China Media Monitor Headlines Archives

James Cameron's sci-fi thriller Avatar raked in a stellar RMB230 million (US$33.67 million) at the mainland box office by January 9, just six days after its mainland premiere, reports Sohu. This made it the first film in China to make more than RMB200 million (US$29.28 million) at the box office within one week. Avatar also set a new record for the highest box office takings in a single day on January 9, when it took RMB60 million (US$8.78 million). Zhang Yimou's A Simple Noodle Story (Sanqiang Paian Jingqi) held the previous record of RMB53 million (US$7.76 million) at the box office in one day.

CCTV’s movie channel (CCTV-6) has launched a new WAP site (URL: wap.m1905.com) in cooperation with Kong Zhong, reports Beijing Youth Daily.  The site will provide free video-on-demand services for copyrighted films, as well as trailers, posters and information on film screenings.

International hit Avatar made an estimated RMB27 million (US$3.95 million) on its opening day January 4 in mainland China, according to a Beijing Evening News report citing unnamed industry sources. The film notched up a sound first day performance despite the heavy snow that disrupted traffic in northern cities such as Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang. The film is expected to make more than RMB100 million (US$14.64 million) by January 6.

More than 450 exhibitors and 400,000 visitors attended the First China International Animation Copyright Fair, held in Dongguan in Guangdong province from December 30 to January 3. The participants signed 87 contracts for projects worth around RMB8.2 billion (US$1.20 billion), according to the event organizers. The fair was hosted by State Administration of Radio, Film and TV (SARFT) and the Guangdong Provincial Government.

Around 80% of all mainland publishing groups have completed the shift from government-funded organizations to self-supporting organizations, according to General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) Minister Liu Binjie. Under the timetable unveiled by GAPP last year, all mainland publishers are expected to complete the shift by the end of 2010. Liu Binjie added that around 31 mainland publishing groups have launched IPOs, raising more than RMB200 billion (US$29.28 billion) by the end of 2009.