In recent years, American television series like 2 Broke Girls and House of Cards have become increasingly watched in China - with more Chinese content providers gaining licenses to release them. China's answer to Netflicks, Sohu.com, says U.S. shows are becoming mainstream. Offering huge advertising potential.
From Beijing, Grace Brown has more on why U.S. shows are becoming so popular in China - and what it means for Chinese shows.
27-year old Michelle Sun grew up in Beijing. She’s been watching American TV since she was 12.
"I watch 2 Broke Girls, Big Bang theory. I started watching 2 Broke Girls overseas and Youku do so too. Chinese websites are up to date on all the episodes." Sun said.
Along with Youku, a growing number of Chinese video providers are scrambling to secure licenses for U.S. TV series. Sohu TV.com is China’s largest provider of American shows, with 2,000 episodes to date - translated and released on its website almost simultaneously, minutes after being aired in America.
"I think for the very beginning, they wanted to learn English. And now I think it’s more about entertainment. They watch it because it’s good TV. We think we have moved beyond just easy sitcoms...As House of Cards has shown, they love those quality shows.” Sohu American TV Channel’s editor-in-charge Lizzie Chen said.
With a plot that includes China and Japan’s territorial tensions, House of Cards is Sohu’s most watched TV show and it’s not just young people tuning in.
"We don’t really have a specific demographic. My mum and my sister watch U.S. TV series too. They probably won’t watch Vampire Diaries, but they will watch House of Cards and Homeland." Chen said.
As viewers grow, so too is advertising. Sohu TV’s ad revenues nearly doubled between 2012 and 2013, surging from 206 million US dollars to 429 million. Largely due to hits from its American shows - which grew from 31 in 2012, to 50 today.
Chinese audiences have been exposed to American TV series since the 1980’s, during China’s opening up phase, but it’s really during the last two years that their popularity has taken off here. Putting new pressure on Chinese TV makers to keep up.
"I think that they can try to come up with more original TV scripts... People always want shows that talk about their own lives. We don’t want that many shows that try to make Shanghai like New York. We don’t need that.” Chen said.
With more competition, there is also often more cooperation... As Hollywood collaborations with Chinese studios have shown. It may only be a matter of time before the same, goes for TV shows.