FILM: "Demand surges for Asian docus," by Clifford Coonan, Variety, 12-18 April 2010.

Big local driver:

... the birth of an independent television production industry and the creation of regional, national fully dedicated documentary channels in Malaysia, China, India and Thailand.

Big external driver is the rest of the world wanting to simply know more about this rising influence in our collective lives.

China a big player, despite its tendencies toward censorship. They want their Upton Sinclair helmers (Variety term for directors); they just don't want any blame directed at the Party.