(3rd Person POV)
The TV networks had been playing catch up with
Hellfire Channel
since
Hellfire Got Talent's
first season ended weeks ago. With their flagship show on hiatus, other networks gradually closed the ratings gap with
Hellfire
.
Then
Hellfire
introduced live broadcast of the football game.
It wouldn't have been noteworthy if it was just another football match - but this was
"Live"
broadcasting, something other networks couldn't replicate.
Networks across
Horn
,
Morningstar
, and other nations tried countering with popular magic swordsmanship tournaments. While these helped them recover some ground, they still couldn't match the
Horn Premiere League's
football broadcasts.
The key factor was simple - TV viewers couldn't resist the novelty of watching events unfold in real-time.
At
Horn Network
Headquarters - ranked second in
Horn Kingdom
behind only
Hellfire Network
- an emergency meeting convened.
Benjamin Lopez, the network's chairman, called the meeting to address
Hellfire Network's
live broadcast capabilities.
"From
Hellfire's
announcement a few days ago, it became clear how they achieved live broadcasts for both football matches and news segments," Benjamin said, his tone serious. "It's all due to their new innovation - the
'Live Camera.'
"
Julian, one of the executives, spoke up. "It's remarkable how
Hellfire
, which isn't even primarily an electronics company, has pushed camera technology so far ahead."
"That's what frustrates me," another executive interjected. "
Impact
, supposedly the leading camera manufacturer, has become irrelevant. Meanwhile,
Hellfire
revolutionized the industry twice - first with color cameras, and now with live broadcast technology."
Unknown to them, Arthur had adapted the live camera technology from the
Dragon Ball
world, streamlining its bulky design through magical innovation. By replacing conventional components with magical alternatives - like substituting analog lighting systems with light-capturing spells - he'd created a more compact and efficient device.
Benjamin massaged his temples. "We can only speculate about
Hellfire's
methods. Their announcement mentioned the live cameras will be available through
Hellfire Electronics
. It seems the infamous exiled prince has been quietly building a research division for cameras and television technology."
He leaned back in his chair. "Until
Hellfire Electronics
begins distribution, we're stuck waiting. And we have no idea when these cameras will hit the market. Once again, we're at
Hellfire's
mercy."
The network had no alternatives. They'd hoped copying
Hellfire's
telenovelas and news segments would help close the gap, but the distance between them only seemed to grow wider.
To make matters worse,
Horn Network
and its competitors realized that even after acquiring live cameras, they'd still need to lease transmission tower access from
Hellfire Network
for optimal broadcast coverage.
The
Horn Premiere League's
fifth match on May 13th saw
Hellfire FC
face off against
Inferno United
, driving
Hellfire Network's
ratings to new heights across
Anatolia
.
Even in regions where the live broadcast suffered from weak signals or delays, viewers remained captivated as football's popularity steadily grew.
According to the
Pendragon Survey
,
Hellfire FC
had emerged as the league's most popular team, their dominant victory over
Inferno United
only cementing their position at the top.
The following day's sixth match pitted the second-ranked
Horns FC
against
Hell Knights
. While
Hell Knights
showed marked improvement in their play, they still fell to
Horns FC's
superior technique and teamwork.
As the
Horn Premiere League
gained momentum, corporate interest followed. Companies began approaching football clubs with sponsorship offers, transforming the sport's financial landscape.
The club owners who'd initially doubted Arthur's vision now saw the full scope of his strategy unfolding. As longtime football enthusiasts, they'd dreamed of seeing their beloved sport gain widespread recognition. But the prospect of turning a profit - something they'd considered impossible - proved Arthur's business acumen extended far beyond entertainment.
The
Horn Football Association
, under Arthur's ownership, also began securing corporate sponsorships. Stadium advertising boards and team uniforms in the later
Horn Premiere League
matches would soon display sponsor logos.
