Chinese TV dramas venturing into global markets

Chinese TV dramas are venturing into the international markets, said a group of experts from production, distribution firms and broadcast platforms in Shanghai. 

The experts attending a key event of Shanghai TV Festival have called for better themes, promotion and content of Chinese TV dramas, so as to let them venture into international markets.

Attending the Shanghai TV Festival's "Focus on International: International TV Works Promotion Conference" at the Shanghai Exhibition Center on June 25, they shared a similar view that "good story itself can travel the world."

Speaking at a round-table discussion, Xixi Pictures' Executive Vice-President Fu Wenjie introduced the six works produced and distributed by Xixi Pictures in the four years since its establishment and their success in international markets. These include historical dramas "Who Rules the World," "Ancient Love Poetry," and "The Hidden God," as well as period drama "Dream of a Sea," and urban-themed dramas "Good Things Come in Pairs" and "Smoke Family."

She said among them, the historical drama "The Hidden God," which premiered on Tencent Video and Mango TV in December, was simultaneously launched in multiple countries and regions, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, and North America, with versions in English, Spanish, Russian and Arabic.

The Kazakh version of "Good Things Come in Pairs" premiered on Kazakhstan's mainstream TV channel, Channel 7 on May 13.

Fu said as her company has managed to export the remake rights for "Good Things Come in Pairs," with the Mongolian version produced and broadcast by a Mongolian film and television company is anticipated soon.

The period drama "Dream of a Sea" premiered on Japan's Satellite Theater on June 11 this year, she said, stressing that "period dramas that evoke resonant emotions and times are also being accepted and recognized by international markets."

Other guests at the forum included Vice-President of New Classics Media Wang Qiao; MTVA International Relations Director, Kristina Bandi; VIU Content Business Planning and Development Director Li Xinxin; Fuji TV Distribution Manager Chie Kamada; VSTV/K+ Content and Channel Director Zheng Shuilian; and President of Focus Pictures INC Zhong Weijiang.

Focusing on the topic "How Can Chinese Dramas Break into Overseas Markets," the round-table discussion grouped industry guests from well-known production companies, distribution companies, and broadcast platforms from Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, and other countries.

Fu Wenjie said regarding themes, it is no longer historical dramas that are recognized internationally. "Urban, special years (period), youth and suspense dramas evoking emotional resonance and enhancing viewers' interaction can also be widely accepted," she said.

For promotion, providing international audiences with more social expression channels and localizing diverse promotional materials and methods from China to overseas markets can significantly enhance TV dramas' marketing and publicity, she said.

In terms of content creation, she noted, the principles of "breaking into" overseas markets are telling a good story, as "a good story can travel the world," excellent production quality, and focusing on a cultural core that integrates traditional Chinese culture as much as possible in realistic historical dramas.