Asian Idol Industries: Thai companies have global ambitions

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Thailand is following suit too. Entertainment companies there are not just satisfied with creating their own reality shows, but also have ambitions to take on the global market.

Slick production, eye-catching artists and catchy tunes that burrow into your memory like worms.

This is the latest pop craze to come out of Korea, Produce 101.

Part game show, part talent search, part reality TV.

It's become hugely successful in Korea, Japan and China and is about to go even further.

At a Hindu ceremony in Bangkok, a shaman prays for good luck.

It's part of a ritual performed for the launch of a new Korean drama, OMG.

It's produced by the company behind Produce 101, CJ entertainment, who are about to launch a Thai version of the show and they have global ambitions.

APICHART HONGHIRUNREUNG CEO, TRUE CJ CREATIONS "In Thailand right now we've just started. We have a lot of talent, but we would like to create a way to develop them for a global market."

But Produce 101 may have been beaten to the punch.

This is BNK48, a Thai version of the Japanese group, AKB48.

48 girls with individual skills and talents, each one with their own fan base, but also united as a super-group where they can rise or fall.

JIRATH PAVARAVADHANA CEO, BNK48 OFFICE "The concept behind BNK48 is that the girls have to be very devoted and put in a lot of effort to advance, and if they put in enough effort, they will see a result."

At a concert hall on the edge of Bangkok, thousands of fans queue up to meet their idols for a price.

Fifteen dollars gets them a brief meeting with the girl of their choice heavily monitored by security.

TONY CHENG BANGKOK PTC "The turnout is pretty phenomenal, they're expecting as many as 30,000 ppl to come here today, queuing up for hours for the chance to meet their idol for just 7 seconds and then they're swiftly moved on by security but everyone seems to be happy. The only thing that's missing is the music."

But the fans keep coming in their droves.

"I like Japanese culture -- the country and its atmosphere."

"I like the attitude of the girls, I like the fact that they express their opinions."

After being plucked from obscurity, the adulation was a shock for some of the girls.

BNK48 MEMBER "I think at the beginning we felt scared, but after we do it so many times we get used to it."

It is a very Asian model, individual skills, yet part of the collective group and judging by the queues, it's a recipe for success."

Tony Cheng, CGTN, Bangkok.