Channel Domination and Hellfire Got Talent
Hellfire channel's enhanced signal strength drove TV demand across Horn Kingdom to new heights.
HOLLOW's profits soared into millions, with Arthur collecting substantial royalties from each sale.
By January 7, 1273, TV ownership in Horn Kingdom reached one million households.
As Hellfire expanded beyond Horn Kingdom, signal tower construction accelerated across Morningstar, Thorn, Japon, and Choson. Waves Corporation's partnerships with dwarven companies enabled remarkably swift construction.
Within days, Morningstar and Thorn bristled with Hellfire's high-powered signal towers.
The emergence of new channels across Horn, Morningstar, Thorn, and Japon further boosted TV sales.
These channels required Waves Corporation's infrastructure, and with Arthur holding key signal transmission patents, every new tower brought him additional revenue.
By January 12, 1273, Hellfire's broadcasts reached Morningstar's capital, Ferland city, exploiting the kingdom's lack of broadcasting regulations.
Soon, Hellfire's coverage blanketed most of Morningstar.
The signal reached deep into Thorn Kingdom despite minimal tower presence there.
Similar coverage extended to Japon and Choson - though Arthur deliberately maintained weaker signals in areas lacking proper tower infrastructure, masking the Ancient Tree's influence.
***
By January 17, 1273, Horn Kingdom saw other channels gaining viewers.
Though none matched Hellfire's dominance, these new channels began carving out their own audiences.
These emerging channels offered more affordable commercial slots, attracting both major corporations and small businesses. Their success encouraged investors and businessmen to further expand channel offerings and produce more telenovelas.
The trend spread beyond Horn Kingdom, with Morningstar launching its own channels, telenovelas, and commercial programs.
Their telenovelas clearly mimicked Hellfire's formula, but found success by offering viewers the chance to follow stories from episode one.
While Hellfire offered VHS copies for viewers to catch up on missed episodes, the high cost of VHS players limited this option's appeal.
Telenovelas grew so influential they spawned their own critical discourse.
Print media, fighting for survival against television's dominance, found new life by reviewing telenovelas. Magazine publishers transformed their declining publications into entertainment guides, drawing readers with detailed episode analyses and behind-the-scenes coverage.
The transformation proved remarkable. In mere weeks, the television and telenovela fever that began in Horn Kingdom swept through Morningstar and Thorn kingdoms with stunning speed.
The rapid emergence of new channels and telenovelas reflected this unprecedented pace of change.
Royalty quickly dominated the new medium. Thorn Kingdom's monarch established "Thorn Royals," while his wife and sons each launched their own channels, securing the family's media presence.
Morningstar followed suit.
King Luke, recognizing television's propaganda potential, created "Morningstar Power." Lucy's influence shaped the channel's direction, combining news and telenovelas with traditional propaganda - now enhanced by visual power. Their military might, once confined to print, now paraded across screens nationwide.
Choson and Japon's royal families similarly claimed their broadcast territories.
Empirica's government maintained strict control through its state channel.
The pattern became clear: society's most powerful figures had recognized television's unprecedented ability to shape public opinion, rushing to establish their own channels and control this new narrative medium.
***
Within weeks, Hellfire channel faced numerous competitors - exactly as Arthur had anticipated.
Far from concerning him, this proliferation played into his strategy. Across Horn, Morningstar, Thorn, Japon, Choson, and even Empirica, one system measured all channels' success: Pendragon Rating.
Arthur had methodically expanded his rating system alongside Hellfire channel's growth.
Over weeks, Pendragon Rating built unprecedented credibility, establishing itself as the first system to provide near-accurate viewing estimates.
With both "Hellfire Daily" newspaper and Hellfire channel regularly publishing channel ratings, viewers across nations came to trust Pendragon Rating's metrics as the industry standard.
This trust transcended national boundaries, gaining acceptance throughout the television landscape.
Channel operators increasingly relied on Pendragon Rating's data, using it to attract advertisers and set commercial rates. Businesses based their advertising investments on these ratings, effectively making Pendragon Rating the arbiter of television's economic value.
Media moguls attempted to replicate Pendragon Rating's success, but quickly discovered the system's hidden complexities, ultimately ceding control to Arthur's established framework.
The financial and logistical demands proved overwhelming.
Arthur maintained 1,000 "Pendragon Households" in each major market - Horn Kingdom, Morningstar, Thorn, Japon, Choson, and Empirica.