By May 21st, viewers noticed prominent brands like "
HOLLOW
" adorning the stadium banners, while player uniforms featured various corporate emblems. But what caught the audience's attention most was the distinctive bottles the players drank from during breaks.
During a commercial break, Karnox of
Hellfire FC
appeared on screen, taking a long drink from a sleek bottle. "Get energized with
Monster
!" the announcer proclaimed. "The new sports drink from
Hellfire Beverage
! Just 0.3 dollars at your local store - with special discounts at
Horn City Hellscape Center
!"
The captured the imagination of viewers young and old alike.
Arthur watched the
Monster
commercial from his office with satisfaction. The sports drink was another innovation he'd acquired from the
Dragon Ball
world weeks ago, adapting its electrolyte formula and energy-boosting compounds for local production. The timing couldn't have been better - the drink's launch perfectly complemented football's rising popularity.
Monster's
success would largely depend on football's growing popularity. Arthur knew the sports drink had potential to challenge "
Red Mana's
" market dominance.
While football continued its upward trajectory, another project reached a crucial stage - the
Harry Potter
film entered its final phase of editing.
The
Hellfire Network
would soon introduce
movie trailers
to promote the film, a marketing concept this world had yet to discover. Arthur intended to revolutionize how films were advertised.
Several major studios had already requested advance screenings, curious about Arthur's latest project. Though these were his longtime partners, he'd noticed their loyalty wavering as they gravitated toward studios with established VFX departments.
Arthur couldn't fault their skepticism - his directing hiatus had led the film industry to question his capabilities.
The
Lava Brothers
, a prominent demon studio from his
Morningstar
days, particularly exemplified this shift. Despite operating their own
VFX Studio
- one they'd purchased from Arthur himself - and producing several blockbusters, they saw little value in maintaining ties with
Hellfire Studio
.
Their only consistent contact came through inquiries about
Lord of the Rings
sequels.
Arthur remained unfazed by their attitude.
The
Lava Brothers
, like other studios, assumed he'd resigned himself to television, believing his blockbuster filmmaking days were behind him.
The television industry's rapid growth couldn't mask a fundamental reality - even at its peak, monthly TV revenue paled in comparison to what a successful blockbuster film could generate in just four weeks. Factor in the substantial costs of operating TV networks, and the financial disparity became even more stark.
This perception of television as a lesser market led major film studios to essentially abandon it to Arthur. Rival studios,
Titan Pictures
among them, had grown complacent. They dismissed Arthur as a serious competitor, convinced he would remain confined to television's modest profits while they maintained their grip on the more lucrative film industry.
The next day brought an unprecedented surprise to the entertainment industry when
Hellfire Network
launched a revolutionary film promotion.
The network, which covered most of
Anatolia
and
Empirica
- though live broadcasts hadn't reached the
Empirica
region yet - aired the
"Harry Potter"
trailer across both territories simultaneously.
Viewers sat transfixed as something entirely new unfolded on their screens: A misty train station emerged from darkness, its architecture grand and mysterious. Above it, perched on distant cliffs, loomed an ancient castle beneath a full moon.
"In a world where magic shapes reality," a deep voice resonated, "three races stand at the crossroads of destiny. Humans... Demons... Elves..."
The scenes shifted rapidly - a bustling magical metropolis, Hogwarts Castle bathed in ethereal light, students facing the Sorting Hat. Each moment revealed more of this magical world where humans, demons, and elves studied together.
"Where courage will meet intellect," the narrator intoned as Harry Potter raised his wand, lightning crackling around him, "and ambition will clash with destiny."
The trailer climaxed with dramatic flashes of magical combat, ending on a haunting question: "Where will your magic take you?"
As the title "
Harry Potter
" appeared on screen, homes across both kingdoms erupted with excitement.
"Mom, I want to watch it!" a child exclaimed in an
Empirica
household, bouncing with enthusiasm.
The parents released a breath they hadn't realized they'd been holding. Like everyone else, they'd never seen anything like this before. Film promotion had always meant simple billboards and posters - this was something entirely new.