Chinese television shows find new growth avenues in Arabian nations
Television programs from China are increasingly finding an audience in Arab nations, with a growing number keen to source original content, officials said on Wednesday.
Interest in original content programs like China’s V-Day parade on Sept 3 was particularly high among viewers in countries in Tunisia and Egypt as they were able to witness the event live on their television sets, thanks to the signals aired by the Beijing-based CCTV News Content Co Ltd.
According to officials, interest in China-centered programs has peaked after the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping two years ago. The trade initiative runs through most of the Arab nations that were once part of the historic Silk Route and seeks to foster better relations and infrastructure connectivity among countries.
Speaking at the China-Arabian countries broadcasting and TV cooperation forum held in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region on Wednesday, Tong Gang, deputy director of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, said that many TV stations in China have established cooperation mechanisms with their Arabian counterparts.
“The administration has signed cooperation agreements with 10 Arab nations, including Egypt, Kuwait, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq,” he said.
“China and Arab nations will further strengthen their cooperation in news broadcasting, program exchanges, joint productions and dubbing TV programs. We may even consider producing original television content jointly.”
The TV cooperation forum is one of a series of activities under the 2015 China Arab States Expo, which kicked off on Thursday in Yinchuan. More than 80 ministry-level officials from 86 countries and regions and international organizations took part in the expo.
President Xi Jinping said in his letter of congratulations to the expo that “China and Arab countries are friends that trust each other, and good partners”.
Chadia Khedhir, a senior official of Tunisia Television Station, said that her channel has already sourced three TV programs from China.
“The first is a reality show centered on Arab nations which was broadcast in the summer,” she said. “The second is a program about Chinese food, and the third is a popular Chinese romantic drama,” she said without revealing any more details.
According to Khedhir, interest for China-centric programs is particularly high among the young people in Tunisia. “However, it will take some time to grow a huge captive audience.”
Yang Di, an official at the international sales department of the China Radio, Film & Television Programs Exchange Center, said: “Enthusiasm for Chinese romantic dramas is increasing in Arab nations. Most of these nations have been exposed to South Korean TV programs and are now keen on watching similar content from China. Interest is particularly high for programs that deal with romantic issues of young people.”
Yang said the center has also started selling documentaries and other China-centric programs to Arab nations. “TV content sales to Arab nations will grow substantially as the Silk Road initiative seeks to build lasting bonds in economy and culture,” he said.
Citing examples, Yang said romantic dramas like Diamond Lover, Youth of Ice and Fire and Destined to Love You are gaining in popularity in the Arab world. Interest for documentaries such as A Bite of Chinese Spring Festival is also high, he said.
China is also looking to cooperate with Arab nations in video news content. China has already started to provide downloadable video news contents to other countries, according to Gao Wei, managing director of CCTV News Content Co Ltd.
... it will take some time to grow a huge captive audience (for Chinese TV programs).” Chadia Khedhir, an official at Tunisia Television Station