"Xiang tiaozhan ma?", the Chinese adaptation of the ZDF show "Wetten, dass...?" (Wanna Bet?) has been airing air in China since October 2004 and is regularly seen by 35 to 50 million viewers. Special broadcasts even lure up to 100 million Chinese fans. Next to Germany, China is thus the country which pulls in the strongest viewership for "Wanna Bet?".

The popular ZDF classic was recently sold to the US network ABC, which will test the format this summer. "It's a success story second to none," says ZDF Program Director Thomas Bellut. "It is probably unique in television history that a German show format such as 'Wanna Bet?' finds a truly global audience and contributes to the cultural exchange between nations."

Chinese broadcaster CCTV airs the game show, which is one of the station's three most successful entertainment formats, on prime time every week on Sunday evening at 9:15 pm. The show is then repeated twice the following week. The Chinese version, which is limited to one hour, is hosted by popular entertainer Zhu Jun. License dealer and ZDF subsidiary ZDF Enterprises has entrusted the Munich firm Dolce Media with the marketing of the format in China. Dolce Media also regularly sends betting candidates from Germany to its Chinese partners.

While the show is normally recorded in Beijing, big special productions are produced about every two or three months and recorded, partly live, on gigantic outdoor stages. Over 120 editions have been shown to date