N54
TICKER SYMBOL: N54
N54 owns, controls or manages approximately a third of the world’s media industry, from films to news to porn to music to braindances. They employ Medias that are willing to risk everything to get a good story and focus more on the "boots-on-the-ground" than Edgerunners would be likely to believe.
Their reach and near-monopoly on broadcasted information continues to attract people from all walks of life willing to get into the fold. N54 is willing to give them a platform as long as its profitable. And most of the time, revealing a juicy story about some Arasaka Exec gets way more clicks than a canceled Arasaka sponsorship or hush money.
Origins
CableNews 54 was founded by Erich R. Dreyer in the USA in 1991 as a cable news service, developing a reputation for tough, accurate, hard-hitting journalism while reporting on the First Central American War, CHOOH2’s development and other events at the time.
Giving CNN rough competition, CN54’s quality earned it the success which allowed it to diversify and expand, gaining control of several smaller cable networks.
CN54 bought NBC in 1998, expanding from cable to the broadcast airwaves and renaming itself Network News 54. N54 diversified its programming into all varieties of entertainment, becoming the first mediacorp to exert major control over both cable and broadcast. Still, the investigative journalist spirit did not cease, as N54 published articles on the assassination of Richard Night and the formation of the Martial Law Authority in the UK.
Apex
Having achieved the status of a media tycoon, N54 created IMT, a subsidiary dedicated entirely to R&D, and financed well enough that it could compete with dedicated tech corps. IMT is perhaps N54's most fascinating project, as it allows it to break the mold and provide Edgerunner-like services to specific clients.
The efforts of IMT lead to N54 also becoming the first mediacorp with a strong in-house R&D capability, while other mediacorps were still buying tech from other competitors like Sony (bought by Arasaka in 2020), Microtech (the premier vendor of computers) or Yamaha (known for its quality musical instruments among Rockerboy channels).
Although the other mediacorps caught on eventually, by 2001 N54’s head start established it as the dominant corp in mediatech development, having been on the cutting edge ever since.
In 2002, N54 popularized the online news service: the news of the Food Crash, SovOil’s declaration of privatization and California’s secession were read by the public through N54’s online screamsheets.
In 2005, N54 introduced Soundchips –widely available small ROM chips, containing up to 3 songs, which, when plugged in, send out a signal which allows the wearer to experience music in flawless, 360 degree stereo brilliance. Easier and cheaper to mass produce than digital discs, the Soundchip pushed the underground Rockerboys out, and pulled the sponsored bands in. Llamaboys, the originators of technoise, debuted their Overlay album through soundchip, but the tech was truly popularized by Samurai and their Chippin’ In album.
With 25% of the total broadcasting power of the USA in its pocket, N54 had contracts for all of the hottest stars and shows and and the best news department in professional media in 2005.
At some point during that year, Howard Wong was headhunted by Digital Media Systems, being given the position of CEO. After a number of shrewd business moves which made DMS a true rival to N54, a furious and frequently destructive race between N54 and DMS for consolidation of the few remaining independent stations and communications industries followed.
In 2009, N54 attempted to kidnap Wong, which prompted DMS to assassinate him. A series of retribution extractions and assassinations on both sides followed, which nearly exploded into a full blown corporate war.
Recent Events
The rivalry between N54 and DMS has shifted from the battlefield to the boardroom.
The two attempt to this day to outdo the other in the development of new technologies, series, stars and in the breaking of major news stories. The competition for acquisition of smaller companies continues unabated.
N54 also owns several music stations across the world, being a leader in commercial radio.