Serial (radio and television)
In television and radio programming, a serial has a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode-by-episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from traditional episodic television that relies on more stand-alone episodes. Worldwide, the soap opera is the most prominent form of serial dramatic programming.
Chinese television drama
Chinese television dramas (simplified Chinese: 中国电视连续剧) or mainland Chinese television dramas (simplified Chinese: 中国大陆电视剧) are similar to television dramas in North America, but are often longer. China is the country that produces more television dramas. It made more than 15,000 episodes in 2014. The most popular genre of dramas in China is fantasy romance, with 47 of the 50 most watched dramas in the country in 2016. Chinese television dramas are popular and regularly broadcast on TV throughout Asia, particularly in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.