Chinese deal for Italian format

A Chinese broadcaster has commissioned Italian children’s singing format Io Canto for a local run, while two other international formats have been recommissioned in the Asian territory.

Beijing-based Enlight Media will produce the series for Liaoning TV, and the show will see local children between five and 16 taking to the stage to perform classic songs. The format first broadcast on Italy’s RTI Mediaset, and debuts in China in January.

Enlight, China’s only publicly listed TV prodco, has also scored recommissions for the Chinese version of Simon Cowell’s talent series The X Factor and Shine Group format Clash of the Choirs, for Liaoning and state broadcaster CCTV, respectively.

“These new deals demonstrate our interest in collaborating with companies around the world to adapt and produce high-quality entertainment formats,” said Enlight president Wang Changtian, who added further format deals would be announced in the “near future.”