Chapter 102 – The Broadcast Deal

With only a month remaining before the second Duel Monsters Grand Prix, Alexander found himself sitting aboard a commercial flight heading toward Bristol, Connecticut. Across the aisle, Roland was quietly reviewing a stack of documents, and beside him, Elizabeth was doing much the same.

Alexander glanced toward the two of them before looking out the window while thinking, 'This is going to be an important meeting...'

The negotiations with ESPN had already been going on for several weeks.

The initial contact had actually begun months ago, after the success of the first Grand Prix had made national headlines. The introduction of the Duel Monsters Cup had only strengthened the game's position.

At first, ESPN had apparently regarded Duel Monsters as an unusual curiosity with potentially interesting commercial prospects, but that attitude had changed as the player base kept growing and the game now had national distribution.

The Duel Monsters Cup had created a structured competitive scene across the country, and the second edition of the Grand Prix was going to feature 403 qualified competitors. The best 8 players from every state's Duel Monsters Cup. On top of that, the announcement of the Inter-School Duel Monsters Championship organised by Frost International further solidified the game's image.

With results like that, it was becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss Duel Monsters as a passing fad.

Now ESPN wanted to know whether it could become television, and Alexander fully intended to show them that it could.

His absence from school hadn't been difficult to arrange either.

Promethean Academy had little reason to complain about one of its most valuable students missing a few days, especially considering how much Alexander's involvement with Duel Monsters and Industrial Illusions had massively increased the school's reputation and prestige.

Still, there was one thing Alexander found more interesting than the upcoming negotiation.

He mentally summoned the YGO System.

[Ding!]

____________________________________

User Identified: Alexander Maximillion Jones

System Type: Duel Interface

Primary Functions:

• Resource Management

• Card Database

• Card Manifestation Authorisation

• YGO System Shop Access

• Duel Network Synchronisation (Tier 1)

Resources Identified:

1. Duel Energy (DE)

• Generated through duels involving the user.

• Output increases with emotional and cognitive intensity.

• Used for manifestation and high-output actions.

Current DE: 4125.4

2. Duel Points (DP)

• Acquired through victory in duels.

• Used for system transactions and upgrades.

Current DP: 158.4

____________________________________

Alexander stared at the numbers, then he smiled while thinking, 'More than 150 DP and over 4000 DE. All that in only a few days despite the fact that I haven't been aggressively farming and simply continued with my normal routine... It's amazing!'

School. The Duel Monsters Club. A few casual duels here and there. And all the while, Duel Network Synchronisation had been quietly collecting resources from other people's games.

Alexander leaned back in his seat with a grin, thinking, 'This is... Very good. Very, very good!'

For a brief moment, he was sorely tempted to unleash a certain iconic three-stage laugh but, fortunately, he possessed enough self-control to resist.

After all, they were on a commercial flight. There were sleeping passengers. There were children. There were people trying to rest. And the flight was still going to take approximately five hours. Alexander didn't particularly want to become the reason an entire section of the plane woke up wondering whether someone had lost their mind.

