Global Showbiz Briefs: China, UK

Advertising Up 12.5% For China’s Biggest Broadcaster Foreign and Chinese advertisers will pay about $2.25 billion next year for time on China’s biggest television network CCTV. That’s up roughly 12.5% over 2011. That may seem high compared to the rest of the world which is generally chalking uplow single-digit growth, but China has been accustomed to annual hikes ranging from 15% to 18.5% during the past five years. Similar to the US networks’ upfront market, CCTV’s auction of TV time for the coming year is seen as a benchmark for not only China’s ad industry but the country’s economy as a whole.One of the largest bidders was white-spirits companyKweichow Moutai Co., which pledged $78.4 million.Bank of Chinacommitted $12 million for a 10-second slot after the evening news in January and February during peak viewership for special Chinese New Year programming. Internet companies including 360buy.com and Alibaba were the fastest growing advertisers representing a 7.7% increase over 2011. In generalWestern companies were less aggressive this year, but Volkswagen AG was one of the largest foreign advertisers according to Beijing ad agency Charm Communications. Procter & Gamble Co. pledged $25.2 million. Separately, CCTV plans to open a new HQ in Washington, D.C., in January as part of an agressive foreign expansion. ‘Keith Lemon: The Film’ rolls from Lionsgate UK Production gets underway November 17 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Lionsgate UK’s Keith Lemon: The Film starring the popular host of Celebrity Juice andVerne Troyer. It’s the first feature for Lemon who previously partnered with Lionsgate UK on fitness parody DVD Keith Lemon’s Fit! Described as a comedy about Keith following his dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur like Richard Branson, The Film script is by Leigh Francis and by directorPaul Angunawela, Mark Huffam (Ridley Scotts Prometheus, Game of Thrones, Mamma Mia!, Johnny English), Simon Bosanquet (Life and Death of Peter Sellers, Whole Lotta Sole) and Aidan Elliott for Belfast-based Generator Entertainment. Zygi Kamasa, CEO ofLionsgateUK will executive produce along with Nick Manzi and Emma Berkofsky. In addition Northern Ireland Screen, funding comes rom London post houseMolinare.