d methodically planned.

Though he\'d maintained a stoic front against newspaper publishers\' negative campaigns and intimidation tactics, their actions had irritated him more than he\'d shown.

Now "Hellfire News" would deliver his counterstrike, likely destroying most Horn Kingdom newspaper publishers, with plans to extend this media revolution across Anatolia once TV distribution expanded.

His news team came primarily from a recently bankrupted newspaper publisher - skilled professionals he\'d acquired along with their entire operation, transforming it into Hellfire News.

***

The Hellfire newsroom buzzed with tension as reports arrived about thugs vandalizing several TV stores.

The news team - reporters, fact-checkers, and editors - worked their sources. Reliable informants suggested media moguls\' involvement in the attacks.

That evening, "Hellfire News" led with comprehensive coverage of the vandalism. Their focused reporting and implied connections to media moguls sparked public outrage.

The attacks on TV stores continued for days, with Hellfire News relentlessly covering the violence and confronting unresponsive police and authorities.

Viewers\' anger mounted at law enforcement\'s apparent indifference.

News of public outrage reached the Horn Kingdom\'s King, who immediately ordered an investigation.

Under royal pressure, police finally acted. Within days, they revealed the masterminds: Ryder Cage, Shane Rights, and several other media moguls.

This exposure transformed public perception of newspapers. Trust crumbled as readers realized the extent of media manipulation.

Meanwhile, Hellfire News, though barely a week old, had established unprecedented credibility.

***

As 1273 dawned, "Hellfire Got Talent" launched its auditions, drawing hundreds of hopeful demons, elves, and dwarves.

Arthur had strategically recruited aging, once-popular Horn and Morningstar singers as judges, giving these veterans new relevance while lending the show credibility.

Television ownership had exploded to 780,000 households across Horn Kingdom.

Though this represented only a fraction of the kingdom\'s millions, achieving such penetration in mere weeks signaled a cultural transformation.

Hellfire channel\'s programming continued driving TV sales upward, reshaping Horn Kingdom\'s entertainment landscape.

January 3, 1273 marked television\'s expansion as color and more affordable black-and-white sets launched across Morningstar, Thorn, Japon, and Choson.

Empirica, already familiar with black-and-white TV, buzzed with anticipation for color sets.

Arthur acquired broadcast frequencies there, though Empirica\'s stricter media regulations posed challenges unlike Horn Kingdom\'s open market. Despite some bureaucratic delays, he secured broadcasting rights. His channel would launch soon, albeit with delayed telenovela episodes.

Existing channels in Empirica had struggled until recently. Now, adopting Arthur\'s commercial break model, they found new life as TV\'s popularity surged, sparked by Horn Kingdom\'s success.

Arthur had already secured broadcast frequencies across Morningstar, Thorn, Japon, and Choson - their proximity to Horn Kingdom simplifying the expansion.

His success brought both financial rewards and entertainment points. Though he\'d accumulated 80 million EP, he noticed telenovelas generated fewer points than films.

Yet television\'s triumph overshadowed this minor concern. Sponsors overwhelmed his telenovelas with offers, forcing him to turn many away.

The channel generated 10 million dollars from sponsorships, commercial slots, and production services featuring Hellfire talent.

While not matching his film revenues, these earnings proved remarkable for a weeks-old channel.

Hellfire channel\'s future would extend beyond telenovelas into anime and cartoons. Though eventually requiring separate channels, Arthur planned to initially test these formats alongside telenovelas.

Channel segregation could wait. His immediate focus was "Hellfire Animation Studio," newly approved for operation.

This opening allowed him to expand his artist recruitment, particularly eyeing Japon and Empirica\'s talent pools.

Empirica\'s established animation industry offered experienced artists ripe for poaching, while Japon\'s smaller but promising studios showed unique potential.

Despite Japon initially copying Empirica\'s style, both nations had developed distinct animation aesthetics.

[Hidden Quest Completed: You have successfully established your own TV channel!]

[Reward: Ancient Tree.]

Arthur blinked at the unexpected notification. "A reward for establishing the channel?"

"What exactly is this \'Ancient Tree\'?" he muttered, examining the reward details.

"What use could I possibly have for a tree..."