CJ E&M HK, the regional office of Asia’s leading entertainment and merchandising company, CJ ENM, in Hong Kong, has started adapting and re-imagining award-winning Korean IPs from its mother company since 2016.
This year, CJ E&M HK is making a bold move to create its own IPs and tapping the China market by producing factual contents with a unique Asian touch. There are 8 original productions in the pipeline in 2019, ranging from CJ ENM IPs to locally originated IPs, tapping different cultures and inspirations from the region. The original productions helped CJ E&M HK more than double its sales revenue in 2018 from the previous year; and a robust growth for 2019 revenue is expected.
In 2019, CJ E&M HK is proud to announce two upcoming original IPs working hand-in-hand with China partners.
Firstly, a special 3-episode 60-minute series of Wok The World entitled “Unearthed Rice Story”, a co-production with China Intercontinental Communication Center (“CICC”). China Intercontinental Communication Center, established in Beijing in December 1993, is a comprehensive international cultural communication agency specialises in audiovisual programme production, communication and operation, as well as Internet new media. CICC has been partnering with some of the most influential broadcasters in the world to produce high quality factual programs with the objective to let the world see China.
Wok The World – Unearthed Rice Story is an international co-production project aiming to tell the stories of the Belt and Road initiative, which is launched by China to promote economic and cultural collaborations among nations along the Belt and Road routes.
CJ E&M HK and CICC will co-create IP targeting worldwide audience by tracing the footprints of rice along the Belt and Road routes from China to Malaysia, Thailand and finally Dubai. Other than featuring how rice is originated and produced, deeper cultural stories that connect multiple nations will unfold. Furthermore, the journey will be hosted by Michelin 3-star chef Alvin Leung together with his protégée, MasterChef Canada winner, Eric Chong who will create special dishes along this inspiring Rice Journey.
Ms Li Mian, Director of International Media Relations Center of CICC, believed that international planning and production of this project would actively help explore the way of joint-communication by traditional television and Internet new media to introduce stories of the Silk Road and excellent Chinese culture to more people both domestically and internationally.
“The Belt and Road initiative is a highly relevant topic to international audience today. We are thrilled to work with our partner CICC to create the show and to bring new stories with fresh and lifestyle angles to the world,” Ms Anne Chan, COO of CJ E&M HK said.
The second China production is Homestay In China (Chinese title as 我行我宿 ) commissioned by CICC and Sina Studios, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
In this 6-part series, international artists, designers and celebrities are invited to embark on an exotic homestay journey with their local counterparts. Together they will explore, be inspired and co-create artistic moments. Audience will be able to see a modernised China from a refined perspective, little-known outside the country.
Both Wok The World – Unearthed Rice Story and Homestay In China will premiere on tvN Asia and multiple platforms in China this October; they will also be widely distributed in Africa and the Middle East via OTT and linear platforms.
Furthermore, CJ E&M HK partners with Astro to co-produce Get It Beauty On The Road in Malaysia for a Raya special edition. This year Group M’s Motion Content Group becomes our new production partner with a better show and stronger clientele. Korean TV personality, Kim Jung-min, returns to host the show along with K-beauty expert, Kim Ki-soo, and TV presenter who is active in Malaysia, Nadiyah Shahab. Highlight of Season 2 falls on defining beauty tips and tricks to celebrate Hari Raya, which is a popular festival celebrated in Malaysia; bringing on-trend K-beauty elements into the Malaysian traditions by giving it a modern touch. Get It Beauty On The Road in Malaysia S2 is set to air on tvN Asia and Astro RIA in end of May, just in time to get audience prepared for Hari Raya celebration in a beautiful way!
