Chapter 69

Too ruthless!

This is a change of dynasty!

Zhao Guozhou said, "Let me say this again, yesterday's 'Old and Young Storytelling' ranked fourth in the overall listenership of the Beijing Radio Station!"

In the top four?

Only behind a few news and traffic programs?

Zhao Guozhou looked at Wang Xiaomei and encouraged her, "Teacher Xiaomei, Teacher Xiaozhang has caught up. Your program is no longer the only one without competition. If you don't step up, Teacher Xiaozhang's program will really take the top spot."

Wang Xiaomei remained calm, "I know."

Zhang Ye quickly humbly said, "No, it's just luck. There were more listeners on the weekend, and the program time was extended by an hour. It also coincided with the climax of 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,' which boosted the listenership. It won't be the same tomorrow; it will definitely drop a lot."

Everyone understood this, but so what? Winning first place once is still a true first place. In the past few years, no one had dared to challenge Wang Xiaomei's 'Words of the World' on the cultural frequency. Zhang Ye was the first to challenge and succeed!

"I have one more thing to say," Zhao Guozhou finally smiled and said loudly, "Yesterday was Sunday, and for the first time in eleven years, our cultural frequency's overall listenership exceeded the traffic frequency's, ranking second in the entire station! This is the result of everyone's collective effort, and I want to particularly commend Teacher Zhang Ye. The two programs that were originally dragging down our frequency's listenership index, after being taken over by Teacher Xiaozhang, one ranked first and the other third. Just Teacher Xiaozhang alone has contributed an astonishing listenership and share to our frequency, which is the key factor in our first time surpassing the traffic frequency in eleven years! I think everyone, whether new or old, should learn from Teacher Xiaozhang!"

It's been eleven years since we've been second in the entire station!

We were always fourth, suppressed by the music frequency, then third, blocked by the traffic frequency. Now, we've finally achieved our goal?

"Amazing!"

"Haha, give us a bonus, leader!"

"From now on, no one can stop us!"

"Let's work harder and surpass the news frequency!"

Some people were cheering, some were making bold statements, and everyone was in high spirits.

Zhao Guozhou raised his hand to quiet everyone down and then said, "I've decided that today at noon, everyone should wrap up their work and take a break at 10:30. We'll go out for a meal, and I'll treat everyone!"

"Oh!"

"Long live the leader!"

"Can we order something expensive?"

Zhao Guozhou smiled and said, "Order whatever you want! Anything is fine!"

Zhang Ye hesitated, "Then I won't go? I still have to record a program. 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' is finished, and I need to tell a new story today."

Sister Zhou laughed, "How can you not go?"

"Right, Teacher Xiaozhang must go. You're the main character," Aunt Sun urged.

Zhao Guozhou also said, "Everyone must go, no one can skip. We'll definitely be back by noon, and you can still do your live broadcast. Don't think I don't know your skills; you don't need to prepare at all. Have you ever made a mistake during a live broadcast?"

Zhang Ye rubbed his temples, "Alright, I'll follow the leader's arrangement."

"That's settled, we'll leave at 10:30," Zhao Guozhou said and left.

Zhang Ye had other matters to attend to. He thought for a moment and quickly followed out. Seeing Zhao Guozhou open the office door and enter, he followed closely behind, "Director."

Zhao Guozhou turned around, "Ah, Xiaozhang, hehe, what's up?"

Zhang Ye coughed, a bit embarrassed, "Well, I saw in the news the other day that the Golden Microphone and Silver Microphone awards are about to be held. I've been working at the station for about one or two months, and my performance, while not outstanding, is passable. I don't have a year of work experience yet, but I meet the qualifications for the Silver Microphone award. Do you think I can sign up?" No one had mentioned this to him, so Zhang Ye had to bring it up himself.

Zhao Guozhou chuckled, pressing Zhang Ye's shoulder to sit down, "Is that it? I thought it was something else. You're only bringing it up today? If you had waited to apply, it would have been too late." He opened a drawer under his desk, rummaged through it, and took out a document, "Here, this is a copy. I submitted the original to the station leadership the day before yesterday. It's my application to nominate you for the Silver Microphone award, along with your resume."

Zhang Ye's face lit up, "You've already recommended me? Thank you, leader, thank you."

Zhao Guozhou said to him, "The Silver Microphone award isn't as prestigious as the Golden Microphone, and there aren't many nomination slots. Our Beijing Radio Station only has two nomination opportunities. Although it hasn't been approved yet, I think you have a good chance. Among the new employees who have been with the station for less than a year, your performance stands out the most. The next best is a young man named Zhang Ye from the news frequency, but he's just average. So, if everything goes as expected, you and Zhang Ye will be our station's two nominees. The final selection will choose one winner, and I'm counting on you. While the Golden and Silver Microphone awards usually favor news program hosts, you're different. Your contribution is overwhelming, and no one can match you."

Zhang Ye asked, "When is the selection?"

Zhao Guozhou answered, "This Friday, but the Golden Microphone award ceremony is live, while the Silver Microphone is not."

The Silver Microphone award — ten winners from all domestic radio stations.

About thirty to forty nominees, from which ten winners are selected.

There are more than this number of provincial radio stations, so not every station can have a winner. However, some key provincial stations usually have awards. For example, the Central Radio Station almost always has two winners each year, followed by the Beijing Radio Station and the Shanghai Radio Station, which have a fixed new talent award. Other provinces may vary each year, but the Beijing Radio Station is unlikely to miss out due to its political status.

So, with two nominations from the station, there's a fifty percent chance, but according to Zhao Guozhou's analysis, it's almost ninety-nine percent certain to be Zhang Ye. Zhang Ye felt a surge of confidence. Reaching the top on the cultural frequency had given him a significant boost in capital and a thicker resume, making him more confident. He felt that the Silver Microphone award was almost certain to be his!

Come on, let's get it over with!

He couldn't wait to make a grand plan at the television station!