China's first AI-generated drama airs on state TV, sparks media stock surge

A fully AI-generated 30-episode adaptation of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West has debuted on Hunan Satellite Television, a major state-owned broadcaster, marking the first time an entirely artificial intelligence-produced drama has aired in prime time.

The series, with each episode running approximately 40 minutes, moved from commission to broadcast in just three months, with production still underway as the director told local media that later episodes would be continuously refined based on audience feedback.

Market surge signals industry shift

The premiere triggered a sharp reaction in China's long-depressed media and entertainment sector. Shares in Mango Excellent Media, the listed unit of the Hunan broadcaster, hit their 20 per cent daily trading limit twice this week before paring gains. The surge added more than 13 billion yuan (US$1.9 billion) to its market value, signalling a strong return of investor enthusiasm.

"This sends a clear signal of policy support," said Guo Guo, a Beijing-based producer at a leading film and television company. "AI drama is going mainstream".

The broadcaster is known for its hit entertainment programming and its streaming platform Mango TV. The rapid three-month turnaround for a 30-episode series represents a dramatic compression of traditional production timelines, demonstrating how AI tools are transforming the economics of content creation in the industry.

Source: South China Morning Post