Manchester City v Swansea City - Premier League (Photo : Getty Images)
As part of efforts to further push the sport of football in China, Guangdong TV, in partnership with Tencent Sport and City Group Football, would air soon the country’s first football-focused reality TV show.
Also part of the partnership for the upcoming “Football Mania” is Zhong An Holdings, the official partner of Manchester City, the English club, in China, ATimes reported. The reality show, which started to film in January, follows the lives of footballers with a match against Manchester City in England as the prize of the winning team.
On Camera Competition
Before the team squad’s composition would be selected, the footballers would compete on camera at different levels in China. Those who would be selected to become a member of the squad would compete against the Manchester City team under-18 side in Britain.
The match would be in March at the Academy grounds. In July, the U-18 squad, in turn, would go to China for a return match against the newly formed “Football Mania” squad from China, Mancitysquare reported.
“X-Factor” Format
“Football Mania” would follow the format of “X-Factor” in which the squad is reduced in number of contestants. Every episode would focus on the ups and downs of the various team members while they battle for a spot in the squad.
In preparation for the show, a dedicated project unit from Manchester City was sent to China before filming for the upcoming reality show began. The unit provided a head coach for the team and training techniques. When filming for “Football Mania” spreads throughout China over the next two months, the unit would go back to China.
Manchester City already has seven clubs, making the “Football Mania” team its eighth. The two are in England, three in Australia, one in the U.S. and one in Japan.
