CCTV-9

Infobox TV channel
name=CCTV International
logofile=CCTV 9 International.jpg
launch= September 25, 2000
owner= CCTV
web= [http://english.cctv.com/ english.cctv.com]
country= People's Republic of China "(though intended for external consumption)"
network_type = Satellite & Cable
television network
sat serv 1=Astro Malaysia
sat chan 1=Channel 509
sat serv 2=Astro Nusantara Indonesia
sat chan 2=Channel 34
sat serv 3=Canal Digital (Free-to-Air)
sat serv 4=Sky Digital UK
sat chan 4=Channel 510
sat serv 6=Dish Network United States
sat chan 6=Channel 265
sat serv 7=Nilesat 101 Egypt
sat serv 8=Astra 1KR
sat chan 8=11651 h SR 27500
sat serv 9=SKY Network Television
New Zealand
sat chan 9=Channel 310
sat serv 10=SKY Italia Italy
sat chan 10=Channel 530
sat serv 11=DStv South Africa
sat chan 11=Channel 448
sat serv 12=Yes (Israel)
sat chan 12=Channel 111

cable serv 1=StarHub Singapore
cable chan 1=Channel 97
cable serv 2=SkyCable Platinum Philippines
cable chan 2=Channel 145
cable serv 3=Global Destiny Cable Philippines
cable chan 3=Channel 59
cable serv 4=CableLink Philippines
cable chan 4=Channel 74
cable serv 5=TelstraClear
New Zealand
cable chan 5=Channel 310
cable serv 6=UPC Romania
Romania
cable chan 6=Channel 196
cable serv 7=Hot (Israel)
cable chan 7=Channel 141
cable serv 8=Available on some US cable systems
cable chan 8=Check Local Listings for channels
cable serv 9=CATV China
cable chan 9=Channel 9
adsl serv 1= mio TV Singapore
adsl chan 1= Channel 47

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 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, on the [http://english.cctv.com/index.shtml 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.

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 Asian news, news from mainland China 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 sport.

CCTV -9 also provided extensive coverage of China's Shezhou 7 mission including live coverage of the launch for overseas viewersCite web|url=http://planetary.org/blog/article/00001660/|title=The Planetary Society WeblogBy Emily Lakdawalla|accessdate=2007-09-29] .

The channel's programming has been extensively studied by academic, and former CCTV consultant, [http://www.cctv.com/program/WorldInsight/01/index.shtml John Jirik] .cite book |last=Jirik|first=John|editor=Chris Paterson & Annabelle Sreberny|title=International News in the 21st Century|year=2004|publisher=John Libbey Publishing for University of Luton Press|location=Luton|pages=127-146|chapter=China's News Media and the Case of CCTV-9] 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 agencies APTN and Reuters.cite book |last=Jirik|first=John|editor=Chris Paterson & Annabelle Sreberny|title=International News in the 21st Century|year=2004|publisher=John Libbey Publishing for University of Luton Press|location=Luton|pages=127-146|chapter=China's News Media and the Case of CCTV-9] Cite web|url=http://journalism.berkeley.edu/projects/asiaproject/shi.html|title=AOL Time Warner/News Corp. Deal: Win-win or not?|accessdate=2007-09-12|publisher=UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism|year=2001|author=Ting Shi|work=Asia Pacific Project] Although most news on CCTV-9 is derived from third party sources, [http://blog.cctv.com/home.do?name=cctv9&agMode=1 reporters at CCTV-9] produce a small but professionally accomplished number of reports on significant topics.cite book |last=Jirik|first=John|editor=Chris Paterson & Annabelle Sreberny|title=International News in the 21st Century|year=2004|publisher=John Libbey Publishing for University of Luton Press|location=Luton|pages=127-146|chapter=China's News Media and the Case of CCTV-9]

