| Music
| Starts 01.00.00 |
Wedding | Hutcheon: For Mr and Mrs Lin, today is the happiest day of their lives.
| 00.05 |
| Wedding march music
| 00.10 |
| Hutcheon: Despite China's massive population, these days finding the perfect match isn't as easy as it seems. | 00.18 |
| The One Child Policy and a preference for sons, has produced a billowing gender imbalance. For every 6 males there are just 5 females... an incredible 111 million pining men who'll never find a partner.
| 00.30 |
Romance Forever clip | Music
| 00.52 |
| Hutcheon: But help is on the way. Welcome to Beijing's version of Perfect Match, the TV dating game for the desperate and dateless.
| 00.58 |
| Music
| 01.08 |
| Hutcheon: Backstage at Studio 49, the colts and fillies of Beijing are getting spruced up; taming their manes and nervously eyeing each other off.
| 01.20 |
| Twelve young men and women are about to begin a search which could lead to love, romance and happiness -- or maybe just marriage.
| 01.34 |
| Each contestant brings a cheer squad to act as chaperone and character witness.
| 01.51 |
Woman | Woman: It's my niece who's participating in this program and we came to support her. We hope that through this program she can find her other half.
| 02.00 |
| Hutcheon: The ever widening gender imbalance has brought a new urgency to the goal of finding a match.
| 02.15 |
| Hutcheon: The twelve hopefuls have been carefully selected for their looks, youth and brains.
As Wang Tao, the show's chief presenter explains, they are both products and victims of China's transition away from socialism.
| 02.30 |
Wang Tao | Wang Tao: In real life, although they now have more chance to earn money and be successful - they have less time to communicate with their friends. There are bars and cafes in China, but strangers don't have a public place to communicate - so when this type of program appears it strikes a chord with young people.
| 02.45 |
Mr Pang singing | Hutcheon: Even before the judging, two contestants already appear to have been struck by cupid's bow. He is a sales manager for the Holiday Inn hotel.
| 03.15 |
| She works in airline sales, and comes from China's south-west. Both, have the gift of the gab and both know the value of an on-air plug.
| 03.30 |
Ms Cai | Ms Cai: I think it was the right choice to pick me today. I've got some good news... If you become a family member of the Yunnan Airlines...
Applause
| 03.42 |
| Ms Cai: of the staff of Yunnan Airlines... every year you can get one half-price flight on our airline.
Applause
| 03.55 |
Mr Pang | Mr Pang: Ms Cai, you should know that Holiday Inn staff only need to pay $US25 to stay at any of our hotels!
| 04.05 |
Contestants | Hutcheon: During a break in the filming, the tension is palpable. Who will be the celebrity couple? Ms Cai, Mr Pang and their support teams are confident of success.
| 04.22 |
| Music
| 04.38 |
Matchmaking event | Hutcheon: For the others who don't make the grade, or simply shun the bright lights of the TV studio, Beijing Cable TV organises match-making weekends. | 04.45 |
| For ten dollars you get to sit around with other up-and-coming shy adults or simply wait for the resident Cupid to work wonders.
| 04.59 |
| Hutcheon: Hello, what's your name
Woman: I'm surnamed Guan.
Hutcheon: He's called Zhao. This is Ms. Guan - isn't that right? How old are you?
Man: 34.
| 05.11 |
| Hutcheon: And you?
Woman: 27.
Hutcheon: Perfect!
| 05.25 |
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| With 120 Romeos to every 100 Juliets... you'd think the women are facing a veritable smorgasbord, but matters of the heart are never simple.
| 05.29 |
Woman | Woman: Well, up to now I still can't find one - the one who is right for me - so I am wondering whether my aspirations are too high. To be frank, I can't find the right person.
| 05.41 |
Romance Forever hosts | Hutcheon: Back at the happiness headquarters, Romance Forever is about to announce the winning couple.
| 05.57 |
| Applause
| 06.05 |
| Hutcheon: No surprises here. Mr Pang and Ms Cai are the perfect match. And that's about as far as it goes -- no grand prizes, no romantic weekend -- just a few memories. | 06.10 |
| But two weeks later, Mr Pang and Ms Cai are still going strong.
| 06.31 |
Ms Cai and Mr Pang | Ms Cai: No one can guarantee what will happen in the future but at present, according to our communication, this week and the other day, I think he's made me feel that love is what a woman's life is about.
| 06.36 |
| Mr Pang: The most romantic thing is that we get together and have dinner. We will light a candle... and I'll tell her about my day at work.
| 06.50 |
| Music
| 07.03 |
| Hutcheon: Ah yes, TV matchmaking may be a new thing to China, but stereotypes never go out of fashion.
| 07.06 |
| Music
| 07.15 |
| Credits
Reporter JANE HUTCHEON Cameras SEBASTIAN PHUA FRED SCOTT Sound CHARLES LI Editor GARTH THOMAS
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