The number of digital TV users in China exceeded 10 million at
the end of 2006, double the number in 2005, an industry insider has
said.
"There were only 1.2 million digital TV subscribers in China in
2004 and four million in 2005. The number is expected to reach 20
million by the end of 2007," said Wang Yan, general manager of
China DTV Media (CDM) whose 49 digital pay channels reach 4.05
million subscribers in China.
China launched its digital TV industry in May 2006 and now has
92 digital pay channels, said Wang, adding that CDM collected more
than 90 percent of all digital pay-TV service subscription fees in
China.
Specialist programs on sport, fashion, music and cuisine as well
as documentaries, high-definition movies and TV series are
available on digital TV.
But cable TV is still a very popular and economical alternative
in China. Whereas CDM charges five to 180 yuan (US$22.5) per month
for each of its digital pay channels, viewers can get more than 30
cable TV channels for only two US dollars per month.
Wang said the quality of digital pay-TV programs needs to be
improved in order to compete with free channels.
(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2007)