In the quiet reception room, Qin Chuan and Ye Meiyun sat together, carefully examining a series of advertising prices on the table.
The table was detailed, listing not only single ad slots but also package deals.
Packages offered a slight discount, but the reduction wasn't significant.
After browsing from Channel One to Channel Fifteen, Qin Chuan noticed a stark polarization in CCTV's advertising model.
Prices ranged from prohibitively expensive to extremely cheap.
Channels like Children's, Military, Science and Education, and Opera had very low advertising fees. A five-second ad cost only a few hundred yuan, and a twenty-second spot barely reached three thousand yuan.
At this point, Qin Chuan hesitated. Should he choose the prestigious CCTV Channel One, or use the money allocated for Channel One to book multiple channels for a relentless advertising bombardment?
Before their departure, all senior management of Xinhua Electronics Factory had convened a meeting. It was unanimously decided that the budget for advertising on CCTV would be two million yuan.
This was a substantial amount, enough to book several other channels besides CCTV Channel One.
Qin Chuan was suddenly conflicted.
"Team Leader Leng, let's be upfront. What's the maximum discount for advertising on CCTV Channel One?" Qin Chuan asked, looking up.
"To be frank, our budget for advertising with you this time is around two million yuan. We can't afford more than that!"
"Other funds need to be spent on celebrity endorsements."
Across from him, Leng Ningshuang, who was elegantly sipping tea on the sofa, her slender eyebrows twitched at Qin Chuan's question. She put down her teacup.
Strictly speaking, two million yuan in advertising fees was a considerable sum in this era. Only large enterprises with deep pockets and strong capabilities would dare to invest such an amount. Smaller and medium-sized enterprises generally lacked such boldness.
"Mr. Qin, may I ask how long you intend for your advertisement to run? And what duration are you considering?" Leng Ningshuang inquired.
Qin Chuan answered without hesitation, "At least a month!"
"For the advertisement duration, at least fifteen to twenty seconds."
Advertisements shorter than ten seconds would be insufficient to introduce the electronic storage locker effectively and wouldn't leave a lasting impression on the public.
"Mr. Qin, your requirements are quite demanding!" Leng Ningshuang said with a wry smile. "You've seen the price list I gave you. The prices are very clear. You must understand that we are a state-owned enterprise, national television.
"Unlike some private enterprises or other companies, our prices are not subject to arbitrary changes!"
"Team Leader Leng, of course, we understand that," Ye Meiyun interjected. "However, the advertising prices for CCTV Channel One are truly too high, far exceeding our budget…"
Leng Ningshuang spread her hands helplessly. "Then it seems you will have to forgo CCTV Channel One's prime slots, as your requirements are quite high."
"A twenty-second advertisement, booking for a whole month, with a budget of only two million yuan! I'm sorry! At this price point and duration, I doubt even any time slot on CCTV Channel One can be accommodated. I am truly powerless regarding this matter!"
"I am just a team leader with limited authority. If you are really seeking a greater discount, you might try discussing it with our superiors."
Leng Ningshuang was being quite polite. If it were someone with a sense of superiority and a little power, they might have already been scornful, thinking, *You don't have the money but you want to advertise on CCTV, especially a prime channel like Channel One? Dream on!*
In the spacious reception room, an awkward silence fell. Qin Chuan, Ye Meiyun, Ge Lan, and Liu Kaihe, all sitting on the sofa, wore displeased expressions.
In their initial projections, even if CCTV Channel One's advertising fees were high, two million yuan should have been sufficient. However, the reality far exceeded their expectations.
It wasn't just expensive; it was astronomical!
With a budget of two million yuan, for a month-long, twenty-second advertisement, they wouldn't even stand a chance on CCTV Channel One.
It was 1998, not decades later. Qin Chuan didn't know how to describe his feelings at that moment.
"You can discuss amongst yourselves here for a while. I'll go attend to some work," Leng Ningshuang said, standing up.
"Alright! Alright, please be busy!"
The group quickly stood up. After Leng Ningshuang's graceful figure disappeared from the reception room, the four of them finally began to discuss heatedly.
"It's too damn expensive! This place is like a bloodsucking den. With a massive budget of two million yuan, we don't even qualify to advertise on CCTV Channel One!" Liu Kaihe grumbled in a low voice. What he had seen and heard today had surpassed his comprehension. He had never expected such an outcome.
"There's no way around it. They are CCTV, the best platform in the country!" Ge Lan stated. "They have no shortage of advertisers. Every day, countless wealthy large enterprises and companies are scrambling to throw money at them.
"We might think two million is a lot, but to them, two million is probably not even worth a second glance."
Qin Chuan finally said with a bitter smile, "We were shortsighted and lacked experience!"
"So, Xiao Chuan, what should we do now?" Ye Meiyun asked.
Qin Chuan pondered for a few seconds, then scanned everyone's faces.
"As I was looking at this advertising price list, an idea suddenly struck me…"
"Since CCTV Channel One is so arrogant, why don't we just forgo it? There's no need to grovel and beg for their favor!"
"At best, we might receive their pity!"
Ye Meiyun, Ge Lan, and Liu Kaihe all wore confused expressions, unable to grasp Qin Chuan's intended meaning.
Was he suggesting they give up advertising on CCTV Channel One?
Just then, Qin Chuan continued:
"I believe everyone has heard the saying, 'Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.'"
"Since we cannot afford CCTV Channel One, we can explore other avenues and focus our attention on scenery we might have overlooked…"
As Qin Chuan spoke, Ye Meiyun, Ge Lan, and Liu Kaihe felt a jolt. Being intelligent, they gradually began to understand the true intention behind Qin Chuan's words.
"Boss, do you mean we can choose to advertise on other channels?" Ge Lan was the first to speak, true to her role in marketing, her reaction was exceptionally keen.
Qin Chuan cast an approving glance. "Exactly!"
"However, if we choose other channels, wouldn't the effect be greatly diminished?" Liu Kaihe asked.
"One channel might yield that result, but what if we simultaneously select multiple channels and conduct an advertising bombardment?" Qin Chuan said meaningfully.
The expressions of everyone changed, and their faces quickly shifted from gloom to brightness, replacing their earlier dejection with unprecedented excitement.