This network continued expanding, with Arthur strategically establishing measurement systems in nations on the verge of their own television boom.
Pendragon Rating's credibility stemmed from its demonstrable fairness. When competing channels in Horn and Morningstar conducted independent surveys, they confirmed Hellfire channel's dominance - a fact that, while frustrating, they couldn't dispute.
This transparency eliminated suspicions that Pendragon Rating might be manipulating numbers to benefit Hellfire channel. The system's accuracy, though advantageous to Arthur, appeared to simply reflect viewer preferences.
Despite Pendragon Rating's widespread acceptance, some remained skeptical - chief among them, Lucy Morningstar.
In her opulent office, Lucy scrutinized Morningstar's channel ratings, her jaw tightening at Hellfire's persistent dominance.
In Ferland City alone, the show achieved a 75 percent rating among TV-owning households. Across all Morningstar, Hellfire garnered an impressive 78 percent rating among TV owners, with other channels closely following Hellfire's lead.
The channel that ranked just behind Hellfire was the royal family's own network, Morningstar Power.
'These numbers can't be trusted,' Lucy brooded, suspicion darkening her thoughts.
The rating system's owner was, after all, her exile of a brother.
Her trust in Arthur had shattered the moment he abandoned their kingdom for Horn. She felt justified in her skepticism.
Surely Arthur was manipulating these numbers, determined to overshadow his family's channel out of spite.
Knock Knock
"Enter," Lucy commanded, pushing aside the 'Hellfire Daily' with barely contained contempt.
Her subordinate, tasked with conducting independent city surveys, entered nervously.
"Your findings?" Lucy's voice carried arctic chill.
The fiend demon swallowed hard, visibly trembling. "According to our surveys, your highness - Hellfire channel's popularity indeed surpasses Morningstar Power..."
Lucy's annoyance manifested as a wave of cold energy, causing the demon to retreat a step.
"Thank you for your honesty."
The fiend demon startled at Lucy's unexpected grace.
She nodded dismissively. "You may go."
After his hasty bow and exit, Lucy's composure cracked. Her own survey's confirmation of Hellfire's dominance left no room for denial.
She seized the latest "Forbes Magazine," fingers tightening on its edges.
Arthur Pendragon - his new identity - gazed from the cover, lounging confidently on a throne, his smile radiating assurance.
Lucy felt exposed under that printed gaze, as if Arthur could see right through her pretenses, stirring an unfamiliar insecurity.
"How did you transform so completely, little brother..." she whispered, struggling to reconcile this media mogul with the 'weak prince' she'd known.
Lucy shook off her doubts. She's determined to do her best to overtake the Hellfire channel.
She knows she must handle content production herself—she doesn't trust Bobby to get the job done.
In fact, Bobby's channel is struggling.
***
While Lucy abandoned her studies and royal duties to elevate the royal family channel, Arthur had already begun filming "Hellfire Got Talent" auditions, staying several steps ahead in their unspoken competition.
The studio bustled with contestants from various races awaiting their chance. Arthur, directing the program, watched each performance intently.
Beyond the show's entertainment value, he evaluated potential signings for his record label.
The judges delivered seemingly spontaneous critiques, though Arthur carefully orchestrated their responses, feeding them direction through subtle prompts.
A new contestant approached the stage - a human whose presence commanded attention.
"Where are you from and what's your name?" asked Jude, the veteran singer turned judge.
"I am from Bharat Kingdom. My name is Frederick," the man replied, his distinctive mustache drawing all eyes.
Arthur studied Frederick closely, something hauntingly familiar about him stirring memories from his previous life.
After the judges' preliminary interview, Arthur sent a telepathic message: "Let him perform now. I want to see what he got."
The judges offered Frederick their customary good luck wishes.
"Thanks," Frederick nodded, adjusting his guitar before beginning his performance.
Arthur leaned forward, increasingly intrigued. Frederick's voice stirred echoes of a legendary performer from his previous life.
Noting the judges' underwhelmed expressions, Arthur sent a gentle telepathic nudge before their critique, suggesting they soften their response.
He didn't demand outright praise just because Frederick caught his interest - these veteran performers still needed their autonomy as judges. Instead, he merely guided them toward constructive criticism that would advance Frederick to the next round. Arthur wanted to see more of what this familiar talent might become.