From the interims:
"Our second show, The Limit, is set to air later in the year on Hunan Satellite, a leading broadcaster with a reach of 400 million homes. Our network and operational expertise has allowed us to develop relationships with other media companies looking to gain traction in China. During this period we agreed a deal with RDF Media to co-produce a select number of their properties and represent its shows in the region."
No business like show business
Ting Shi
June 03,2008
Over the years, Hunan's most famous products have been a long list of influential politicians from Mao Zedong to feisty former premier Zhu Rongji.
In the past decade, the hinterland province has turned itself into the mainland's most formidable entertainment powerhouse.
Today, Hunan Satellite TV is arguably the most successful television station in China. Its talk shows, dating games and riotous variety programmes have lured nation-wide audiences in their millions. Its Saturday evening, prime-time advertising rates are now the highest in China, surpassing even the main national network, CCTV-1.
"It's bold, always breaking the mould and setting industry standards. Stations across China are scrambling to follow suit," said Beijing-based media critic He Yong.
In the 10 years since it first started broadcasting nationally by satellite, Hunan Satellite has gone about as far as the media can go in China.
The formula for success is simple: create offbeat and even risque entertainment in a country still largely dominated by bland and predictable state-run TV shows.
The channel's long-running game show, Fun Cam, whose sassy hosts joke around, is one of the most popular shows on Chinese television. And another hit, Bravo! March Along, features people performing stunts such as jumping from high places or removing the caps off beer bottles with their teeth.
But nothing has succeeded like Super-girl a talent show modelled on American Idol. It was such a huge hit in 2005 that more than 400 million viewers tuned in, making it one of the most watched shows in national television history.
The critics say the shows are just a rip off of popular US and British shows; the Hunan Satellite people call it "re-inventing" assimilating trendy international content into local culture.
Wei Wenbin, chief of the Hunan Broadcasting and Television Bureau, once famously said: "Don't laugh at such practices. Some of us eat bread with chilli sauce. Localising a foreign show takes a lot of skills. Whoever can successfully combine east and west, old tradition and modern needs, will come out a winner."
http://olympics.scmp.com/Article.aspx?id=443