To outsiders, 'Hikaru no Go's ratings were just a string of numbers.
But for people inside the industry?
They were mind-blowing.
Only those in the business truly understood what it meant for a show not backed by any of the Big Three networks to pull off a single-episode average rating over 5%.
So, unsurprisingly, the following day, the industry was buzzing.
"The writer's name is Jing Yu, right? I heard he's only twenty-five?"
"Insane. It's been years since we've seen a show challenge the Big Three like this."
" Xingtong TV, Huanshi TV, and Imperial Capital TV—the Big Three have massive platform exposure. Even average shows on their networks pull decent numbers. And their self-produced dramas each quarter? Always top-notch. For 'Hikaru no Go' to nearly surpass 'Endblade' in ratings? That's insane. The quality must be off the charts."
"Keyword: nearly. It's only one or two episodes that I have caught up on. The average still trails far behind. High ratings for just one or two episodes don't mean much in the long run."
"Come on, 'Hikaru no Go' is airing on YunTeng TV. Their average numbers are always low. For a YunTeng TV show to average 5% is already unheard of. If you're saying the average should match 'Endblade', then future episodes need to hit 8%, 9%—and that's just unrealistic."
"Unrealistic? Why? I heard 'Hikaru no Go' is getting a second season. If Season 1 builds a strong enough fanbase and reputation, then the second season might kick off with viewership on par with the Big Three's flagship dramas."
"Isn't that kind of cheating though?"
"How is it cheating? YunTeng TV's usual seasonal average is around 2%, while the Big Three average 5% at their worst, 6–7% normally, and 8–9% when they really hit it big. Even if you're making a god-tier drama, you can't cross that foundational audience gap in just two or three months. The only way to compete is through long-term popularity growth. 'Hikaru no Go' Season 1 just barely balances the playing field—maybe enough to start Season 2 on even footing."
"Don't forget, five years ago, YunTeng TV had that ratings miracle too—a show that aired across four consecutive seasons. Only in the final season did it top the charts. The first three? Still crushed by the Big Three. Even if everyone called it Drama of the Year, the early numbers just didn't match."
"And let's not pretend Season 2s are guaranteed to do better. If that were true, everyone would just make multi-season dramas. But most shows drop off in later seasons once the novelty fades. Only consistently high-quality storytelling can maintain or increase ratings."
"True. But no matter how you slice it—if 'Hikaru no Go' averages above 'Endblade' next week, that alone would be historic. For the first time in five years, the Big Three's dominance would be challenged."
Within the TV industry, Jing Yu's name exploded.
After 'Hikaru no Go' overtook 'The Prey' and claimed the #4 spot in weekly ratings, the entire Six Networks—not just the Big Three—reached out to him.
One after another, phone calls came pouring in.
Everyone wanted to know:
"Are you open to switching networks?"
Jing Yu's contract with YunTeng TV wasn't exactly top secret. The industry grapevine made it easy for the Six Networks to learn that he was under a one-year performance-based agreement.
Even better—three months had already passed.
Only nine months left.
To the Big Three, this wasn't about recruiting talent—it was damage control.
Letting someone like Jing Yu remain outside their system was dangerous. The buzz from 'Hikaru no Go' had already sent a clear warning:
This guy could be a threat.
Sure, Season 1 wasn't enough to knock off their flagship dramas—but Season 2?
Who could say?
And for the lower half of the Six—networks ranked 4 to 6—Jing Yu's potential was even more exciting. He could be the breakthrough they'd been waiting for. The one to shatter the long-standing Big Three dominance, and maybe even turn the "Top Three" into a Top Four.
It wouldn't happen overnight, of course—but what if Jing Yu really was a long-term talent?
What if he could maintain his peak for five or six years?
What if he created multiple shows as good as 'Hikaru no Go'?
Then all bets were off.
That's why the "bottom three" networks were especially enthusiastic.
But Jing Yu?
Politely declined every offer.
His contract with YunTeng TV had only run for three months. It was far too early to think about jumping ship.
He wasn't some flighty job-hopper.
Right now, all he cared about was one thing:
"How high can 'Hikaru no Go's ratings go?"
But when Cheng Lie walked into the production office that morning, his face was full of suppressed fury.
Like a ticking time bomb.
"Morning, Producer Cheng." Jing Yu greeted him with a smile.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me your parents are pushing marriage again?"
Cheng Lie, mid-thirties and still a bachelor, was your textbook "single man in Modo." Constantly hitting the gym, built like a tank, and obsessed with idol dance videos.
Honestly, if he wasn't so into cute girl content, Jing Yu would've started to suspect he liked guys.
"No, not that," Cheng gritted his teeth. "It's the Big Three."
"What about them?" Jing Yu frowned.
"They just announced, all three of them: they're moving some of their non-flagship dramas into the Sunday 10 PM slot."
Jing Yu's expression immediately changed.
Sunday at 10 PM.
That was 'Hikaru no Go's time slot.
And sure, every network claimed 4%, 5%, or even higher ratings—but those were often inflated. In reality, the major networks had carefully staggered their showtimes.
Many viewers were the same people, just watching different dramas in different time slots.
But now?
Xingtong TV, Imperial Capital TV, and Huanshi TV were throwing other dramas into 'Hikaru no Go's time slot.
What would that lead to?
Audience fragmentation.
Some of 'Hikaru no Go's 5% viewership might also enjoy those other shows. With simultaneous airtimes, viewers would have to choose.
Even if only a fraction of the audience overlapped—even a 0.5% loss could be fatal for 'Hikaru no Go'.
"What the hell are they trying to pull?" Jing Yu asked, voice low.
"Aren't they hurting their own shows, too? This is suicide!"
It made no sense. If they sacrificed their own programs by going head-to-head with 'Hikaru no Go', wouldn't they lose more than they gained?
"It's about containment," Cheng said darkly.
"'EndBlade' is under pressure. If 'Hikaru no Go''s Episode 8 keeps trending, it'll almost certainly pass 'EndBlade in ratings. Huanshi TV is panicking—they're leading the counterattack."
"Then there's Xingtong TV and Imperial Capital TV. Right now, their own dramas aren't at risk—but everyone knows 'Hikaru no Go' Season 2 is coming. If they don't act now, Season 1 might gain enough momentum to start Season 2 on equal footing with the Big Three's summer lineups."
"So they're trying to stall 'Hikaru no Go's momentum. Slow down the growth of its reputation and viewership. That's why they're willing to sacrifice smaller dramas now—for the sake of their summer flagships."
"Five years ago, YunTeng TV beat them once. Ever since, they've been paranoid. Now they're just preparing in advance."
Jing Yu finally understood.
Sacrifice the pawns to protect the king.
They were using mid-tier, low-investment dramas to distract viewers and dilute ratings, just to protect their real moneymakers—the flagship shows.
It was a cold, calculated move.
And a direct acknowledgment of 'Hikaru no Go' as a threat.