A still of Go Fighting! [Photo provided to China Daily]

Most such shows, which require budgets equivalent to that of the costliest feature films, are partnerships between State-owned television stations and private production companies. But the risk falls on the latter, which usually pay large fees to the former for the use of their platforms.

The first verifiable reality show in the Chinese mainland appeared only 10 years ago. In 2005, Supergirls, loosely adapted but not properly licensed from American Idol, swept the country off its feet. It minted bona fide stars such as the tomboyish Li Yuchun and the octave-spanning Zhang Liangying.

Since then, many American and European shows have been licensed and made into Chinese editions. The most successful is The Voice of China, which has not flagged after four strong seasons. Big Brother, an old show with many versions across the world, premiered in China in November.

But instead of a cross-platform rollout－first TV, then the Web or simultaneously－typical of most such programming, Big Brother is available only on Youku and Tudou, one of the nation's major video sites. The title has been sinicized, with the politically ominous original replaced by a more demographically friendly Roommates Residing Together.

Reality shows were touted as an outlet for ordinary people with talent. But China took a sharp turn in 2013 when it licensed Dad, Where Are We Going? from South Korea.