Seven would kill for this kind of ratings
With the dawn of Australia's rebooted X Factor quickly approaching, Seven will be putting together its advertising and marketing packages to maximise the profits and return of a show that is costing them around $16 million to produce.
With TEN's MasterChef Australia garnering something in the region of $65 million to $80 million from advertising agreements, there's certainly money to be made. And these profits are made with top ratings of 3.5 million viewers.
Imagine, if you will, the money to be made if your audience was 500 million.
Allow me to introduce China's Got Talent.
One of the newest members of the Got Talent franchise, China's version is taking the country by storm, with over a third of the country addicted to the stream of "talent", in the same way that it has gripped the majority of the world before them.
And, if we've done our maths correctly, on the basis of population, we reckon there's at least 200 Susan Boyles in China, poised to go viral.
The format is identical to other FremantleMedia produced "Got Talent" shows, and is certain to be earning Simon Cowell a pretty penny. Additionally, as with all of the talent show formats, it will only increase in popularity as media coverage picks up.
However, don't expect an unrestrained variety of talent on show. According to CNN Asia, the programs director has ruled out the potential of any gentleman who wish to sport a suspender belt, or padded bra:
"... for people to start appearing in another gender altogether, this I don't agree with, and you can even say I'm disgusted with it ... Can you imagine a flamboyant guy who transforms himself into a 'fake lady', then performs in front of the audiences on Shanghai's biggest platform, and then goes on to become a talent representing China?"
The three judges, singer Annie Ye, composer Gao Xiaosong and comedian Zhou Libo are happy to belittle their contestants in a light-hearted manner, but are certainly no patch on Simon Cowell's put-downs.
There is a lot to play for: the winning talent gets a Sony recording contract and the chance to support the tour of a Taiwanese pop star.
The Got Talent franchise is the first international production to be staged by the Chinese television networks -- certainly an interesting reflection on how the Chinese media is changing its attitude towards foreign influence.
Following in the steps of Taiwan's Lin Yu Chun (aka Whitney Houston), and one of the current front runners is Shanghai's Zhu Xiaoming (aka Mariah Carey)...
Good to see that Snow Patrol's Run is over played at critically "emotional" moments in China too!
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