Television China s got viewers Despite government meddling and rampant piracy, commercial television is surging in the Middle kingdom Nov 18th 2010 ShanghaiI from the print edition LAST month Liu Wei, an armless pianist and singer, won the first series of "Chinas Got Talent. En route to victory, he defeated bellydancers comedians and a pig impersonator The talent show was a ratings triumph a third of all televisions in the Shanghai area tuned in for the final. But Yang Wenhong, vice-president of Shanghai Media Group, is just as leased that the Communist Partys media regulator praised the programme for conveying an uplifting message. In China, it is not enough merely to please the masse Chinas television business has deve loped largely in isolation from the rest of the world. Despite heroic efforts, particularly by rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, Western media firms have been unable to launch mainland channels. They have been restricted to Tv sets in Hong Kong and in expensive hotels, or reduced to selling the odd programme te domestic networks. But isolation does not mean chinese television i stagnating. On the contrary: it is progressing at a lunatic pace
Television China's got viewers Despite government meddling and rampant piracy, commercial television is surging in the Middle Kingdom Nov 18th 2010 | Shanghai | from the print edition LAST month Liu Wei, an armless pianist and singer, won the first series of “China’s Got Talent”. En route to victory, he defeated bellydancers, comedians and a pig impersonator. The talent show was a ratings triumph: a third of all televisions in the Shanghai area tuned in for the final. But Yang Wenhong, vice-president of Shanghai Media Group, is just as pleased that the Communist Party’s media regulator praised the programme for conveying an uplifting message. In China, it is not enough merely to please the masses. China’s television business has developed largely in isolation from the rest of the world. Despite heroic efforts, particularly by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, Western media firms have been unable to launch mainland channels. They have been restricted to TV sets in Hong Kong and in expensive hotels, or reduced to selling the odd programme to domestic networks. But isolation does not mean Chinese television is stagnating. On the contrary: it is progressing at a lunatic pace
Money is pouring in. Last week China Central Television(CCTV)announced that it had already booked 12. 7 billion yuan($1.9 billion)of advertising for 2011-16% more than it had sold at this point last year. Total television advertising has grown sevenfold since 2001. It is by far the richest medium: fully of all advertising spending in China this year will be on television, compared with just 28% in Britain. Andrew Carter t firm which i explains that television is well-suited to bringing new products and brands to the attention of China's fast-growing middle class. Rise of the vulgarians viewing% 4 30 Nationally broadcast provincial channels 2007 Aged four years old and over Source: GrOupM f First four months Related topics The box used to be dominated by the state-run CCtv, which is controlled by the Communist Party's publicity department. But despite the launch of new channels-it currently has 15, including one dedicated to opera-CCTV's share of viewing is falling(see chart). Earlier this year t was overtaken by the combined audience of provincial broadcasters like Shanghai Media Group, Hunan TV and Zhe jiang TV, which can each distribute one channel nationally. These provincial outfits, which are less controlled by Beijing, are locked in a fierce, untidy and occasionally underhanded struggle for viewers Not only do many of their shows resemble British and American programmes like“ Pop Idol”and“ The apprentice”. They also rip off each other’s formats. "If a show is successful, clones appear almost instantly, says Rebecca Yang of IPCN, a firm that brokers formats. A few years ago there was an explosion of talent competitions. Then one show offended the State ministration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), not least by conducting a huge text-message vote. Channels are now restricted to one such show per year. Judges are discouraged from abusing contestants and voting is restricted
