CCTV10: The Sizzle from China’s Science & Culture Channel, Reaching 136 Million Daily

• CCTV9 The Documentary Channel came out with a blast at MIPDoc in Cannes last year.
• Last month, it was CCTV10’s turn at Asian Side of the Doc in Chengdu.
• CCTV10 is the public broadcaster dedicated to disseminating China’s Science and Culture.
• The channel’s executive team presented an enthusiastic slate of new historical, ethnographic, nature and science specials.
• Here’s how CCTV10 showed off its best stuff in Chengdu:

Some Numbers

• Established in 2001, CCTV10’s ‘average daily audience is 136 million.’
• Original documentary productions: 450 hours
• Premieres: 750 hours
• BTW, CCTV10 says that its average prime time audience is more than 60 million.

Competition

• CCTV10’s remit overlaps with CCTV9.
• Although the channels are part of the same government-run structure, they are highly competitive.
• CCTV9 was barely a presence in Chengdu, but is the key sponsor of the Science and Factual Producers Congress in Beijing later in the year.

 Deals

• License fees for acquisitions are in the low $ thousands.
• Like CCTV9’s rates, we hear that they are dropping.
• Many co-productions are properly funded, particularly those with blue chip international partners.

More on ASD Chengdu

• ASD was a terrific success, and I’ll write more about the highlights soon.
• Congrats to executive director Yves Jeanneau and the ASD team for a great effort.
• Thanks to Warren Chien for the presentation tape.

MIPDoc

• Hope to see many of you in Cannes.