The Voice of China reality television show attracts more than 120 million viewers
The Voice of China is topping the TV ratings on the mainland and it's appeal lies in the fact that talented but ordinary people are trying to make it big
, an internationally franchised reality television show, has been a big hit on the mainland since its launch last month, with attracting more than 120 million TV viewers and 400 million internet users - and topping the ratings.
Advertising slots on the show now cost 360,000 yuan (HK$439,100) for 15 seconds - adding up to 16 million yuan a week for the one-hour show - and they're getting more expensive each week, showing that the show's producers made the right decision when they paid the Dutch originators of the concept 3.5 million yuan in copyright fees.
What makes it unique is that the talent on the show is selected through blind auditions, where the judges can only hear the singers who are auditioning for slots on the show.
As the judges express interest in the contestants, they turn their chairs around to face them. If more than one judge turns around, the contestant can select which coach they prefer.
Each team of singers is mentored and developed by a coach and the list is whittled down through a series of live performances.
The criteria for the mentors is the same in every country. They are all celebrity artists, often including an influential figure in the music industry, a grass-roots singer, one designed to attract young audiences and one female. The US show featured Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levin.
