DAILY VARIETY

Friday, September 7, 2007

Chinese-language TV station New Tang Dynasty TV is stepping up its live-entertainment sked, boosting the number of perfs of its annual holiday show in a bid to become more direct competish for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

"Holiday Wonders" will play 10 perfs Dec. 18-26 at the Beacon Theater on the Upper West Side. Soon thereafter, NTDTV's annual engagement of its "Chinese New Year Spectacular" will be expanded to play 15 perfs at Radio City in early February.

Both shows, revue-style amalgams of traditional Chinese performance acts, are produced by independent broadcaster NTDTV and the troupe Divine Performing Arts.

Last year the Chinese New Year show played to 70-80% capacity, according to NTDTV re Jenny Fang. Production costs came in at $2.5 million-$3 million.

"It's a very big production, so I wouldn't say it was hugely profitable," Fang said. "The main purpose is to promote Chinese culture."

back