Martin Pompadur, a former News Corporation senior executive, has teamed with E! Entertainment Television co-founder Larry Namer and Amerilink founder Jean Zhang to set up a new venture to develop and distribute programs for the Chinese market.

Metan Development Group will initially focus on the creation and distribution of original programming tailored to audiences in China, with accompanying internet and mobile content. The shows Hollywood Today, Music News, World Film News and World Sports Report will be available by early 2010.

The first of them, debuting late this year, is Hollywood Today, a daily 15-minute program offering the latest entertainment and celebrity news. The program will feature two anchors reporting from Metan's Beijing studios and Chinese-speaking field reporters in the US.
Future plans for the company include a live-events division, presenting Western music, dance and stage acts in China.