The series, which introduces infrastructure and challenges of big cities in the world, has been one of the most popular documentary programs of National Geographic since 2005.

Taipei was the first city in Taiwan to be introduced among the first season's 10 megacities documentaries in 2007. The Kaohsiung program will be in the second season's program.

In recent years, Kaohsiung - which is the second largest city in Taiwan, but is often overshadowed by Taipei - has encouraged local filmmakers to produce TV programs, movies and commercials in the city as part of its efforts to enhance its profile and attract tourists from home and abroad to help inject some vitality into its sluggish economy.

Mayor's popularity rises

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu, whose popularity rose after the city successfully hosted the 2009 World Games, said at the contract signing ceremony that she hoped National Geographic can help more people see the changes of Kaohsiung, especially the city's improvements in recent years, including a reduction in air pollution, increase in the amount of green space per person, and commissioning of Taiwan's first urban public bicycle network.

Air pollution improved

According to city officials, Kaohsiung city's poor air quality ratio dropped from 10.5 percent in 1999 to 4.59 percent in 2008. And the green area per person increased to 5.97 square meters in 2008 - more than double Taipei city's 2.79 m2.

The "Megacities: Kaohsiung" program will be first broadcasted in Taiwan in October 2010, and then in some 30 Asian countries in English, Japanese and Korean.

According to Eloisa Yen, assistant publicity manager of the National Geographic Channel Asia, the "Megacities: Kaohsiung" will be produced in two stages; the first would be a 30-second film, shooting for which will start later this month and will be aired soon.

After that, a one-hour documentary will be filmed early next year and is scheduled to hit the screens in October 2010.

In addition to Kaohsiung, the show's second season will feature 10 other cities, including Tokyo and Singapore.

In Kaohsiung, the city government has offered considerable administrative and financial support to a local TV drama series Black & White's production team, which used Kaoshiung City as its main backdrop. The series won five Golden Bell awards last month, including the most coveted best drama award.