Find out who is tuning in - before they switch off

A scene from China's Comic King. Photo provided to China Daily

Film poster for 'Where are we going, Dad' released

'Voice of China' musical comedy

Television channels in China have been exploring new show formats to boost viewership, but many do not know their target audience.

One of the latest trends is comic reality shows. The final installment of Zhejiang TV's China trilogy, The Comic Genius of China will start its three-month run in the lead-up to the Spring Festival. The first two programs in the trilogy are The Voice of China and Dream Show.

The Comic Genius requires contestants to impress judges with funny content within 100 seconds, through mini-drama, stand-up comedy or music. Judges include stand-up comedian Cao Yunjin and Taiwan actor Lee Lichun.

After another two rounds of competition, one of the finalists will be crowned China's Comic King.

Zhejiang TV is not the only channel demonstrating ambition. According to Media & Entertainment Industry Reporter, a Beijing-based newspaper, at least 10 comic shows are waiting to be released next year, a couple of which have the word "king" in their title.

Since its release in November, Anhui TV's Super Comic Star, the first comic show to spark the trend, has dominated Thursday nights.

Over the past year, 12 singing shows have hit Chinese TV screens. The dramatic spike in this format resulted in the State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television to issue a policy in July prohibiting TV stations from producing singing talent shows for a period of time, but the administration did not specify the end date.

Thus, TV stations had to look for other types of programs and because comic shows incorporate a variety of performing arts, they're the crowd-pleasing safe choice, says Peng Kan from Legend Media.