Chapter 12: Negotiating Broadcasting Rights and Butler Bulldogs' High-Caliber Coach
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### In America
**New York, NCAA Headquarters**
After a grueling 12-hour flight, Zhong Yuan finally arrived to negotiate the NCAA broadcasting rights. While outwardly, Zhong Yuan was the head of New Fox Sports, the real boss was someone else. His trip to New York was orchestrated by an investor.
Seeing the bustling city full of striking Western women, Zhong Yuan felt his journey was worthwhile. "This is indeed an international metropolis. I must secure these broadcasting rights!"
Gritting his teeth and clenching his fists to boost his morale, he entered the reception area and sat down to wait. He recalled the investor's words:
"As the first domestic sports website to engage with them, we must be present in person and show enough sincerity to convince them to grant us the broadcasting rights. We mustn't give them the chance to haggle. Our offer should be precise, firm, and hit the mark."
Zhong Yuan didn't doubt the investor's judgment. However, the current situation regarding broadcasting rights in the U.S. was quite complex. The funding required to secure the rights might far exceed the investor's expectations.
Recently, CBS had secured an 11-year exclusive broadcasting deal for the NCAA, costing a total of $6 billion, with an average annual cost of $545 million. This bold plan had caused a stir, making many sports event companies quite ambitious.
Luckily, Zhong Yuan's primary goal on this trip was to secure the text broadcasting rights as a trial. Given the current internet penetration and the number of netizens in China, text live broadcasting had significant market potential. As for video broadcasting, unless there was a dedicated TV program, the cost of data alone would be prohibitive for many fans. Wireless local area networks were just starting to roll out domestically.
Therefore, securing the text broadcasting rights first and establishing a market presence would give New Fox Sports a significant advantage. However, the downside of only having text broadcasting rights was that it was relatively small in scope, making the NCAA less interested.
"Zhong Yuan? Hi! I'm Jenny, the Associate Manager of the Marketing Department at NCAA. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Zhong Yuan looked up to see a middle-aged woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and slightly loose skin.
"No problem, ma'am. I'm the head of New Fox Sports from China, here to discuss the Chinese broadcasting rights."
"Alright, follow me!"
The sound of high heels clicked in the hallway as they walked into a conference room to start the negotiations.
Zhong Yuan showcased the traits of an Eastern businessman, eloquently outlining New Fox Sports' plans and the market potential after acquiring the broadcasting rights. He also highlighted the company's qualifications and strengths, with a bit of embellishment. He meticulously calculated the prices, painting an attractive picture for the Americans.
However, the Americans were not easily swayed and negotiated fiercely. In the end, Zhong Yuan secured the short-term rights at the investor's maximum budget after several transcontinental phone calls, making it clear that it was a seller's market.
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### In Oklahoma City
All teams began a new round of preparations. The pace of March Madness was intense, even at the Final Four stage.
**The Day Before the Game**
The North Carolina Wolfpack arrived at their designated training ground. Herb Sendek constantly tested Wang Song's adaptability and explored his untapped potential. He wanted to see how much this young Asian giant had improved over the season.
However, the intensity of the intra-squad scrimmage did not push Wang Song to his limits, and he played somewhat conservatively, not revealing too much of his ability. Nonetheless, he still performed effortlessly.
"Damn it, Josh! I told you to defend properly. Are you sleepwalking? Get closer!" Herb shouted in frustration, though the training outcome was within his expectations. With the Final Four approaching, the practice was mainly to keep the players in shape.
"Come here, Wang. I want to talk to you," Herb called after practice.
"Do you want to take your talent to the NBA? Honestly, in my long coaching career, very few college players have the potential to make it to the NBA. Like after the last game, many scouts have been asking for your information."
Herb asked this with a bit of apprehension. Although the tournament wasn't over, if Wang truly aspired to the NBA, it would mean parting ways. Herb wanted to keep Wang to help the next generation of players and restore UNC's glory but didn't want to hinder his future.
Wang was silent for a moment before responding, "Coach, I can't give you a definite answer right now. You know, it's a dream for most players. If the opportunity comes, I won't miss it. For now, I want to win the NCAA championship. That would be my first team honor in my basketball career."
This answer reassured Herb. "Yes, what's more important than the current games? Farewell is just for a better reunion!"
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### Game Day
**Lloyd Noble Center**
The crowd wasn't as packed as the game between the Oklahoma Sooners and North Carolina Wolfpack, but the attendance was still good. Fans of both teams and many neutrals filled the stands, eager for the matchup between the two dark horses.
"Bets are open! A bag of peanuts says North Carolina Wolfpack wins today and advances to the finals."
"I'll bet a box of cigars! The Wolfpack crushed the number one seed, Oklahoma Sooners. Beating a potential champion is almost like winning the championship."
"You two are dreaming. Butler Bulldogs have a team full of NBA prospects. Especially their coach Todd, who's already being courted by NBA teams for assistant coaching roles."