CCTV-9
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| CCTV International | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | September 25, 2000 |
| Owned by | CCTV |
| Country | People's Republic of China (though intended for overseas viewing) |
| Website | english.cctv.com |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| WRNN-TV ATSC (United States) | Channel 48.2 |
| Satellite | |
| Astro Malaysia | Channel 509 |
| Indovision Indonesia | Channel 352 |
| Canal Digital (Free-to-Air) | |
| Sky Digital UK | Channel 510 |
| DirecTV United States | Channel 2053 |
| Dish Network United States | Channel 265 |
| Nilesat 101 Egypt | |
| Astra 1KR | 11651 h SR 27500 |
| SKY Network Television New Zealand |
Channel 310 |
| SKY Italia Italy | Channel 530 |
| DStv South Africa | Channel 448 |
| Yes (Israel) | Channel 111 |
| Galaxy 3C North America | 11780 h SR 20.760 |
| Cable | |
| StarHub TV Singapore | Channel 97 |
| SkyCable Platinum Philippines | Channel 145 |
| Global Destiny Cable Philippines | Channel 97 |
| Cablelink Philippines | Channel 49 |
| TelstraClear New Zealand |
Channel 310 |
| UPC Romania Romania |
Channel 711 (digital with DVR) Channel 196 (digital) |
| Hot (Israel) | Channel 141 |
| First Media (Indonesia) |
Channel 210 |
| CATV China | Channel 9 |
| Available on some US cable systems | Check Local Listings for channels |
| IPTV | |
| Hypp.TV Malaysia | Channel 3001 |
| mio TV Singapore | Channel 47 |
| AT&T U-verse United States | Channel 3602 |
| Internet television | |
| CCTV.com | MMS/P2P (Free) |
CCTV International or CCTV-9 is a news, entertainment and educational television channel originating in the People's Republic of China that plays a major role in the external publicity (soft power) of the PRC government. It is mainland China's only 24-hour English-language TV channel and is run by China Central Television (CCTV). CCTV-9 can be viewed through Sky Digital in the United Kingdom, on a number of cable and satellite providers in the United States of America and Asia, on the station's website, and on free-to-air satellite television. It caters to a global English-speaking audience, including overseas Chinese and English speakers in China.
Contents |
[edit] History
CCTV began considering English-language programming in 1979, at the start of China's 'reform and opening up'. English news bulletins began on CCTV-2 in 1986 and became available to overseas viewers when they moved to CCTV-4 in 1993. CCTV-9 launched as a 24-hour English-language channel on 25 September 2000.[1] CCTV-9 entered the United States cable market in January 2002 as part of a deal that allowed AOL Time Warner and News Corporation access to cable systems in Guangdong. After the launch of the 24-hour service, the channel was revamped a number of times with the assistance of News Corporation consultant John Terenzio and broadcast music composer Rick Krizman. The latest major overhaul was in May 2004 when the channel was relaunched as "your window on China and the world" as part of the Chinese government's plans to expand its foreign publicity. A rolling service was instituted with news at the top of every hour, although the channel remains heavily dependent on features and entertainment as part of its function to show the world the softer side of China.
CCTV-9's intended audience is foreigners both inside and outside China, specifically those with an interest in the country. According to Stanford University's Francis Lee, "one possible significance of having a channel like that is to provide the opinion leaders in the United States another way to observe China. Basically, don't assume that every broadcasting channel must be aiming at the large public."[2] Actual viewer numbers for CCTV-9 are not consistent in different sources. CCTV-9 claims its potential global audience is 45 million.[3]
[edit] Programming
Like most other international broadcasters, CCTV-9 usually airs a live news bulletin in the first half of each hour. As well as a generic news programme, there are specialist bulletins focusing on Chinese and Asian news (such as Culture Express and China Today), and business news. Programming in the second half of each hour includes Chinese-language lessons, sports bulletins, travel documentaries (not necessarily about China) and magazines covering the arts, science and sports.
CCTV -9 also provided extensive coverage of China's Shenzhou 7 mission including live coverage of the launch for overseas viewers[2].
The channel's programming has been extensively studied by academic and former CCTV consultant, John Jirik.[4] He found that most of its domestic- and foreign-policy news is sourced from CCTV-1, while the bulk of its foreign coverage is supplied by the international news-wire agencies APTN and Reuters.[2][4] Although most news on CCTV-9 is derived from third-party sources, reporters at CCTV-9 produce a small but professionally-accomplished number of reports on significant topics.[4]
[edit] Staff
The Chinese staff at CCTV-9 range in experience from interns to media professionals with years in the business. Executive producers, producers and senior news anchors typically have higher education, often from a university abroad. As of 2007, the channel has about 300 staff, of whom 70 are full-time staff and about 30 are foreigners on contract. The best known of CCTV-9's staff are its reporters and presenters.
