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In a market where more than 40 satellite broadcasters are competing for attention from the same audiences and advertisers, conservative senior TV management have been less willing to risk new ideas for fear of letting ratings and income fall, says Kim Gordon, founder of Imaginement China.
Having previously worked with the BBC, Gordon's company specializes in training Chinese TV producers in creativity. His clients include producers from leading channels such as Hunan and Jiangsu TV.
The situation means a tested formula is still a safer card to play. That is why Chinese TV channels are constantly inspired by overseas program formats, such as the Voice of China series that have already been tested in other markets and often mean a better chance of success.
Another problem is that when a format proves successful on a leading Chinese channel, other networks tend to buy a similar format or imitate the idea.