China Media Monitor Headlines Archives

Audiences will be required to don special 3D glasses for new TV drama series Wu Chengen and The Journey to The West, due to premiere on mainland satellite channels at the start of 2010. Each 45 minute episode will feature over 8 minutes of 3D footage, in a first for Chinese TV. 

The drama series was co-produced by Meiyan Spring International Film & TV Culture Communication and China Film & Television Production Co. Ltd, a CCTV subsidiary.

The Liaoning Radio, Film and Television Bureau recently unveiled its plans to finalize the merger of Liaoning Radio, Liaoning TV and Liaoning Education TV into one entity called Liaoning Radio and TV by the end of 2009.

As part of the re-shuffle, the Bureau said it planned to separate its broadcast assets from its production assets. In the future, the only content produced by broadcasters will be news programs. All other content – including sports, variety, science, education and drama – will be produced by market-oriented independent companies.

More than 150 exhibitors have registered for the First China International Film and TV Animation Copyright Protection and Trade Fair. The event will be in Dongguan in Guangdong province from December 30, 2009 to January 3, 2010.

China's central government has approved the project application report The Walt Disney Co lodged to construct a theme park in Shanghai, in a major move forward for the project. Walt Disney will now be able to proceed with detailed discussions with the Shanghai Municipal Government to produce a final deal for the park.

Beijing Polybona Film Distribution plans to launch an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in either the second half of 2010 or the first half of 2011, according to Chief Executive Yu Dong on November 3. He said the company will start drafting its listing application early next year.

Polybona currently has film distribution, film production and cinema operation business arms. Its plans to launch an IPO follow in the steps of two of rival film companies. Huayi Brothers Media Corp debuted on China's new start-up companies market in the southern city of Shenzhen on October 30, surging 148 percent on its first day of trading. The state-run China Film Group has also announced plans to list in Shanghai.