In May 2005, CCTV-9 Controller Jiang Heping was promoted to head CCTV-5, CCTV's sports channel, ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Following his departure, due to internal divisions, a new controller had not been appointed by late 2007. Sheng Yilai, Head of CCTV International, was acting controller of the English service.
[edit] Foreign news anchors
The shortage of Chinese anchors with broadcast-quality English has meant that CCTV-9 increasingly relies on foreigners as news presenters, some of whom have extensive experience, such as Edwin Maher (a former newsreader and weatherman from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Jiang Heping has defended the policy of putting foreigners on air, arguing that “we feel international on-air personalities boost the credibility of CCTV-9 and befit its image as an international channel. In this regard, CCTV-9 will not restrict the origin of its employees and choose to build its unique identity through its programming.” [5]
The first foreign news anchor on CCTV-9 was Chris Gelken, who joined the channel from Hong Kong's TVB and presented the 30-minute business show, "BizChina". Gelken left CCTV-9 in 2005.
Another personality at CCTV-9 is Mark Rowswell, otherwise known as Dashan. He hosts Travel in Chinese on CCTV-9 and has been honoured for his work in promoting cancer awareness in China.[6]
The weather on CCTV-9 is currently hosted by Halla Mohieddeen (as of 2006), Darryl Snow (2008), and David Alegria (2008).
[edit] Feature Programming Hosts
The flagship Travel program "Travelogue" is currently hosted by Marc Edwards and Michele Lean
Yin Chen (TV) is the host of Culture Express
The Chinese cultural show "Rediscovering China" is hosted by Aurora Carlson
[edit] Editorial Policy
News and current-affairs programming on CCTV-9 reflect Chinese Government policy. One example of this is that viewers will only hear Taiwan referred to as part of China. Similarly, the history of and reports on Tibet will strictly follow government guidelines on reporting.
Former Controller Jiang Heping has said on the issue of bias that it is the goal of CCTV-9 "...to voice a Chinese perspective on world affairs and to break the Western voice's monopoly on the news. Our opinions on the world are quite different from those of CNN and the BBC. We are taking great efforts to minimise the tone of propaganda, to balance our reports, and to be objective. But we definitely won't be reporting as much negative domestic news as the western media."[7] Commenting on its 2004 relaunch, he said that the aim was a "Western approach", although his staff "can't report anti-government activity, and anything anti-Party is taboo."[8]
A former cctv-9 copy editor, Joan Maltese, has written of censorship and, in her opinion, a poor journalistic culture at CCTV-9[9][10]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "About CCTV-9". http://english.cctv.com/english/about/index.shtml. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ a b c "[http://planetary.org/blog/article/00001660/ The Planetary Society Weblog By Emily Lakdawalla]". http://planetary.org/blog/article/00001660/. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
- ^ "About CCTV-9". http://english.cctv.com/english/about/index.shtml. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ a b c Jirik, John (2004). "China's News Media and the Case of CCTV-9". in Chris Paterson & Annabelle Sreberny. International News in the 21st Century. Luton: John Libbey Publishing for University of Luton Press. pp. 127–146.
- ^ Jiang Heping (2005). "Window on China and the World: CCTV-9". in Sucharita S. Eashwar (PDF). Asia Media Summit 2005: Promoting Peace and Prosperity in a Globalised World. Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development. ISBN 983-41053-3-9. http://download.aibd.org.my/books/AMS_05_Promoting_Peace_and_Prosperity.pdf. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
- ^ Welter, Sophie. "China’s Most Famous Foreigner to Receive Prestigious — Mark Rowswell (“Dashan”) to be Honoured for Raising Awareness of Cancer in China". http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/mediareleaselist/0,,3543_434465_288488355_langId-en.html. Retrieved 2007-05-04.
- ^ Cui, Vivien (April 6 2004). "CCTV tries to shed its mouthpiece image". South China Morning Post. http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=9790.
- ^ Matthew Forney (31 May 2004). "Raising the Bar in Beijing". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501040607-644217,00.html.
- ^ How China's Propaganda Machine Works=Time. 4 July 2003. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/7/3/134334.shtml. Retrieved 2009-11-09
- ^ China Controls the People by Keeping Them Ignorant =Time. 8 July 2003. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/7/3/134334.shtml. Retrieved 2009-11-09
[edit] External links
|
||||||||
