Radio Broadcast and TV

In July 1953, the PLA set up Tibet's first wired broadcast station in Lhasa. Today, the Tibet Autonomous Region boasts three broadcast stations and 47 relay stations; three TV stations and about 100 relay stations; and 5,900 broadcast and TV receiving/relay or receiving stations in the rural areas. Thanks to the efforts made to enable various villages to have access to radio broadcast and TV programs, Tibet's radio and TV coverage rate now reaches 83.7 percent and 84.47 percent respectively. In 2005, an additional 1,400 villages will gain access to radio broadcast and TV programs.

Tibet People's Radio Broadcast Station: The Station began operations on January 1, 1959. On February 14, 1964, the Station started programs for overseas listeners. Since 1992, satellite programs were started for the whole world (except Africa) to view Tibet-related news, features and music. The Station has created three sets of programs in Tibetan and Chinese and FM form. It broadcasts 41 hours daily.

Tibet TV Station: Set up in 1985, it offers the following four programs:

Channel One: Satellite program in Tibetan, with 15 sub-programs lasting 71 minutes a day. Tibetan movie shows add up to 200 hours.

Channel Two: Satellite program in Chinese, with 14 sub-programs lasting 113 minutes a day.

Channel Three: Devoted entirely to movies and cultural performances, it is a new TV station when the TV Satellite TV Station and the Tibet Cable TV Station merged. Its programs last close to 17 hours a day.

Channel Four: This is a program devoted to economic life. With approval of the State Radio Broadcast and TV Administration, it will go into service in June-July 2005.

Lhasa TV Station: Going into service on December 25, 1984, it started cable TV programs in October 1996. It operates three sets of programs in Chinese and Tibetan. Channel One covers downtown Lhasa, Duilong and Darze county seats, benefiting some 300,000 people; Channel Two, which is closed-circuit, covers downtown Lhasa and two counties, benefiting 10,000 subscribers -- although, through connection with other programs, it benefits 500,000 people. Self-made programs last 14 hours, with the daily production of programs lasting 0.6 hours. In addition, it transmits 19 channels of programs made by others.

The first set of program in Channel 10 features comprehensive programs including Lhasa News in Chinese and Tibetan, Children's Program, Songs, Tibetan and Chinese Theatre and TV Square.

The second set of programs refers to the Lhasa Cable TV's cultural and sports channels in Channel 16 (close-circuit) features Sports, Theatrical Programs and Children's Program.

The third set of programs (Lhasa Cable TV's information channel) in Channel 11 features TV plays, TV shopping guide and family theatre.

TAR Cable TV Station: It was set up on December 27, 1993. In 1996, it added an optical fiber and co-axial cable network and operates 32 channels, being the largest of its kind in Tibet in terms of programs.

Newspapers and Periodicals

Tibet Literature: It was launched in 1977 features the most outstanding literary works. There are some 100 kinds of journals in Tibetan and Chinese, covering political, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, ethnic groups and religious fields. Tibet also has a small number of magazines in English such as Tibetan Research.

Tibet Daily: Published in Tibetan and Chinese, it is the organ of the CPC TAR Committee. It was launched on April 22, 1956 and distributed throughout China. Chairman Mao Zedong wrote the title of the paper in Chinese and Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmei wrote the title of the paper in Tibetan. In addition, there is also Tibetan Business News aimed at urban residents, which was launched on January 1, 2000, and How to Become Rich for farmers and herders launched in 1997.

Lhasa Evening News: Sponsored by the CPC Lhasa Committee, it was launched on July 1, 1985. The only evening news in the Tibet Autonomous Region, it is published in Tibetan and Mandarin, and distributed throughout China. Its website is: http://www.lasa-eveningnews.com.cn