Shanghai Media Group Readies Second Season Finale for 'China's Got Talent'

BEIJING -- Shanghai Media Group's China's Got Talent headed for its big finale on July 10, making a stop at China's Great Hall of the People in Beijing before its season-ender Sunday night.

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The local edition of the SYCO/FremantleMedia format, began its second season on May 1 for an 11-week run. Sunday night's show will feature performances by each of the eight finalists, with special guests bringing the total to 30 acts by the end of the evening, according to Wu Jiaming, executive director of SMG's international operations.

The show reaches a potential audience of 800 million viewers, most domestic in China, but also via the show's rebroadcast in other Chinese-speaking areas including Singapore, and via SMG's Dragon TV satellite service.

Over 50,000 performers auditioned for the show, compared to 20,000 for its first season in 2010, SMG said in a statement. This season's winner will be sent on a worldwide concert tour with cities to be named later, Wu said. First-season champion Liu Wei, an armless pianist, has so far performed in Vienna, Wu said.

A panel of three judges selects the series winner. On May 7, one of the show's judges, singer Gao Xiaosong, was arrested for drunk driving, and sentenced to six months in jail.

SMG is China's second-largest broadcaster, trailing only China Central Television for its size and reach.