There have been a few earlier successes. In 2004, Hunan Satellite TV launched Super Girl, which became an instant hit. In 2005, Li Yuchun, the show's winner in its second season, appeared on the cover of the Asian edition of Time magazine. Super Girl helped Hunan Satellite TV stay atop China's broadcasters. In many respects, the content on Super Girl is similar to that of the US hit show American Idol. Super Girl, however, is not a good example of cooperation because Hunan Satellite TV did not buy the rights to American Idol. Instead, it made several innovative changes to the show, which sparked controversy and a couple of lawsuits at the time. Chinese producers have since started to pay more attention to copyrights.

Today, the majority of Chinese television producers are familiar with copyright rules. Hit TV shows over the past two years have adhered to international copyright rules. TV producers in China have also found that it is much easier to buy the rights to a show instead of imitating it.

For example, after purchasing The Voice, Shanghai Canxing Productions received a 200-page guidebook from Dutch Talpa Media with rules on how to script the program, how to prepare and arrange the content, how to select instructors and students, and how to install the lighting. Even gestures such as how mentors should grab the microphone and the designs of their seating were detailed. The Dutch team also dispatched personnel to guide the recording of the shows and to advise on production and marketing.

In fact, in China, foreign shows have grown. In the last few years, from CCTV to various provincial TV networks, many mainstream TV networks have copyrighted shows. Foreign programs are now lighting up the Chinese screen.

But this is just the beginning. In the future, with the impact of new media on TV, competition among television networks will prompt a rapid growth in Chinese remakes of foreign TV shows. For the owners and creators of the world's TV shows, China is an expanding market.

In order to gain a solid foothold, Chinese TV producers have to first localize their programs for China. They, in order to develop a good program, must work with the foreign creators of the original show.

I have to admit that not all of the programs that have been imported to China were successful. A British program called Tonight's The Night garnered a weak viewership as China Dream Show.

More thought must be given to localizing a foreign program for a Chinese audience. In fact, if an overseas program is successfully transformed for Chinese viewers, it gives the Chinese TV producers a broader, more sustainable space to further develop. For China's TV production companies, they should focus on how to customize overseas shows.

At present, China has a number of copyright agents, and the majority of Chinese networks have purchased overseas programs through them. Of course, the existence of a middleman can reduce communication hassles, but they can also weaken the bargaining position. I recommend that foreign TV networks establish branches in China or assign more power to their representative offices here. I think keen TV producers in China are willing to negotiate directly with overseas networks.

Foreign networks should also explore the ripening new media market in China. Currently, many video sites have become important program producers in China. With the development of China's Internet economy and changes in how Chinese people view shows, a Chinese network's vision, ability and purchasing power will help in remaking more foreign TV programs.

The author is a researcher at CCTV Development Research Center. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.