<h4>Chapter 145: Commercial</h4>


    (Arthur POV)


    The president of Waves Corporation''s Anatolia region, Alfred Gold, a demon from Thorn Kingdom, sat across from me in my office.


    "Your channelunched a few days ago, and our Horn Kingdom sales have seen a slight increase. Though we can''t definitively link it to your channel''smercial breaks," Alfred said, settlingfortably in his chair. "As president of Waves Anatolia, I''m uncertain about payment calctions. We have no way to determine viewer numbers."


    I poured him expensive tea. "I''m confident your sales increase directly rtes to my channel''smercials."


    "Oh? How so?" Alfred''s curiosity peaked.


    Leaning back in my chair, I exined, "Beforeunching Hellfire channel, I established Pendragon Rating."


    "Pendragon... Rating?" Alfred muttered, just loud enough for me to catch.


    "Yes," I nodded. "Pendragon is my new surname, recing Morningstar. My family''s continued rejection made the change necessary."


    Alfred nodded. "I see, but what exactly is this Pendragon Rating?"


    I smiled. "Beforeunching Hellfire channel, Pendragon Rating was already operational with full staff. We approached 1,000 TV-owning families and convinced them to maintain ''Viewer Diaries,'' recording their daily viewing habits."


    Alfred nodded, though confusion still lingered in his expression. I continued, "My team also conducts telephone surveys, randomly calling households to learn what they''re watching."


    "Hmm..." Alfred stroked his chin thoughtfully.


    "Then we apply statistical extraption," I added.


    "Stati- what now?" Alfred asked, clearly lost.


    I chuckled before breaking down the concept in simpler terms.


    A few minutester, Alfred''s eyes lit with understanding. "So through all these processes, your Pendragon Rating can estimate viewer numbers and how many households watch each program?"


    I noted his intrigue in my rating methods. "Yes, and our data shows the majority of TV owners are watching almost all Hellfire channel programs."


    Alfred fell silent beforementing, "These rating methods are incredibly clever - far more efficient than Empirica''splicated systems."


    "Indeed." I nodded, secretly grateful to Arthur Nielsen, whose rating system I''d borrowed from my previous life.


    "Here''s my channel''s current rating data," I said, sliding the paper across.


    Alfred studied the numbers. "These ratings aren''t manipted, correct?"


    "Of course not," I chuckled. "That''s our honest estimation. Feel free to survey the kingdom yourself about their viewing habits."


    Alfred nodded. "Based on these numbers, we owe you about two thousand dors daily for promotion. With four days passed, that''s roughly 8-10 thousand dors."


    "Quite affordablepared to newspaper ads, isn''t it?" I whispered with devilish charm. "And far more effective."


    Alfred couldn''t disagree.


    "Now, with my channel''s sess," I continued, "we can have HOLLOW''s ''Finance Times'' report on it. Ourpanies will profit - after all, Hellfire shares patent rights to Waves Corporation''s signal technology. Others will want their own signal towers, bringing more contracts to Waves Corporation."


    "Sounds like a n," Alfred smiled, excitement gleaming in his eyes.


    True enough - Hellfire''s sess would drive demand for signal towers. With minimal regtions governing channels and tower construction, establishing new stations would be straightforward.


    And while I owned some signal patents, Waves Corporation would handle the actual tower construction, ensuring their continued profits.


    ***


    (3rd Person POV)


    Since Hellfire channel''sunch, media outlets had relentlessly attacked Arthur.


    <i>"Hellfire Channel Days Old: Experts Predict Copse Within Weeks - Another Misstep by Exiled Prince Arthur"</i>


    <i>"Was Arthur Morningstar Manipted by HOLLOW to Create Channel and Programs for TV Sales? Experts question whether the colored TV and VHS yer were truly inventions of Arthur."</i>


    Such headlines dominated Horn Kingdom''s newspapers. Then came an exception - "Finance Times," the premier publication for businessmen and investors, ran a striking front page: <i>"Hellfire Channel''s Remarkable Sess - Reports Show Near-Universal Viewership Across All Programs"</i>


    This praise stood in stark contrast to the wave of criticism flooding other papers.


