China launches state-owned <br>media conglomerate

BEIJING - The Chinese government has officially launched a state-owned media conglomerate with the merger of state-owned radio and television interests to create a company with annual revenues of £950m.

Dubbed the Radio Film & Television Group, it combines state broadcaster China Central Television, China People's Radio and China Radio International.



The move by the Chinese government comes as a response to increasing interest from foreign broadcasters. The creation of the group will give it more negotiating power. The RFTV Group has also been charged with merging China's numerous local cable systems into a single, national network.



It comes amid strong signs that the government is relaxing its stance on foreign media companies. Recently, Pearson and CTV Media signed a deal to produce television and broadband services and before that it was announced that AOL Time Warner and News Corporation have been given permission to broadcast in a restricted area in China.



The State Administration of Radio Film and Television, which oversaw the creation of the group, is also relaxing content restrictions on foreign television broadcasts, and is preparing to allow foreign and private investment in the Chinese film industry.



An estimated 350m households in China have television sets.



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