China Media Monitor Headlines Archives

With the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (abbreviated ECFA) becoming effective as of September 12, mainland China began to implement opening policies for Taiwanese films on October 26. Chinese-language films in which more than 50% of the copyright belong to Taiwan’s film production companies and more than 50% of cast members are Taiwanese, can be distributed in mainland China without limits or import quotas after passing examination by the film authority.

ECFA is a preferential trade agreement between the governments of mainland China and Taiwan that aims to reduce tariffs and commercial barriers between the two sides. The pact, signed on June 29, 2010, in Chongqing, was seen as the most significant agreement since the two sides split after the Chinese Civil War in 1949.

August 1st Film Studio’s documentary 2009 Chinese Military Parade (Shengshi Dayuebing) was honored with the first prize in the traditional film category at the 21st annual military film festival in Rome. This event was held from November 8 to November 13 and attracted more than 60 films from 25 countries to compete for related prizes.

“Box office receipts are close to RMB8.5 billion (US$1.3 billion) now and will break RMB10 billion (US$1.5 billion) without doubt,” said Han Sanping, president of China Film Group Corporation (CFG), at a press conference for China’s domestic film Let The Bullets Fly (Rang Zidan Fei) on November 11. “We will rank sixth at the box office in the world in 2010 and will rank second in 2011, next to US.”

The number of screens is rising at a rate of three per day in mainland China now. Total screens are expected to exceed 6,000 by the end of 2010 and reach about 7,000-7,500 by the end of 2011.

China’s adspend on all media excluding internet totaled RMB430.2 billion (US$65 billion) in the first three quarters 2010, up 14% year on year, according to statistics released on November 9 by market research company CTR. In addition, total adspend for the whole of 2010 is estimated to maintain a 14% growth rate. In 2009, total adspend reached RMB507.5 billion (US$76.6 billion), a 13% YOY growth rate.
Click for Adspend on All Media Excluding Internet in Q1-3 2010
Click for Top 5 Industries by Adspend in Q1-3 2010
Click for Top 10 Advertisers by Adspend in Q1-3 2010

 Source: CTR