    While Finance Times held limited appeal amongmon citizens, that wasn''t Arthur''s target. He aimed for businessmen and investors - Finance Times'' core readership - hoping to attract potential clients for Hellfire channel''smercial slots.


    ***


    (Ivan Rook POV)


    In my study, I reviewed thetest Finance Times edition, searching for investment opportunities and pitfalls.


    Finance Times had earned its reputation for exposing corporate scandals and predicting market trends. Its analysis had saved countless investors from disaster.


    Today''s headline left me underwhelmed, though I felt relieved seeing no mention of Rook Automobiles in any scandal reports or critical reviews that might affect our stock prices.


    "Hellfire channel?" I muttered, scanning the main article. "Hardly seems an effective advertising tform."


    Surely other businessmen shared my skepticism about television. Everyone knew TV was a poor investment.


    I''d bought one myself, caught up in the technological novelty - mainly to watch "The Demonfather" in better quality. But as an advertising medium? Doubtful.


    Setting aside the newspaper, I focused onpany documents, signing some contracts and discarding others. After two hours of work, I stretched and headed downstairs.


    Approaching the living room, I heard unexpectedmotion.


    "You despicable woman!" my wife''s voice rang out.


    My heart jumped. ''<i>Is she in danger?''</i>


    I rushed down the remaining stairs, bursting into the living room ready for confrontation.


    Instead, I found my wife on the couch, pounding the armrest in frustration.


    "How dare she threaten Mariana like that! That scheming witch!"


    I stood frozen, watching my normallyposed wifepletely absorbed in the drama.


    "No! Not amercial break now!" she protested as the screen shifted.


    As the show''s title "The Rich Also Cry" shed across the screen, my wife continued her passionate outburst.


    "Honey, please... it''s just a television program..." I ventured carefully.


    Mercy turned to me, her eyes shing with annoyance. "What now?"


    I retreated slightly, approaching her like a cornered beast before carefully settling beside her. "It''s just... you seem rather invested in this program. I''ve never seen you loseposure like this."


    This was shockinging from Mercy. She''d always maintained the perfect image of a noble demondy, raised in wealth with impable manners and eloquence.


    Mercy sighed, smoothing her dress as she collected herself. "I must apologize for my unseemly behavior. These dramatic tales they call ''telenovs'' have a way of stirring one''s emotions quite unexpectedly."


    "Telenov?" I questioned the unfamiliar term.


    "Ah," Mercy''sposure returned slightly. "It''s Arthur''s term for these dramatic programs on the Hellfire channel."


    "I see..." I nodded, turning my attention to the screen with newfound curiosity.


    Amercial yed - James ze and his band performing. The scene shifted to show him inserting a VHS tape, the TV disying a music video while text appeared: <strong>{James ze songs, now avable in VHS Tape format! Current 10% discount at all music stores!}</strong>


    While I barely registered the advertisement, Mercy''s eyes lit up at the word "discount." She turned to me with practiced charm,ying a delicate hand on my arm. "Darling, might I trouble you to purchase some of James ze''s music tapes?"


    Her sudden switch to courtly manners wasn''t lost on me.


    I stared at her, baffled. "But you''ve always disliked his music. Didn''t you call him a ''talentless showboat''st month?"


    "This is entirely different!" Arianna protested. "Being able to watch the performance while listening to the music - it''s intriguing!"


    Ah. The ''music video'' concept had captured her interest.


    "Fine, I''ll get you the tapes," I conceded with a sigh.


    "You''re wonderful!" Arianna nted a kiss on my cheek, leaving me grinning like a fool.


    Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.


    <i>''The TV advertising actually works!''</i>


    The realization struck just as my wife turned back to the screen, her expression intense as the telenov resumed. Finance Times hadn''t exaggerated - television promotion was devastatingly effective.


    I rose to leave, my mind racing with ns to secure advertising slots. Arianna didn''t even notice my departure,pletely engrossed in her program.


    <i>''Mypetitors haven''t realized television''s potential yet. This is the perfect moment to act,'' </i>I thought, already calcting the possibilities.