The wind whipped through the streets of London, biting at Harry Jackson as he stepped into the executive office of Dream Theatre. Nestled near Leicester Square, the building towered above, a testament to months of hard work, late-night calls, and unwavering determination.
Inside, Patel/Potter handed Harry the quarterly report.
"Strong quarter," Patel remarked. "Revenue's up by 35% across all screens. Those premium halls are really paying off. And food court sales? Up by 50%."
Harry quickly scanned the report. "Popcorn sales are through the roof. Memberships... practically sold out."
Patel chuckled, tapping the report. "Those leather recliners are doing more for us than our staff!"
Harry closed the file with a satisfied nod. "This is fantastic. Let's draft a press statement. We need to shout about the expansion. I want this all over the West End."
----
Later that evening, Harry headed to Highbury, the beating heart of Arsenal Football Club back in 2001. The historic ground, famous for its tight stands and electric atmosphere, buzzed with chants and cheers. Arsenal was up against Aston Villa, and the excitement was palpable.
The Gunners, under the brilliant management of Arsène Wenger, were in top form—Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, and Patrick Vieira were orchestrating the game like maestros in red and white.
Harry had a prime seat—thanks to Patel's connections. To his surprise, the man next to him was sharply dressed in a long black coat, casually sipping from a thermos.
"Evening," the man said, glancing over. "What a night for a match, huh?"
Harry reached out his hand. "Harry Jackson."
"David Dein," the man replied with a smile. "Vice-Chairman of Arsenal Football Club."
Harry blinked in surprise. "Didn't expect to meet you here."
The two struck up a conversation during the game. By halftime, after a slick goal from Henry, Harry turned to him.
"I've got a wild idea," Harry said. "What if I could broadcast Premier League football—your games—during American prime time? Fox TV, national access, studio coverage..."
David raised an eyebrow. "They really love their basketball, baseball... and of course, football."
Harry nodded in agreement. "That's true. But the numbers are shifting. Soccer is on the rise. I'm with Fox now—I can make this work. Arsenal could be the trailblazer."
David leaned in closer. "If you pull this off, you won't just be changing schedules—you'll be reshaping culture."
A few days later in L.A., Harry found himself in a sleek conference room at Fox Studios in Century City, sitting down with Sandy Grushow and Gail Berman.
"I've got an idea that could revolutionize American sports television," Harry started. "Premier League football. We'll kick things off with Arsenal."
Sandy looked skeptical. "Soccer? In prime time?"
Harry clicked his remote, and charts lit up the screen—showing youth demographic growth, MLS expansion, and online trends.
"Younger viewers are shifting their attention. The World Cup is gaining momentum. Right now, we're airing games at terrible times. What I'm suggesting is prime-time EPL matches—live or same-day delayed—with studio segments and analysis."
Gail took a sip of her coffee. "That's quite ambitious. But we don't even have the infrastructure—soccer's never really been Fox's focus."
Harry flashed a confident smile. "We don't need a huge overhaul. Let's start with six key matches. We can use Fox Sports 1. Build the audience and see how the numbers pan out. If they look good—we can expand."
Sandy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It's still a bit of a gamble."
"Better than overpaying for the fifth-tier NBA coverage. Soccer's global. It's coming whether we like it or not. Let's lead."
____
A week later, Harry found himself back in London, seated in a sleek meeting room at the FA's Wembley offices, staring down a serious group of officials. David Dein had made the introductions, and now it was Harry's turn to win over the men who held the keys to the future of English football on television.
"I'm not suggesting a permanent change in scheduling or format," Harry said with a steady voice. "What I'm after is a partnership. We want to showcase selected matches featuring top-tier clubs, broadcast in the U.S. through Fox. Our goal is to build a loyal audience and boost your global presence in America."
One of the senior board members, an older man with white hair and a piercing gaze, interjected, "You're not the first American to believe football can be marketed to Americans."
"I'm not here to sell football," Harry countered. "I'm here to sell identity. These clubs? They're more than just teams. They're narratives. And narratives… well, that's what I do."
The FA board exchanged glances, quietly weighing the proposal. It wasn't a definitive yes, but it certainly wasn't a no either.
"We'll need a formal proposal," another member stated. "And it will also require Premier League approval."
Just two days later, Harry met with representatives from the Premier League's international broadcasting division, leveraging Fox's reach and proposing cross-promotional opportunities across sports, entertainment, and streaming.
"If this pilot succeeds," Harry explained, "we'll unlock a new American market for you. We'll create brand recognition that no amount of advertising can achieve. And if it doesn't work out? Fox will cover the costs. No risk on your end."
The officials fired off tough questions. Scheduling. Sponsorships. Match selection. Commentary rights.
But by the end of the meeting, they had sketched out a tentative agreement.