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 channel on 25 September 2000. CCTV-9 entered the US cable market in January 2002 as part of a deal that allowed AOL Time Warner and News Corporation access to cable systems in Guangdong. Jirik described those deals as "a much needed opportunity for China to present its own side of the China story." Cite web|url=http://journalism.berkeley.edu/projects/asiaproject/shi.html|title=AOL Time Warner/News Corp. Deal: Win-win or not?|accessdate=2007-09-12|publisher=UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism|year=2001|author=Ting Shi|work=Asia Pacific Project] After the launch of the 24-hour service, the channel was revamped a number of times with the assistance of News Corporation consultant [http://tapin.com/ 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." Actual viewer numbers for CCTV-9 are not consistent in different sources. CCTV-9 claims its potential global audience is 45 million.Cite web|url=http://english.cctv.com/english/about/index.shtml|title=About CCTV-9|accessdate=2007-11-11]

taff

The Chinese staff at CCTV-9 range in experience from interns to media professionals with years in the business. Executive producers, producers and senior anchors typically have higher education, often from a university abroad. The channel currently (2007) 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 [http://blog.cctv.com/home.do?name=cctv9&agMode=1 reporters] and presenters. Among the latter are news anchor [http://blog.cctv.com/home.do?name=liuxin&agMode=1 Liu Xin] and business program presenter Rui Chenggang, who earned a certain notoriety for his (successful) blog campaign to drive Starbucks out of the Forbidden City.

In May 2005, CCTV-9 Controller Jiang Heping was promoted to head CCTV-5, CCTV's sports channel, ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. 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.

Foreign Anchors

The shortage of Chinese anchors with broadcast quality English has meant that CCTV-9 increasingly relies on foreigners as 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.” cite book |last=Jiang Heping|editor=Sucharita S. Eashwar|title=Asia Media Summit 2005: Promoting Peace and Prosperity in a Globalised World|url=http://download.aibd.org.my/books/AMS_05_Promoting_Peace_and_Prosperity.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2007-09-13|year=2005|publisher=Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development|isbn=983-41053-3-9|pages173-5=|chapter=Window on China and the World: CCTV-9]

The first foreign news program host on CCTV-9 was [http://www.gelken.com/ 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. [citeweb |accessdate=2007-05-04|title=China’s Most Famous Foreigner to Receive Prestigious — Mark Rowswell (“Dashan”) to be Honoured for Raising Awareness of Cancer in China |first=Sophie |last= Welter |url=http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/mediareleaselist/0,,3543_434465_288488355_langId-en.html]

Newsworthiness, bias and propaganda

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.

Censorship is a ubiquitous feature of CCTV-9 in its function within the government's overseas publicity system. Governing the actions of staff are the “four basic principles,” which Deng Xiaoping enunciated in 1979 as fundamental guidelines for CPC members and government organizations. The principles were written into the ‘Preamble’ of the 1982 PRC Constitution and remain in force today:cite journal|last=Cui|first=Vivien|year=2004|month=April 6|title=CCTV tries to shed its mouthpiece image|journal=South China Morning Post|url=http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=9790] Commenting on its 2004 relaunch, he said that the aim was a "Western approach", although his staff "can't report antigovernment activity, and anything anti-Party is taboo."cite journal | author=Matthew Forney| title=Raising the Bar in Beijing| journal=Time| date=31 May 2004| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501040607-644217,00.html]

Former copy editor, Joan Maltese, has written of censorship and, in her opinion, a poor journalistic culture at CCTV-9. [citeweb |accessdate=2007-05-04|title=How China's Propaganda Machine Works|first=Joan |last= Maltese |url=http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/7/3/134334.shtml] However, as already noted, in recent years News Corporation has provided CCTV-9 with consultancy services to help improve its programming.cite journal | author=Matthew Forney| title=Raising the Bar in Beijing| journal=Time| date=31 May 2004| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501040607-644217,00.html]

chedule

ee also

* China Central Television
* List of Dish Network channels (CCTV 9 appears on Channel 265)
* International broadcasting
* Al Jazeera English
* BBC World
* CNN International
* Deutsche Welle
* EuroNews
* France 24
* Nile TV
* Russia Today

References

External links

* [http://english.cctv.com Official Site]
* [http://www.cctv-9.com/2005/asx/live/live_300.asx Live CCTV-9 MMS]