[Chapter 528: The Explosive Debut of America's Got Talent]
From the moment America's Got Talent premiered, it captivated viewers with its extraordinary and distinctly unique performances.
Not just the general audience, but Naomi, Catherine, and Michelle Reis -- all close to Linton -- watched intently, repeatedly gasping and cheering at the acts on screen.
Before the first episode even ended, buzz about the show was already erupting across the internet. Once the episode wrapped up, the conversation exploded.
Television programs had rarely showcased such an unconventional and diverse lineup, each act more thrilling than the next.
Whether it was Yahoo's busiest forums, college bulletin boards, emerging niche sites, or even the newly digitalized Hollywood Gossip Daily's comment sections, people were hooked.
Even on more professional platforms like IMDb, discussions about America's Got Talent flooded in.
The hottest topics centered on "Dylan's magic tricks," "Meg's computational skills," and "Madden's incredible memory."
These three standout performances instantly won legions of fans, sparking intense debates online about whose act was the most impressive.
Unknown just days before, Dylan, Meg, and Madden suddenly soared into the spotlight.
Some viewers humorously argued that Madden's prodigious memory was wasted in the library and that he belonged at the FBI or CIA, where his talents could truly be put to work.
---
After watching the show, Naomi, Catherine, and Michelle Reis were left wanting more. They showered Linton with praise.
"Darling, congratulations on producing another show with sky-high ratings."
"You really are a genius. This program is going to be huge."
"Looks like MCA's rise in TV is just around the corner."
Linton nodded quietly to himself. MCA's foundation was definitely solid, and CEO Melman clearly knew his stuff. Entrusting America's Got Talent to him was the right choice.
Even more gratifying was the giant poster displayed prominently on the main backdrop at each audition site. It featured Linton's photo with bold lettering declaring him the show's creator -- Linton Anderson.
Whether it was flattery or a savvy move to ride his growing fame, Linton was thoroughly pleased.
After all, the show's soaring popularity also boosted his own visibility, accelerating his cultivation progress.
Feeling elated, he carried a woman in each arm, with another strapped to his back, and headed upstairs.
"Alright, since we've got such great news, let's celebrate together!"
...
Later that night, close to midnight, as Linton was joyously playing games with Naomi, Catherine, and Michelle Reis, his phone rang. It was Melman.
"Boss, great news -- America's Got Talent's ratings have exploded."
"How high?" Linton asked, surprised. Even UPN's flagship show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, typically hovered between 4.5% and 5%.
"Average rating: 5.6%. Peak: 6.3%.
"That's incredible! Have the numbers been verified?"
"Rest assured, boss. They're confirmed."
"Fantastic. Keep pushing hard on marketing and ensure the show stays high quality -- especially keep the judging fair. No scandals. We're aiming to make this our crown jewel."
"Thanks, boss. We're fully committed. I'm confident America's Got Talent will top national ratings this year."
"How's the sponsorship selling?"
"It's going excellently. We modeled our ad sales on Millionaire's launch. We only sold ads for the first episode so far, and with such high ratings right out of the gate, subsequent slots will command premium prices."
"Good. Hopefully MCA can seize this opening to rise stronger and bigger."
After ending the call, Linton pulled his three companions in for a group hug.
"Great news -- America's Got Talent's ratings are rocking. Let's keep celebrating!"
Their laughter and cheerful singing filled the night.
---
The next morning, during breakfast, Amy, the butler, stood respectfully at the table's far end. A large stack of newspapers lay before them. She methodically read headlines from the day's editions.
Almost every newspaper prominently featured stories about last night's MCA broadcast of America's Got Talent.
Even the nation's biggest and most influential papers weighed in.
The Los Angeles Times' entertainment section led with [America's Got Talent: The Grassroots Stage for Stars on the Rise.]
The Washington Post headlined [America's Got Talent: A Nationwide Talent Hunt.]
The New York Times -- largely influenced by Hillary -- placed [America's Got Talent: Helping People Chase the American Dream] as today's top entertainment story.
The Hollywood Gossip Daily went all out with praise -- [America's Got Talent: Another Masterpiece from Linton Anderson.]
There were also feature articles diving deeper into contestants' incredible talents.
Hollywood New Wave explored [The Secrets Behind Dylan's Stunning Magic.]
Hollywood Report revealed [The Shocking Limit of Meg's Calculative Powers.]
Louise Entertainment was [Astounded by Madden's Unbelievable Memory.]
America's Got Talent had launched in way no one predicted, instantly capturing national attention and sparking widespread media coverage. MCA's offices buzzed with excitement as if it were Christmas morning.
Riding high on the show's unexpected first-episode success, efforts to sell commercial slots intensified rapidly.
With headlines blowing up and online chatter everywhere, advertisers eagerly threw money at MCA.
After fierce bidding, the twenty-two 60-minute episodes of season one secured an astonishing $380 million in total commercial sales.
That's $17.3 million per episode, surpassing even Who Wants to Be a Millionaire's $16.6 million per episode during its third season.
Although this had to be shared with the broadcasting affiliates, MCA's own revenue still exceeded $200 million.
Looking back, MCA regretted that their previous $200 million sponsorship deals had been undervalued -- advertisers got an incredible bargain that time.
But everyone soon accepted that since this was the show's first season, advertisers had taken a real risk.
When the second season launched next year, sponsorship deals would far surpass current figures and fetch astronomical sums.
Just from America's Got Talent's debut season alone, MCA transformed itself, raking in over $400 million in revenue and claiming a spectacular comeback.
Led by CEO Melman, MCA's leadership grew increasingly confident and began mapping out an ambitious road for the network's rise.
*****
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