He dismissed the System and closed his eyes, 'For now, I should also sleep. I need to be rested for tomorrow's meeting. After all, that meeting is very important for the future of Duel Monsters.'

~~~▽~~~

The flight passed uneventfully and eventually, the plane landed.

Alexander, Roland, and Elizabeth made their way to the hotel, where they checked in and spent the remainder of the day resting and preparing.

Alexander reviewed the proposal one final time, then the contract, then the numbers, then the possible objections.

He didn't expect ESPN to simply accept everything. That would have been foolish.

They were a major network. They had something he wanted, and they knew it. Likewise, they had something he could give them and Alexander knew that too.

The important thing was making sure neither side forgot it.

The next morning, they headed to ESPN's headquarters.

ESPN's headquarters was busier than Alexander had expected.

The moment they stepped through the entrance, they were met by a steady stream of employees moving in every direction, some carrying laptops and folders, others talking into phones or hurrying toward meetings of their own. Large screens displayed sports highlights throughout the lobby, while the walls were decorated with photographs and memorabilia from years of broadcasts.

Elizabeth handled the check-in while Alexander took a moment to look around.

It was impressive. More importantly, it was a reminder of what they were dealing with. This wasn't a small company they could walk into and simply persuade with a good pitch. ESPN had been doing this for decades. They had established brands, established audiences, and an established way of doing business.

Alexander adjusted his jacket while thinking, 'Let's do this!'

A few minutes later, an ESPN representative arrived to escort them upstairs, "Mr Jones?"

Alexander turned and said, "That's me."

"I'm Francis. I'll take you to the meeting room."

They followed him through the building, passing offices and conference rooms along the way. Roland remained quiet beside Alexander, while Elizabeth occasionally glanced at the notes she had brought with her.

The elevator doors opened, and as they stepped inside, Alexander exhaled slowly.

Everything had been prepared.

The proposal. The numbers. The contract. The arguments they could expect.

There was nothing left to do except negotiate.

When the doors opened again, their escort led them down a quieter corridor before stopping outside a set of glass doors.

"They're waiting for you."

Alexander nodded and said, "Thank you."

The door opened.

Alexander entered the meeting room with Roland and Elizabeth beside him.

Across the table sat several ESPN executives.

After the introductions and initial pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

The atmosphere was professional and polite, but there was a clear sense that this wasn't merely another exploratory meeting; this was the meeting.

The executives had already spent weeks discussing the proposal; now they wanted answers.

One of them leaned forward and said, "Let's start with the most obvious question."

Alexander nodded before he asked, "Can Duel Monsters actually work on television?"

The question wasn't hostile, and that almost made it more difficult.

The executive continued, "We understand the numbers. We understand that the game is popular. But popularity doesn't automatically translate into television."

"Agreed."

Alexander's immediate agreement seemed to surprise him slightly.

"A tabletop card game presents a particular problem," the executive continued, "We're not talking about football. We don't have a large field. We don't have players running around. Most of the action happens on a table."

"Which means that attempting to broadcast it like football would be a mistake." Alexander reached toward the folder in front of him and added, "That's why we aren't going to."

He opened it and explained, "Our proposal is built around Feature Matches."

As the executives looked at the presentation, Alexander continued, "Rather than attempting to broadcast hundreds of simultaneous matches, the production will select specific matches to focus on. Multiple cameras will cover the table from different angles. One will be positioned overhead specifically to capture the cards. The players' names, Life Points, current round, relevant tournament statistics and important cards will be displayed through computerised graphics."

One of the executives interrupted, "And the audience is expected to understand what's happening?"

"That's what the commentators are for." Alexander clicked the presentation forward, "They won't simply announce the winner. They'll explain the decisions being made."

