Chinese dramas, or C-dramas, have gained immense popularity among international audiences due to their distinctive aesthetics and costumes, poetic storytelling, and, more recently, their improved production quality.
Among those drawn to their charm is Sean Doherty, an Irish viewer who particularly enjoys Chinese period dramas for their captivating storytelling and traditional clothing.
"There are actually a lot of dramas that I really love. Many are C-dramas. Many popular genres exist overseas, including modern dramas like this one here. I'll show you my favorite one. This one here 'Love Game in Eastern Fantasy,' I love it so much, so fun!" said Doherty.
In 2024, Chinese dramas saw a surge in popularity overseas. According to data from AMPD, a viewership research and consultancy firm, in the Southeast Asian market, viewership of Chinese dramas on video-on-demand (VOD) platforms surpassed that of American dramas, making them the second-largest entertainment source. In the free content category, Chinese dramas lead with a 40 percent share of users.
"Sometimes, I also post updates on overseas social media platforms, and the comments are filled with international drama fans calling me 'Miao Miao' using pinyin (the system that represents Chinese words with the Latin alphabet). I feel that more and more international friends are enjoying Chinese dramas nowadays," said Ester Yu, a Chinese actress and singer.
As Chinese dramas continue to gain international popularity, interest in Chinese culture is also growing. This creates a positive cycle, connecting the shows with their stars and further enriching Chinese content.
"I really do enjoy watching these shows, mostly because they remind me of the beautiful culture I got to experience in China, from the musical instruments to the calligraphy, to the poetry and the clothing. It's really a unique experience, and it's a wonderful aesthetic for the audience to enjoy," said Paul, another C-drama fan.
Korean C-drama fan Gil Nahyun has observed noticeable improvements in Chinese TV dramas in recent years, from tighter storytelling to better production quality.
"I enjoy watching Chinese TV dramas, and over the past few years, I've noticed significant improvements. First, with more complex storylines, the overall quality has greatly improved. In the past, even slightly longer story arcs tended to drag on, but now the pacing is tighter, and new episodes are released more quickly. Additionally, the actors in recent dramas have become even more attractive, making me even more eager to watch them," she said.
As C-dramas gain popularity overseas, their international distribution methods have become increasingly diverse.
Many high-quality domestic dramas are now translated into multiple languages and made available on platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and ViKi.
To cater to global audiences, video platforms have introduced localized operations and international versions, enabling simultaneous domestic and overseas broadcasts.
"At the beginning, our main focus was on distribution and managing our own platform. Over time, we realized that users who prefer watching content on our platform tend to explore more specialized sections. To better align with their interests, we introduced membership services and launched promotional activities for our app", said Liu Xiao, a senior operations manager in Youku's International Division.
"For the international version, our primary focus is on offering a wider selection of languages and subtitles. While the core content remains largely the same, we tailor subtitles and dubbing to suit the preferences of different countries and regions. For example, in Vietnam, viewers prefer voice-over narration. In response, we utilize AI technology and invest heavily in localized content production and translation," Liu added.
According to the 2024 China Drama Development Report released by the National Radio and Television Administration, the export value of Chinese television dramas has steadily increased year by year, rising from 24 million U.S. dollars in 2012 to 70 million U.S. dollars in 2023.
C-dramas captivate global viewers for their distinctive aesthetics, improved production quality