Money is pouring in. Last week China Central Television (CCTV) announced that it had already booked 12.7 billion yuan ($1.9 billion) of advertising for 2011—16% more than it had sold at this point last year. Total television advertising has grown sevenfold since 2001. It is by far the richest medium: fully 63% of all advertising spending in China this year will be on television, compared with just 28% in Britain. Andrew Carter of GroupM, the media-investment firm which issues these estimates, explains that television is well-suited to bringing new products and brands to the attention of China’s fast-growing middle class. Related topics The box used to be dominated by the state-run CCTV, which is controlled by the Communist Party’s publicity department. But despite the launch of new channels—it currently has 15, including one dedicated to opera—CCTV’s share of viewing is falling (see chart). Earlier this year it was overtaken by the combined audience of provincial broadcasters like Shanghai Media Group, Hunan TV and Zhejiang TV, which can each distribute one channel nationally. These provincial outfits, which are less controlled by Beijing, are locked in a fierce, untidy and occasionally underhanded struggle for viewers. Not only do many of their shows resemble British and American programmes like “Pop Idol” and “The Apprentice”. They also rip off each other’s formats. “If a show is successful, clones appear almost instantly,” says Rebecca Yang of IPCN, a firm that brokers formats. A few years ago there was an explosion of talent competitions. Then one show offended the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), not least by conducting a huge text-message vote. Channels are now restricted to one such show per year. Judges are discouraged from abusing contestants and voting is restricted
That has become a pattern. As talent competitions became more staid, producers turned their attention to dating shows, churning out programmes that encouraged bitchiness. Last summer one stepped over the line. A contestant on "If You Are the One declared that she would rather cry in a BMW than smile on the back of a boyfriends bicycle. The host was promptly replaced by a psychology professor, but it was too late. SARFT has promulgated rules banning lewd comments and other moral provocations Why are these troublesome, populist broadcasters allowed to operate at all? Because the Chinese government wants people to watch television. The living-room set is a crucial conduit between the state and the masses However ribald their programming at other times, at seven o' clock in the evening almost all channels carry CCtV' s starchy news broadcast, in which unsmiling anchors relay the latest utterances from party officials. If television becomes too dull, that show would lose its audience. After al many Chinese can go elsewhere for entertainment. Data from the Chinese Marketing and Media Study suggest that the internet accounts for 33% of all media use among 18-to 34-year-olds in Shanghai compared with just 28% for television. Shanghai is an unusually forward-looking city, and people tend to underestimate their television watching. But internet video is undoubtably bigger in China than elsewhere. Victor Koo, chief executive of Youku, a video portal, says the average user spends an hour each day on his website. In contrast, people spend less than ten minutes each day on the America-based You Tube Some Chinese use online video as a way of catching up on programmes that they missed (very few have digital video recorders). But many use it to gorge on pirated Hollywood shows. Subtitled versions of programmes like Gossip girl" circulate in China just a few hours after they are broadcast in America. So widespread is pirated television that it has created stars. Wentworth miller who is best-known for his role in the Fox television show "Prison break, is mobbed when he visits china,, and is the face of General Motors in the country. Yet Prison Break" is not shown on any Chinese television network. Broadcasters are thus caught between the state and the market, between conformity and populism. Both of their audiences are fickle: regulators clamp down on shows with little warning, whereas viewers are liable to switch off and watch pirated videos online or on DVD. Yet in some ways the business is settling down. Searching for the X factor
That has become a pattern. As talent competitions became more staid, producers turned their attention to dating shows, churning out programmes that encouraged bitchiness. Last summer one stepped over the line. A contestant on “If You Are the One” declared that she would rather cry in a BMW than smile on the back of a boyfriend’s bicycle. The host was promptly replaced by a psychology professor, but it was too late. SARFT has promulgated rules banning lewd comments and other moral provocations. Why are these troublesome, populist broadcasters allowed to operate at all? Because the Chinese government wants people to watch television. The living-room set is a crucial conduit between the state and the masses. However ribald their programming at other times, at seven o’clock in the evening almost all channels carry CCTV’s starchy news broadcast, in which