What’s trending?
Last Friday, Mango TV, the online video platform affiliated with Hunan Broadcasting System, launched the reality talent show whose Chinese name translates to “Sisters Who Brave Winds and Waves.” The first episode has received 400 million views so far and sparked a rally for shares of Mango Excellent Media Co. Ltd., operator of Mango TV.
What’s the story?
Music talent shows have been all the rage in China in recent years, but viewers are slowly getting tired of young hopefuls who largely fall into the same formula. In contrast, Mango TV’s new show is an outlier, featuring 30 established female celebrities aged 30 and above competing for a spot in the five-person winning group at the end.
Apart from the female stars’ musical talent, Mango TV hopes to showcase their youthful attitudes in a world in which most female entertainers have a short “shelf life” (Source: NetEase Entertainment). The new concept instantly grabbed the attention of Chinese viewers who anxiously awaited the show’s debut. The first episode aired last Friday after limited official publicity and received 10 million views within the first 20 minutes.
Following the initial success, Mango Excellent Media’s stock rose by nearly 9% on Friday and another 7% on Monday. The company’s market value has now surpassed 100 billion yuan ($14 billion) (Shanghai Securities News).
What are people saying online?
Netizens have embraced the new show. One wrote, “Of course, young stars in their late teens and early 20s are beautiful. But I feel more impressed by these celebrities over the age of 30.” She went on to say that their confidence and ambition make them shine, and that age is just a number.
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Other people said that they are not surprised by Mango TV’s success. In comparison with other video platforms such as Tencent, Youku, and iQiyi, Mango TV’s shows are “much more interesting and interactive,” one user commented.
– This article originally appeared on Caixin Global.
