Reality show "Survivor" filming in China: report

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The next edition of "Survivor" will be filmed in China, making the reality show the first American network TV production to shoot an entire series in the communist nation, trade paper Daily Variety reported on Wednesday.

The report did not say when CBS would begin production on the 14th cycle of the castaway saga, or where in China the action would be set.

The CBS Corp. unit is airing "Survivor: Fiji," which is averaging about 15.8 million viewers, on par with the viewership for the previous installment, "Survivor: Cook Islands."

Daily Variety said the move to China takes the series away from an island setting for the first time since 2003's sixth installment, which was set in the Amazon jungle, and that the China locale should boost the show's international appeal.

China is a difficult place to film because of logistical and government restrictions. Last year's Warner Bros. period drama "The Painted Veil" was filmed there in partnership with the Chinese government, which had final say over the finished product and objected to several scenes. This led to tense negotiations between Chinese officials and the film's star, Edward Norton, and director, John Curran.

Reuters