Chinese drama format deal for Sony

Sony-backed Chinese prodco Huaso has sealed a deal for a local version of comedy series Mad About You with media giant Shangha Media Group.

Huaso Film/TV Digital Production is a joint-venture between Sony Pictures Television and pubcaster CCTV’s HuaCheng Pictures.

SMG’s Dragon TV channel will put out the Chinese version of Mad About You, which will be known as Xin Hun Gong Yu (Wedding Apartment).

Streaming service Youku Tudou has snapped up the streaming rights to the series, and will launch the series online shortly after its debut on Dragon.

The series follows the ups and downs that life deals a newlywed metropolitan couple. In the US the series was on NBC, and made by In Front Productions and Nuance Productions in association with SPT.

The China deal is the latest scripted format that Sony has got away, with the likes of Everybody Loves Raymond on air in several territories and remakes of shows including Roseanne in the works.

Huaso has produced local versions of other SPT formats in China including Dr. Oz for Zhejiang Television and Raid the Cage for Jiangsu Television.

“With Xin Hun Gong Yu, we have combined SPT’s expertise in Hollywood storytelling with strong local writing talent to create a comedy that captures the spirit of the original series in a way that is authentically Chinese,” said Andrea Wong (pictured), president, international production for SPT.