China Media Monitor Headlines Archives

China's film industry is set to continue to expand dramatically the next 10 years, according to Zhang Hongsen, deputy director-general of China's Film Bureau, on October 23. He said the number of theatrical venues across China is set to grow from the current 4,800 screens to more than 10,000 by 2019. He predicted the total box office takings from 2009 to 2019 will top RMB35 billion (US$5.12 billion).

China's box office grew by 30% year-on-year in 2008 to RMB4.34 billion (US$63.54 million), the largest percentage box office increase of any major film market.

In an effort to encourage the legal sale of DVDs, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) signed an agreement for improved cooperation with the China Film Copyright Association at the China International Copyright Expo, held from October 24 to 27.

At the signing ceremony, MPA President and COO Bob Pisano urged the Chinese government to promote the sale of legal DVDs, and not just focus on cracking down on the production and sale of illegal ones. He also called in China to grant foreign distributors greater access to the mainland market.

Zhang Pimin, Vice Minister of the State Administration of Radio, Film and TV (SARFT), met with Li Zaixian, President of Korea's CJ Entertainment Group, on October 21.

At the meeting, Zhang Pimin highlighted the achievements of the Chinese film industry in recent years and expressed his appreciation for the CJ Entertainment Group's support for this process. They went on to also discuss future Chinese–Korean co-productions and joint investment in cinema construction.

Knowing, a thriller starring Nicolas Cage from independent US production company Summit Entertainment, premiered across China on October 30, according to mainland distributor China Film Group Corporation.

The film received a relatively small release compared to most US imports in China. Copies were only distributed to around 1,000 screens across China, while most Hollywood blockbusters open on around 3,800 screens. China currently has around 4,800 screens in total.

Leading online video site Tudou will boost spending on content production and purchases by around RMB100 million (US$14.64 million) in 2010, according to company founder and CEO Wang Wei on October 20. He said he expects his company to meet its earnings targets in the following year. Wang Wei also denied rumors that Tudou plans to launch an IPO on NASDAQ.