“The Empress of China” Finale Peaks at 37 Ratings Points
TVB has more than recouped its investment from the purchasing the broadcasting rights to Mainland Chinese drama The Empress of China <武則天>, with its Hong Kong viewership ratings averaging at 33 points and peaking at 37 points for its finale. TVB has conveyed the wonderful news to stars Fan Bingbing (范冰冰) and Aarif Lee (李治廷).
During its broadcast run in Mainland China and Taiwan, The Empress of China also dominated television ratings. TVB expected similar success and heavily promoted the series.
Owing to the overwhelming popularity of the drama, TVB intends to release a special collector’s edition of the drama on DVD and blu-ray. The edition will include both the original un-cut ending (which was part of what TVB had purchased) as well as the revised ending that was broadcast in Mainland China.
As for TVB’s own dramas, the extension of popular sitcom Come Home Love <愛.回家> has also performed well, receiving viewership ratings of 25 points. However, TVB also received nine complaints from viewers who expressed that the original episodes were better. TVB responded with the statement, “The audience is still used to the original episodes and will need time to get used to, and accept, the extended episodes. We also need time to write a good story.”
Additionally, the upcoming TVB drama, Brick Slaves <樓奴>, starring Vincent Wong (王浩信), Selena Li (李施嬅) and Eliza Sam (岑麗香) has been slated for a broadcast date of August 3. As for the period drama Rogue Emperor <流氓皇帝>, starring Kenneth Ma (馬國明) and Niki Chow (周麗淇), it will only be broadcast either end of the year or at the beginning of next year, for fear of the audience becoming tired of watching period dramas following The Empress of China.
Source: ihktv.com
This article is written by Jingles for JayneStars.com.
A certain HK demographic must be mighty pissed that Empress of China did not flop as they predicted. On the contrary, their anti-Empress crusade on the TVB forums failed to persuade.
I stopped watching when her hair reached 10m in height. It was getting repetitive and ridiculous and painful to watch. Wasn’t convinced with the governance or love story or anything at all. And the contrast and exposure is too high, my eyes hurt and the blood turns.. pink!
@funnlim
the hairdos rival those of the enormous Korean and French court ladies.
It was a good series to watch but there was too many time jumps that became slightly confusing at some points in the drama. Also, it was only in the last 20mins that she was Wu Zetian, the title of the drama should be renamed to Wu Meiniang, seen as though that was her name for the majority of the drama. Wished they showed more of her life/rein as Wu Zetian rather than Wu Meiniang.
Should be called Empresses In The Palace Meets Beyond The Realm Of Conscience because it has ZERO contents on Wu meiniang’s training to be Wu Zetian.
Too repetetive and costumes got way out of hand.
@funnlim
how does it compare to earlier versions of Empress Wu?
@ Fung Bobo, Pan Yingzi and Liu Xiaoqing’s versions from the 80s and 90s.
@msxie0714 I haven’t seen so I cant say. Standalone wise this series tells me nothing abt wu meiniang or wu zetian, I feel Bosco’s one tells me more.
I watched it on and off, skipping most episodes. Still can’t figure out why it’s a hit…. is it bcos hongkie really liked the series or there’s more prc in hk now???