Spy stories get new lease of life on the small screen

From conspiracies to action, television series based on spy stories have long been a popular genre on China's small screen.

But at a recent seminar to discuss the genre's prospects, some scriptwriters say it needs changes to survive in China's rapidly evolving entertainment industry.

Last year, only three of the 50 top-rated TV dramas were espionage tales. The rest were fantasy romances, according to a report by the entertainment researcher Entgroup.