unsmiling anchors relay the latest utterances from party officials. If television becomes too dull, that show would lose its audience. After all, many Chinese can go elsewhere for entertainment. Data from the Chinese Marketing and Media Study suggest that the internet accounts for 33% of all media use among 18- to 34-year-olds in Shanghai, compared with just 28% for television. Shanghai is an unusually forward-looking city, and people tend to underestimate their television watching. But internet video is undoubtably bigger in China than elsewhere. Victor Koo, chief executive of Youku, a video portal, says the average user spends an hour each day on his website. In contrast, people spend less than ten minutes each day on the America-based YouTube. Some Chinese use online video as a way of catching up on programmes that they missed (very few have digital video recorders). But many use it to gorge on pirated Hollywood shows. Subtitled versions of programmes like “Gossip Girl” circulate in China just a few hours after they are broadcast in America. So widespread is pirated television that it has created stars. Wentworth Miller, who is best-known for his role in the Fox television show “Prison Break”, is mobbed when he visits China, and is the face of General Motors in the country. Yet “Prison Break” is not shown on any Chinese television network. Broadcasters are thus caught between the state and the market, between conformity and populism. Both of their audiences are fickle: regulators clamp down on shows with little warning, whereas viewers are liable to switch off and watch pirated videos online or on DVD. Yet in some ways the business is settling down. Searching for the X factor
China's provincial television outfits are consolidating, with the stronger broadcasters piggybacking on the weaker broadcasters' national networks. Earlier this year Hunan TV persuaded Qinghai Satellite tv to carry some of its programmes. Shanghai Media Group secured national carriage for its local business channel by doing a deal with a broadcaster in Ningxia. Gradually, half a dozen strong television companies are emerging. A few are branching out: Shanghai Media Group publishes magazines and offers broadband service. Flush with money, and determined to differentiate themselves from a mass of cheap knock-offs, Chinas larger provincial broadcasters are beginning to import foreign programme formats legitimately. Increasingly t is not enough to have or to borrow) a good idea for a programme broadcasters must create professional-looking content. They must also learn to work with sponsors. New restrictions on television advertising mean that money is flowing into product placement. Helen Yang, president f Vivid Media, an independent production moved from making programmes to creating marketing solutions for companies. That adds a layer of complexity, favouring the biggest outfits. Chinese broadcasters are quickly learning how to produce slick-looking television. In a few years, predicts Ms Yang at Shanghai Media group, the will be able to develop compelling programme formats of their then, who knows? The notion of China as an exporter of culture seem far-fetched. But it was once hard to imagine the country churning out advanced telecoms equipment. Chinas tv Dating Shows: For Love or Money For a small but increasingly high-profile num ber of young women in modern-day china, true love is all about the numbers. a potential suitor may have a good sense of humor and reasonable good looks, but what they say really matters is if he owns an apartment and how many square feet it is. A sizable bank account is also a must, and some say, so is a luxury car. // At least, thats the way things look if you watch Chinese television these days though china was slow to pick on the reality-programming trend, a host of dating shows and american Idol copycats have emerged in recent years, capturing millions of viewers but angering critics who say the programs promote negative, non-traditional values among ur ban Chinese youth. The latest reality-TV scandal to transfix the nation involves Ma Nuo, a 22-year-old model from Beijing who appeared on China's most popular dating show, If You are the One. she haughtily rejected an offer from a male contestant to take a ride on his bike, epitomizing the materialism that some say has come to define the nouveau riche of the post-1980s generation I'd rather cry in a bMw car than laugh on the backseat of a bicycle " Ma told her suitor with a giggle //The televised smackdown swept the Internet and made an instant celebrity of Ma, who left the show without a match but has since entertained numerous television offers and become one of the most talked-about women
