This year's Super Girls TV singing contest was finally launched
yesterday in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province.
China's Super Girls talent show was a massive national hit and
earned the program makers, Hunan Satellite TV, more than 100
million yuan (US$12.5 million) in 2005.
Ouyang Changlin, general manager of Hunan Radio, Film and TV
Group and head of Hunan Satellite TV, said yesterday at the launch
of the latest round of the 'American Idol' style singing
competition that earnings from the program came from advertising
and various Super Girls spin-offs.
It's the first time the TV station has announced the commercial
returns of the program.
Super Girls was more than just a light TV entertainment program
as it had become a new cultural franchise industry in China, said
Ouyang.
Super Girls short messages and mobile phone ring tones have
brought handsome profits to telecom corporations while music
websites also received their share, he said.
Ouyang said a series of Super Girls dolls would be appearing on
the market and an on-line game involving them was also going to be
launched.
Those wishing to take part in the 2006 Super Girls competition
will be auditioned in the five locations -- Changsha, Hangzhou,
Chengdu, Shenyang and Guangzhou.
This year girls under the age of 18 will not be permitted to
enter the competition, said a Hunan Satellite TV
representative.
(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2006)