He gestured toward the display. "A viewer unfamiliar with Duel Monsters should be able to watch a Feature Match and understand why a particular play matters."

The executive frowned as he asked, "So you're asking us to believe that people will watch two teenagers sitting at a table?"

"No." Alexander smiled, "I'm asking you to watch this."

He gave a signal to Roland, who nodded, stood up and moved toward the already prepared screen connected to a VCR (videocassette recorder), turned them on, pulled out and inserted a videotape cassette before pressing play.

Like that, the prototype demonstration began, with two players sitting across from one another at a table.

First, it showed the table setup where cameras surrounded the players and an overhead camera displayed their cards clearly.

Then the footage of the game itself appeared on a large monitor.

Player names appeared. Life Points. Round information. Relevant cards. Statistics.

As the duel progressed, the production system highlighted important developments.

What had initially looked like two teenagers playing cards began to resemble something entirely different.

It looked organised, professional, structured, but, more importantly, it looked understandable.

One of the executives leaned closer to the screen while Alexander watched their expressions.

The scepticism hadn't disappeared, but it had changed, and for now that was enough.

After the demonstration ended, Alexander sat back down.

"Duel Monsters doesn't need spectacle to become good television," he said. "The drama already exists in the competition itself. Our job is simply to make sure the audience can see it and understand it."

The executives exchanged glances.

One finally nodded and observed, "That's considerably more convincing than I expected."

Alexander didn't smile but said, "Good."

"But there is still the question of audience."

Alexander had expected that, so he opened another folder as he began, "These are the results of the first Duel Monsters Grand Prix."

He placed several documents on the table.

Attendance numbers. Newspaper articles. Sales figures. Player growth.

The executives carefully examined them.

"The first tournament attracted considerable national attention," Alexander explained. "Since then, the Duel Monsters Cup has expanded the competitive structure considerably."

He turned another page and added, "And the upcoming Grand Prix has 403 qualified competitors."

One executive looked up and repeated in disbelief, "403?"

"The Top Eight from every state's Duel Monsters Cup."

"That's impressive."

"More importantly, they're not random participants. They're the strongest players the country has produced through the Cup system." Alexander let that sink in before he added, "That gives the event a narrative."

One of the executives nodded slowly, "Provided anyone cares about the outcome."

Alexander expected that response and replied, "The championship prize is 10.000 dollars in cash."

There was a brief silence.

"Ten thousand?"

"Plus the tournament's card prizes."

The executive leaned back, "That's not exactly a professional sports purse."

"No." Alexander didn't pretend otherwise, "But that's not its purpose."

"What is its purpose?"

"Publicity." Alexander's answer came immediately before he added, "10.000 dollars changes how the event can be described. It isn't simply a promotional tournament for a children's card game anymore. It's a championship with a cash purse."

One executive shook his head, "That alone doesn't guarantee viewers."

"I agree." Alexander slid another stack of newspapers across the table and said, "That's why I'm not presenting it as the primary argument."

The executive picked one up and observed, "These are from the first Duel Monsters Grand Prix."

"Yes."

"I've seen some of these."

"And none of them had television coverage."

The executive looked at him.

Alexander continued, "The second Duel Monsters Grand Prix will be larger. Better organised. More competitive. And now it can be televised."

He leaned forward slightly, "You have an opportunity here."

The executives listened.

"ESPN could become the network that first turns Duel Monsters into a televised competitive sport."

That was the first time the room became completely silent, not because Alexander had made an overwhelming argument but because the opportunity itself was beginning to become visible.

One of the executives finally spoke, "Let's say we agree that there's potential. We're still taking the risk."

"Of course."

"We would be investing production resources into something unproven."

"Yes."

"And if we do that, we'd want control."

Alexander's expression didn't change as he asked, "How much?"

The executive smiled faintly, "Now we're getting to the real negotiation."

