Chinese survival show "Idol Producer" is making preparations for its new season. According to Ilgan Sports the upcoming third season of "Idol Producer" was communicating to Korean agencies in order to find Chinese K-pop idols who have already debuted or Chinese trainees who have gone through the K-pop system who would like to appear on the show, last September 10.
During SNH48's sixth general election held on July 27, the group confirmed and said that they will collaborate with "Idol Producer" season three. SNH48's unit 7SENSES debuted on MBC's "Show Champion" with Shinsadong Tiger-produced track "Swan". They were also featured in the survival show's teaser.
"Idol Producer's season 3" and "Produce 48's" production process are the same. It was a collaboration made by Mnet and Japanese girl group AKB48. The copyrights from AKB48's management company was purchased by SNH48, at the start of its formation and began to branch out to operate independently to become China's largest global idol group.
It is not clear whether "Idol Producer" season three is an imitation of the "Produce 101" series or the purchasing of copyrights was done by the producers just before its production. Since the start of the production of "Idol Producer", iQIYI was accused of copyright infringement. "Idol Producer" has been criticized for severe copyright infringement by Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA). They said that it 88 percent similarities with the "Produce 101" series. Tencent purchased the copyrights from Mnet. They also launched the Chinese version of "Produce 101" and created the girl group Rocket Girls. In only 2 months run, the program was able to achieve a total of 4.7 billion views. Having 185.2 million votes, WJSN's Mei Qi was recorded to have the No. 1 spot.
According to a source who works in China's entertainment industry, "Whether or not the program is an imitation, it's true that Chinese audition programs largely prefer [people] from the K-pop industry. This not only applies to the audition participants, but also to the MCs and panelists. Those who have experienced the K-pop system are definitely faster at adapting to the program."
Sources from different agencies said that it is true and they received offers saying they were producing an audition program in China. They know that no agency has come to a decision to appear on the show as of this moment. This matter requires deep thinking.
