Leveraging AI Technology to Lower the Cost of Grand Scenes: TVB Launches Five AI Dramas to Rescue Ratings

With a declining young audience and soaring production costs, Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) is utilizing AI technology to launch five AI dramas.

At TVB's recently concluded mid-year program showcase, besides announcing upcoming dramas, information, and variety shows, the most eye-catching highlight was the upcoming launch of five AI dramas, namely “After the Top Stream,” “The Yang Family Generals,” “Young Zhong Kui,” “Three Heroes of Dong Zhang,” and “Winning at the Finish Line.”

This time, TVB is rolling out five AI dramas at once mainly to tackle the dual predicament of declining traditional television ratings, high production costs, and the accelerated loss of young viewers. As the output of traditional TV series drops, TVB hopes to leverage AI technology to shorten production cycles, reduce the costs of large-scale scenes, and complete digitization transformation with more web-oriented and down-to-earth innovative themes.

In this era of rapidly evolving technology and the ever-changing entertainment industry, TVB realized that only innovation can ensure survival, so it has partnered with FF Studio to create AI dramas.

In fact, this is TVB’s second foray into AI-produced dramas. Last year, the broadcaster used AI-generated visuals to launch “To Me, You Are Unique.”

Among the five newly announced AI dramas, there is great diversity in themes. “After the Top Stream” is especially in the spotlight as it directly tackles the cutthroat world of modern idol boy groups, exposing the real-life realities of the fan economy and scandal manipulation in the entertainment industry.

“The Yang Family Generals” is a classic period drama reimagined through AI, blending epic war scenes to recreate the thrilling and tragic legends of heroic battles. “Young Zhong Kui” is an Eastern fantasy about the fated journey of a young Zhong Kui as he conquers monsters and evil spirits. “Three Heroes of Dong Zhang” uses the network’s flagship current affairs program “Scoop” as its background to depict the hardships faced by female reporters investigating and uncovering the truth. “Winning at the Finish Line” is a mini animated drama about a small-statured pony overcoming adversity to strive for the title of the 'Short-distance Horse King of the World', delivering an inspirational comeback story.

TVB’s first AI drama “To Me, You Are Unique” caused heated discussion among netizens last year, and the announcement of a further five AI dramas this year has also attracted comments online. Some criticized: “So many young contracted actors remain unused, instead they are using AI just for profit, which will only exacerbate a vicious cycle,” and “As the leading TV station in Hong Kong, TVB is smashing its own employees’ rice bowls.”

On the other hand, some netizens feel that although AI technology is improving, for now, the faces of AI actors look too fake and lack a sense of realism. Others joked about the future: why not add a 'Best AI Actor/Actress' award to the upcoming TVB Anniversary Awards gala?