Li Yong will host the reality TV show The Winner - a contest among entrepreneurs - on April 7. He recently left China Central Television. Provided to China Daily

TV anchor Li Yong, who's a household name in China, will host a reality TV show based on a contest among entrepreneurs, after leaving China Central Television.

The Winner will air on April 7 and explore the market for programs about venture startups. The victor will receive 100 million yuan ($16.1 million) in venture capital.

The show is produced by Southeast Satellite Television and Vivid Media.

Former CCTV star Li takes on new role

Li was CCTV's most flamboyant host. He was known for his light and humorous hosting of such programs as Lucky 52, Dream China and the Spring Festival Gala. He was ranked China's most bankable TV personality, with a projected brand value of 500 million yuan, in 2006.

Li announced he would leave CCTV to take a teaching position at the Communication University of China last week.

The Winner will be his first TV program after leaving CCTV.

"I see a lot of similarities between the contestants and me," Li says.

"Life is about fighting, and I'm always fighting. Leaving CCTV is part of that. It's a chance to start a new life."

Li says his daughter is a major reason he left. His wife, Ha Wen, acted as chief director of the CCTV Spring Festival Gala for the past two years.

"Neither of us could stay with our daughter to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and I thought I should do something," Li says.

He now spends weekends with his girl, riding horses and playing tennis.

The Winner has invited five venture capital celebrities. They are venture investor Xue Manzi; General Partner at IDG Capital Partners Zhang Suyang; Capital Today President Xu Xin; Hina Group chairman Chen Hong; and Jade Invest Managing Director Ludvig Nilsson.

Contestants include seasoned entrepreneurs like a NASDAQ-listed company's CEO and ordinary people with startup aspirations.

xieyu@chinadaily.com.cn