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Soap opera to get funds only if airing is certain
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Posted on Sep 20 2005
The Marianas Visitors Authority said it would only release public funds for the Korean soap opera project once its airing schedule is finalized.
MVA managing director Vicky I. Benavente said the project remains very promising, but some issues relating to broadcast arrangement with certain companies “is what brings it [negotiation] back to the table.”
“They’re still moving forward but concrete plans are what we need in our hands. We’re not going to dedicate this large amount of money for a project that we’re not sure of. We have to be careful on the conditions,” said Benavente on the recently appropriated $800,000 funding for the filming of a Korean soap opera that will feature the CNMI.
She said MVA has yet to sign an agreement with the producer, Castle in the Sky Entertainment, outlining the schedule of the airing of the soap opera.
She said that the filming will take place this year while the airing of the soap opera begins sometime in spring next year.
“They are moving ahead with the project, although not at the same timeline that we had wanted it. …We’re going to have a written agreement, an understanding in writing. Episodes will be aired and we’re waiting for the schedule. They need to give us the schedule and they understand it,” she said.
She said that the proponent is coming at the end of the month for site coordination and inspection.
The government recently appropriated $800,000 from the Managaha landing and user fee collections for that particular MVA project, which is seen to boost the CNMI as a tourism destination in Asia. The Seoul-based production firm aims to film 16 of the 20 episodes on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
MVA said that Korean TV drama programs are heavily exported to the Northern Marianas’ tourist markets in Asian countries. About 19 percent of the programs are syndicated in Japan, 24.5 percent in Taiwan, 18.6 percent in China, and 3.3 percent in Hong Kong.
There is also demand for Korean TV drama in other countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
