In television shows, having a famous star in the leading role helps to pull in large audiences.
Johnson Ko Chun-shun, chairman of digital television equipment manufacturer DVN Holdings, hopes to achieve a similar effect after signing US technology giant Motorola as DVN's largest shareholder with the intention of building up China's digital television audience.
The central government wants all television broadcasts to be digitised by 2015, with the promise of higher quality pictures, interactive services and a more efficient use of radio spectrum than traditional analogue services. DVN has emerged as a one-stop shop for mainland television stations on the path to converting to digital broadcasting.
The firm developed set-top boxes for the China market to facilitate digital reception by viewers. It also makes head-ends - the equipment required by digital television broadcasters.
DVN also supplies television content to mainland broadcasters through alliances with the likes of movie producer China Star Entertainment and Star TV. In addition, it offers digital TV applications such as interactive games.
'When we first started five years ago, we were in every sector of the whole value chain - from content aggregation to design and distribution of the set-top box - because at that time China's cable industry was fragmented,' said Mr Ko.