China Media Monitor Headlines Archives

Beijing’s publishing industry made RMB44.14 billion (US$6.46 billion) in revenue from January to November 2009, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%, according to figures released by the Beijing Press and Publication Bureau (BPPB), reports the Beijing Youth Daily. RMB2.40 billion (US$351.39 million) was profit, signifying a year-on-year increase of 2.5%. By the end of 2009 the BPPB had approved the establishment of 55 Internet publishing groups, accounting for 25% of the total enterprises currently established in China. Beijing is also the biggest importer of books and periodicals with the approval of 8,018 projects that entailed copyright licensing agreements in 2009.

State owned newspaper People’s Daily has set up a joint venture with Hong Kong listed company China Vision Media, reports iFeng.com quoting an unnamed industry source. The new company will provide video streaming and video on demand services to mobile phone users via 3G networks. The content will include in-house and acquired product. People’s Daily holds 51% of the shares.

Beijing Bank will provide loans totaling RMB10 billion (US$1.46 billion) over the next 3 years to the animation, online game, entertainment and creative arts agencies and companies, reports Beijing Evening News, quoting the Bank’s president Yan Xiaoyan. The Bank also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Beijing Cultural Bureau on January 14 to support the development of Beijing’s cultural industries. Beijing Bank granted RMB2.6 billion (US$380.67) in loans to cultural groups between 2007 and 2009.

Wu Chengen and Journey to West (Wu Chengen Yu Xiyou Ji), the first Chinese TV drama produced in both 2D and 3D formats, will start broadcasting around the Chinese New Year, reports Beijing Youth Daily. The drama has 46 episodes and each episode is 45 minutes long. Around 12 minutes in each episode will appear in 3D format. The drama is produced by Mei Ya Spring International Drama & Film Communication Co Ltd and Beijing Yongtong Film & Drama Culture Development Co Ltd with a production budget of RMB100 million (US$14.64 million).

The second installment of the Chinese animation Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf (Xi Yangyang Yu Hui Tailang Zhi Huhu Shengwei) premieres on January 29 in mainland China, reports Modern Express (see related story). Shanghai Media Group and Creative Power Entertainment, the film’s producers, also announced that it’s third installment will be produced in 3D format in 2011. The film’s first episode made RMB100 million (US$14.64 million), setting a new box office record for an animated Chinese film.