This year's Super Girls TV singing contest was finally launched yesterday in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province.

 

China's Super Girls talent show was a massive national hit and earned the program makers, Hunan Satellite TV, more than 100 million yuan (US$12.5 million) in 2005.

 

Ouyang Changlin, general manager of Hunan Radio, Film and TV Group and head of Hunan Satellite TV, said yesterday at the launch of the latest round of the 'American Idol' style singing competition that earnings from the program came from advertising and various Super Girls spin-offs.

 

It's the first time the TV station has announced the commercial returns of the program.

 

Super Girls was more than just a light TV entertainment program as it had become a new cultural franchise industry in China, said Ouyang.

 

Super Girls short messages and mobile phone ring tones have brought handsome profits to telecom corporations while music websites also received their share, he said.

 

Ouyang said a series of Super Girls dolls would be appearing on the market and an on-line game involving them was also going to be launched.

 

Those wishing to take part in the 2006 Super Girls competition will be auditioned in the five locations -- Changsha, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang and Guangzhou.

 

This year girls under the age of 18 will not be permitted to enter the competition, said a Hunan Satellite TV representative.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2006)