China’s provincial television outfits are consolidating, with the stronger broadcasters piggybacking on the weaker broadcasters’ national networks. Earlier this year Hunan TV persuaded Qinghai Satellite TV to carry some of its programmes. Shanghai Media Group secured national carriage for its local business channel by doing a deal with a broadcaster in Ningxia. Gradually, half a dozen strong television companies are emerging. A few are branching out: Shanghai Media Group publishes magazines and offers broadband service. Flush with money, and determined to differentiate themselves from a mass of cheap knock-offs, China’s larger provincial broadcasters are beginning to import foreign programme formats legitimately. Increasingly it is not enough to have (or to borrow) a good idea for a programme; broadcasters must create professional-looking content. They must also learn to work with sponsors. New restrictions on television advertising mean that money is flowing into product placement. Helen Yang, president of Vivid Media, an independent production company, says her company has moved from making programmes to creating marketing solutions for companies. That adds a layer of complexity, favouring the biggest outfits. Chinese broadcasters are quickly learning how to produce slick-looking television. In a few years, predicts Ms Yang at Shanghai Media Group, they will be able to develop compelling programme formats of their own. And then, who knows? The notion of China as an exporter of culture may seem far-fetched. But it was once hard to imagine the country churning out advanced telecoms equipment. China's TV Dating Shows: For Love or Money? For a small but increasingly high-profile number of young women in modern-day China, true love is all about the numbers. A potential suitor may have a good sense of humor and reasonable good looks, but what they say really matters is if he owns an apartment and how many square feet it is. A sizable bank account is also a must, and, some say, so is a luxury car. // At least, that's the way things look if you watch Chinese television these days. Though China was slow to pick up on the reality-programming trend, a host of dating shows and American Idol copycats have emerged in recent years, capturing millions of viewers but angering critics who say the programs promote negative, non-traditional values among urban Chinese youth. The latest reality-TV scandal to transfix the nation involves Ma Nuo, a 22-year-old model from Beijing who appeared on China's most popular dating show, If You Are the One. She haughtily rejected an offer from a male contestant to take a ride on his bike, epitomizing the materialism that some say has come to define the nouveau riche of the post-1980s generation. "I'd rather cry in a BMW car than laugh on the backseat of a bicycle," Ma told her suitor with a giggle. // The televised smackdown swept the Internet and made an instant celebrity of Ma, who left the show without a match but has since entertained numerous television offers and become one of the most talked-about women
in the country. The backlash among young Chinese was especially severe, reflecting growing anxieties over the widening gap between rich and poor, shifting societal values and the difficulties of finding a mate in a country where men are expected to outnum ber women by 2 million in a decade. China s 30-year-old one-child policy has caused a disproportionate number of families to abort female fetuses in hopes of having a son )//a lot of people see chastity a important as one's own life, but Ma Nuo, a shallow, sharp-tongued, single girl, treats her chastity like used toilet paper because she wants to be a super star one netizen, Wang Xi Jie, wrote on the popular Internet forum tianya. cn. Yes, the world needs money, but your idea that money is the master of everything is not right Of If You are the one and the handful of other dating shows like it, another blogger, Xie Yong, wrote on the Web portal Sohu. com: The most controversial aspect of these programs is the value contestants place on money worshipping and rich people. These opinions are so contrary to traditional values like loving one's country and respecting one's elders.. But we can' t do anything if these people just like ugly things. "//This cause for concern for the government In response to the publ ic outcry over Ma's infamous quote as well as comments from other money -obsessed contestants on If You are the one and shows like it -the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television(SARFT) issued a harsh set of new rules in early June for matchmaking programs. " Incorrect social and love values such as money worship should not be presented in the shows, the notice read. It also banned "morally provocative hosts and hostesses"and demanded that participants undergo stricter screening procedures and"be cautious before mouthing venturous remarks. "After the new policies were viewers have been by some of the contestants, however, they continue to watch religiously. In fact, Jiangsu's If You are the One has been joined on the airwaves by several competing programs in recent months, including Let's Go On a Date in Hunan province and run for Love in Zhejiang province. Why are people still tuning in? Audiences like the programs because they re honest They show the current reality of chinese society "says Yan Mu, one of the founders of Baihe. com, an on line dating service with 21 million registered users. Young people are so focused on making money and building their careers these days, they have little time to devote to dating -and contestants speak to these difficulties on the shows he says "Many people feel pressure from their parents and peers, Yan adds it can be a struggle to find a partner Money may not buy ou love. But on China's reality shows, it can at least get you a date 中文翻译 对于一小撮中国现代年轻女性来说,真正的爱情都是关于数字的。在要求求婚者必须拥 有幽默感、英俊外貌的同时,她们更在乎的是对方是否有房子、房子的大小、银行卡的钱数, 当然有豪华轿车更好。至少,这些都是近来中国电视相亲节目中的情景 近来,许多相亲节目和类似《美国偶像》的选秀节目如雨后春笋般在中国兴起,吸引了 数百万观众。但是批评人士称,这些节目导致消极的、非传统价值观在中国城市年轻人中盛 行。一些相亲节目曝出的丑闻更是刺痛了整个国家:来自北京的22岁模特马诺出现在当前 中国最受欢迎的相亲节目《非诚勿扰》中。她直接拒绝了一位男嘉宾共骑自行车逛街的邀请, 宣称自己宁可坐在宝马里边哭。马诺成为中国80后“拜金女”的代名词。 这种情况反映出中国年轻人对贫富差距日益增加、社会价值观转变以及寻找合适配偶 的忧虑。网民王义杰(音译)在中国著名网络论坛天涯中写道:“许多人将贞洁视作生命,但是 马诺这样浅薄、刻薄的单身女孩,对待她的贞洁就像用过的卫生纸,因为她想成为超级明星
in the country. The backlash among young Chinese was especially severe, reflecting growing anxieties over the widening gap between rich and poor, shifting societal values and the difficulties of finding a mate in a country where men are expected to outnumber women by 24 million in a decade. (China's 30-year-old one-child policy has caused a disproportionate number of families to abort female fetuses in hopes of having a son.) // A lot of people see chastity as important as one's own life, but Ma Nuo, a shallow, sharp-tongued, single girl, treats her chastity like used toilet paper because she wants to be a super star," one netizen, Wang Xi Jie, wrote on the popular Internet forum Tianya.cn. "Yes, the world needs money, but your idea that money is the master of everything is not right." Of If You Are the One and the handful of other dating shows like it, another blogger, Xie Yong, wrote on the Web portal Sohu.com: "The most controversial aspect of these programs is the value contestants place on money worshipping and rich people. These opinions are so contrary to traditional values, like loving one's country and respecting one's elders ... But we can't do anything if these people just like ugly things." // This is cause for concern for the government. In response to the public outcry over Ma's infamous quote — as well as comments from other money-obsessed contestants on If You Are the One and shows like it — the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) issued a harsh set of new rules in early June for matchmaking programs. "Incorrect social and love values such as money worship should not be presented in the shows," the notice read. It also banned "morally provocative hosts and hostesses" and demanded that participants undergo stricter screening procedures and "be cautious before mouthing venturous remarks." After the new policies were announced, all of China's dating shows said they would promptly comply. // As disgusted as viewers have been by some of the contestants, however, they continue to watch religiously. In fact, Jiangsu's If You Are the One has been joined on the airwaves by several competing programs in recent months, including Let's Go On a Date in Hunan province and Run for Love in Zhejiang province. Why are people still tuning in? "Audiences like the programs because they're honest. They show the current reality of Chinese society," says Yan Mu, one of the founders of Baihe.com, an online dating service with 21 million registered users. Young people are so focused on making money and building their careers these days, they have little time to devote to dating — and contestants speak to these difficulties on the shows, he says. "Many people feel pressure from their parents and peers," Yan adds. "It can be a struggle to find a partner." Money may not buy you love. But on China's reality shows, it can at least get you a date. 中文翻译： 对于一小撮中国现代年轻女性来说，真正的爱情都是关于数字的。在要求求婚者必须拥 有幽默感、英俊外貌的同时，她们更在乎的是对方是否有房子、房子的大小、银行卡的钱数， 当然有豪华轿车更好。至少，这些都是近来中国电视相亲节目中的情景。 近来，许多相亲节目和类似《美国偶像》的选秀节目如雨后春笋般在中国兴起，吸引了 数百万观众。但是批评人士称，这些节目导致消极的、非传统价值观在中国城市年轻人中盛 行。一些相亲节目曝出的丑闻更是刺痛了整个国家：来自北京的 22 岁模特马诺出现在当前 中国最受欢迎的相亲节目《非诚勿扰》中。她直接拒绝了一位男嘉宾共骑自行车逛街的邀请， 宣称自己宁可坐在宝马里边哭。马诺成为中国 80 后“拜金女”的代名词。 这种情况反映出中国年轻人对贫富差距日益增加、社会价值观转变以及寻找合适配偶 的忧虑。网民王义杰(音译)在中国著名网络论坛天涯中写道：“许多人将贞洁视作生命，但是 马诺这样浅薄、刻薄的单身女孩，对待她的贞洁就像用过的卫生纸，因为她想成为超级明星