The Legend of Zhenhuan, a megahit TV series that took China by the storm in 2011, was broadcast on American streaming website Netflix as Empresses in the Palace on March 15.
The 76-episode series was edited into six episodes and dubbed in English for foreign viewers.
Despite the high ratings that Zhenhuan received at home, it flopped in reviews overseas and generated far less hits than expected.
Nevertheless, for a Made-in-China TV series to go on the global stage, it was still invigorating news for China's showbiz.
Exporting homemade TV series has been a long-cherished goal for China's cultural industry. Sadly, the ones that do get the chance to go abroad are miniscule in number compared to the vast market and volume of domestic drama.
According to Huang Lan, producer of parenting drama Tiger Mom, out of more than 15,000 episodes of domestic drama, only 10,000 hours (roughly 200 episodes) were exported through the China Radio, Film and Television Program Exchange Center.
More than half of the dramas exported to East and South Asia were based on history and modern dramas comprised only a small portion of those exported.
Chinese dramas are almost unmarketable in Europe and the Americas. Aside from a few on historical topics, a scanty few can influence on the Western world, if any.
Reality really bites. The good news is, things are getting better.
Tiger Mom, starring A-listers Zhao Wei and Tong Dawei, which is currently broadcast on Dragon TV and Tianjin TV, and the just-completed love story, My Sunshine, experienced a much smoother ride on their way abroad.
Tiger Mom will hit the small screens of nine countries and regions, including the US and Canada. My Sunshine will also be shown on MBC, one of the three mainstream broadcasting stations in South Korea.
Many industry insiders attribute the presentation of the Chinese view on love to the successful marketing of My Sunshine in South Korea, a country famed for producing modern melodramas with an international viewership.
"Unwillingness to compromise", which lies at the core of the storyline, and the Chinese value "to hold thy hand and grow old together" with one's partner in life were crucial in moving MBC to purchase the broadcast rights. A more fashionable and direct presentation of China's take on romance were the main selling points.
It is a shame to look at the number of domestic dramas sold to markets abroad compared to the colossal volume produced each year. On the other hand, sales volume speaks for quality. Tiger Mom and My Sunshine have somewhat paved the way for Chinese dramas. It is encouraging news, but in the end, it is quality and resignation with viewers' hearts that makes the day.
