News brief: CJ E&M, Dragon TV partner in production pact

Korean entertainment group CJ E&M and Chinese broadcaster Dragon TV are hooking up to produce programming such as Grandpas Over Flowers for the Chinese market.

The deal comprises joint development of TV formats and use of Dragon’s production resources for new Korean dramas.

CJ E&M is currently riding high on the back of tvN travel reality series Grandpas Over Flowers (pictured), which has scored record satellite TV ratings and spawned a spin-off, Sisters Over Flowers. A Chinese version is in the works following this new agreement with Shanghai Media Group-owned Dragon.

Content Media-backed Small World IFT is taking the original Grandpas Over Flowers format to MIPTV next month.