In the current issue:

Internet wars: can Google afford to say 'no' to China?
Google's widely-reported announcement that the company is ready to pull out of China rather than continue to face demands for search filtering and the challenges posed by apparently state-backed hackers has grabbed worldwide media attention and offered a glimpse of an alternative vision of engagement between powerful multinational corporations and the Chinese government. Google is suggesting not only that it can say 'no' to Chinese limitations on business in the country, but that if necessary it will. Some see the move as a principled stand for human rights, others point to the business rationale, but whatever the motivations for the move it looks set to give a whole new appearance to China's online search market even though Google never looked like seriously challenging for the market-leading position. In this Analysis, China Media Intelligence looks at the reasons behind the move, asks whether it makes sense for Google in the long-run and what the implications are for China's Internet landscape

Xinhua TV: How will it reshape China's television landscape?
From January 1 this year, the China Xinhua News Network Corp launched new television broadcasting aimed at the Asia-Pacific region and Europe with plans for future expansion of services. The move is a significant step forward for the country's state news agency as it seeks to redefine its role and functions in China's rapidly changing media landscape. The move into television, which is part of a broader strategy to align the agency with developments in technology and consumer practices, and also involves collaboration with domestic broadcasters has raised questions about Xinhua's role in the television market and how that role may impinge upon the position of national broadcaster CCTV in particular. In this Market Report, China Media Intelligence contextualises the latest moves in Xinhua's reform strategy and asks what the implications are for other players in Chinese television market

Ad market grows 13.5 percent
China's advertising market bucked the global trend last year to record 13.5 percent growth year-on-year

New legislation planned to tackle mobile pornography
China's Supreme Court is about to publish a paper outlining the anticipated new legislation to tackle pornography on mobile phones

SMG revenue reaches Rmb30 billion
The Shanghai Media Group (SMG) has reported total revenue in 2009 of Rmb30 billion from its full range of businesses including television, radio, film, Internet, animation, fine arts and theatre

Internet users reach 384 million
China's Internet users numbered 384 million at the end of December according to the latest official statistics from the China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC)