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 As they target China's $19-billion TV industry, South Korean
producers such as SBS Media Holdings, are moving beyond selling
rights to Korean television dramas.
They are licensing remakes of reality shows, which promise
viewers the thrill of seeing stars conspire together, or take a
tumble.
"Since foreign programs were barred from airing during China's
prime time, local co-production has become the easiest way to
broadcast in China," said Kim Yong-jae, a Korean co-producer of
the game show "Hurry Up, Brother".
An estimated 4.2 percent of homes with TV sets tuned in to
"Hurry Up, Brother" on Jan. 9, says CSM Media Research, an
unprecedented figure in China, where most television is watched
online.
The show, in which Chinese celebrities, such as Deng Chao and
Angelababy, compete in obstacle races and vie to rip off each
other's name tags, is based on the SBS hit "Running Man".
Cultural similarities explain the popularity of the shows, said
Kim, adding, "We find a lot of the same things funny."
Korean products appeal to Chinese viewers as they play on
Confucian values, such as respect for elders, producers say.
Hunan Television's remake of a Korean hit, "Where Are We Going,
Dad?" features celebrity dads on camping trips with their
children, while Jiangsu TV's "Star To My House" shows actresses
living and working with farming families.
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"Chinese celebrities aren't used to showing unexpected reactions in
sudden situations," said Ahn Yin-bae, chief executive of Seoul-based
entertainment company KOEN Group.
"It's important to incite the reactions you want and create
characters," said Ahn, who also produced the Chinese remake of
"Superman is Back," starring celebrity dads and their infants.
SBS and other Korean content providers declined to comment on
profits from Chinese remakes. Chinese firms used to pay up to
$200,000 per episode to import Korean dramas, but prices vary.
In September, Chinese media authorities said they would approve
foreign content and set a ratio of 30 percent of foreign to domestic
media on streaming sites.
Remakes of U.S. and European shows also draw viewers. The Chinese
version of Emmy Award-winning reality series "The Amazing Race"
scored solid ratings of around 1 percent per episode when it aired
last year.
Now a Korean show is journeying in the opposite direction.
U.S. network NBC has greenlighted an American version of "Grandpas
Over Flowers," featuring four septuagenarian celebrities backpacking
abroad.
(Editing by Tony Munroe, Tony Tharakan and Clarence Fernandez)
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