|
MUMBAI: China is offering another version of the reality show The
Apprentice - minus Donald Trump. The show Win in China is
being produced by China Central Television (CCTV). It is a show
where would-be entrepreneurs compete to win positions as CEOs of
new businesses.
The executive producer of
the new version, Wang Lifen, said the show shares some similarities with the popular
US series, but there are essential differences as well. Win in China will
debut in May, and viewers will take on the New York businessman's role of deciding
who gets fired by voting electronically for their favourite, according to producers.
Lifen said, "I think
The Apprentice show is driven by money, which is hard to accept in Chinese
culture. What we're looking for is the talent of self-management and entrepreneurship.The
program matches very well with the country's current situation."
The
American show has contestants vying for a job as apprentice to millionaire businessman
Trump. Contestants are given tasks that test their skills in sales, marketing,
advertising and finance. They compete against each other, often to see who can
make the most money. At the end of each show, Trump whittles down the applicant
pool by declaring "You're fired!"
Win in China will
be a much more dramatic and interactive program since the audience will participate.
Chinese participants will also endure rigorous business tasks that test their
tenacity to withstand hardship. Viewers will vote for the winner, and some will
even become shareholders in the new company, according to CCTV.
In
the Chinese version, the top winner is given the reins of a new business with
a registered capital of no less than 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million), while the
other four winners will get to run smaller firms. The startups are being funded
by Asian and international venture capital firms. | 