~~~▽~~~

The conversation became considerably more complicated after that.

ESPN wanted exclusive United States broadcast rights to the second edition of the Grand Prix, and Alexander was prepared to grant them, but then they also wanted an option on future tournaments.

Alexander refused, "We can negotiate the third edition of Duel Monster Grand Prix separately."

"We're asking for an option, not ownership."

"An option still affects my ability to negotiate."

"We're investing in establishing the format."

"And I appreciate that." Alexander remained calm, "But I'm not going to sell future leverage before we know what the second edition of the Duel Monsters Grand Prix is worth."

One of the executives leaned back, "You're 16."

Alexander raised an eyebrow, "Yes and...?"

"You understand that we're asking for protection against our investment?"

"I do."

"And you're asking us to invest without knowing whether we'll have access to the next event."

"That's correct."

"That doesn't seem particularly balanced."

Alexander considered his response before he said, "It isn't."

The executive looked surprised.

Alexander continued, "Because you're not the only party taking a risk."

That stopped him.

"If the second edition of the Duel Monsters Grand Prix fails as a television broadcast, you've lost production resources." Alexander gestured toward himself and added, "If the broadcast succeeds, however, you've helped establish a new competitive sport. And if that happens, the value of my company's tournament rights increases."

He paused before he reasoned, "Which means I'm also taking a risk by giving you exclusive rights to the second event."

The executive nodded slowly, "Fair."

Elizabeth finally entered the conversation, "The distinction we're trying to preserve is between granting ESPN rights to broadcast the event and transferring ownership of the event's underlying media assets."

She opened the relevant portion of the contract, "My client is willing to grant exclusive U.S. cable broadcast rights for the second edition of the Grand Prix."

"But not the footage."

"Correct."

"And not international rights."

"Correct."

"And not home-video rights."

"Correct."

One executive sighed, "That's quite restrictive."

"It's a compromise," Elizabeth replied.

Alexander remained silent.

The executives returned to the contract, and eventually, another issue surfaced.

Advertising.

ESPN wanted substantial control over the advertising schedule and inventory, and Alexander was willing to give them considerable control but not unlimited control.

"We need enough flexibility to protect our existing commercial agreements."

"We need enough control to make the broadcast commercially viable."

"Then let's define what that means."

That became another negotiation, then another and another.

Nothing was settled immediately.

There were points where ESPN pushed harder, and there were points where Alexander conceded.

They argued over the scope of exclusivity, over production responsibilities, over advertising inventory, over revenue sharing, over access to the tournament, over what exactly ESPN would provide and what Alexander's organisation would have to provide.

At several points, Alexander let Elizabeth handle the legal language entirely, but at others, he took control himself.

The executives had initially found it strange to negotiate with a sixteen-year-old, but that novelty disappeared quickly.

Alexander knew the numbers; he understood what he wanted, and more importantly, he knew what he was willing to give up and what he wasn't.

Eventually, the negotiations reached the final stage.

ESPN would receive exclusive U.S. cable broadcast rights to the second edition of the Duel Monsters Grand Prix. They would provide much of the broadcast infrastructure and production personnel while Alexander's Industrial Illusions would provide the tournament-side technology, facilities, access, and support necessary for the Feature Match system.

ESPN would receive advertising inventory and a negotiated share of the resulting revenue, but the underlying footage remained under Alexander's company's ownership.

International rights remained outside the agreement. Home-video rights remained outside the agreement. And future DM Grand Prix tournaments would require separate negotiations.

There was, however, one final compromise; ESPN would receive a first-look option for the third Grand Prix.

Not ownership, not automatic broadcast rights, a first look, and if ESPN wanted it, they would have the opportunity to negotiate before Alexander took the event elsewhere.

Alexander considered the proposal carefully, then nodded, "That I can accept."

The executive extended his hand, "Then I believe we have a deal."

Alexander shook it, "Agreed."

Elizabeth and the executives finalised the remaining paperwork. Signatures followed, and just like that, the deal was done.

~~~▽~~~

As the meeting was coming to an end, one of the executives looked at Alexander, "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"What do you actually expect this broadcast to become?"

Alexander thought about the question.

He could have given an ambitious answer. He could have compared it to football. Baseball. Basketball. The Super Bowl. But that would have been foolish.

So instead, he gave the honest answer, "I expect people to be curious."

The executive smiled, "Curiosity?"

"Yes." Alexander stood and gathered his documents, "That's enough."

The executive looked unconvinced.

Alexander continued, "Once they watch the first match, they'll understand why everyone else is playing."

He left it at that.

Alexander, Roland, and Elizabeth eventually walked out of the building with the signed agreement secured.

Behind them, ESPN's executives were already discussing the work that would need to be done.

Cameras. Graphics. Production crews. Broadcast schedules.

The second edition of the Duel Monsters Grand Prix had just become the first major Duel Monsters championship to receive national television coverage.

For Alexander, however, the contract represented something much larger than a broadcasting deal.

He had secured ESPN. He had secured exposure. He had secured another avenue through which Duel Monsters could reach millions of people. But more importantly, he had taken another step toward giving Duel Monsters a place in the world of professional competition and this time, the world was going to be watching.