The country's TV broadcasting sector is likely to open the door to
foreign entertainment companies in the immediate future, as
negotiations between the industry watchdog and two US media giants
reach their final stage.
The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television on Wednesday
stated its negotiations with AOL-Time Warner and News Corp may be
finalized soon with a happy ending.
The administration's head, Xu Guangchun, had earlier said that the
two companies will be allowed to directly send TV programmes to
residents in some parts of South China's Guangdong Province.
In
return, the two have to guarantee that an English language channel,
run by China
Central TV (CCTV), will be broadcast and accessible to all
American TV watchers.
The negotiations have been going on for quite some time, according
to an administration official, who took part in the
negotiations.
If
the plans are finalized, it will be a major breakthrough in the
country's TV broadcasting sector, as foreign companies are
currently banned from entering this field.
Although more than 20 overseas TV channels, including HBO,
Discovery, Star TV and CNBC, can be received by mainland hotels
with three stars or above, this would be the first time that the
average resident will legally be able to receive overseas channels
at home.
AOL-Time Warner and News Corp will mainly provide
entertainment-related programmes, according to the official, while
Channel 9, of CCTV, is a newly launched English language channel
that mainly provide news and cultural programmes.
Guangdong Province, where the two are expected to be broadcast
first, is one of the most wealthy regions in the country,
neighbouring Hong Kong and Macao.
Residents there are expected to receive numerous TV programmes,
including those from Hong Kong and Macao, more than most other
mainland people.
(China
Daily 09/06/2001)