Korean language satellite channel launched

China's first domestic Korean-language satellite channel has been launched to serve remote and isolated populations near the Chinese-Korean border. This is the country's first local level television station to be broadcast by satellite and to mark the occasion, the launch was attended by an impressive array of top-level officials, vice-ministers and directors from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), the Ministry of Propaganda and the provincial government. The channel is aimed at ethnically Korean Chinese living in the remote border areas where terrestrial television reception is very poor, reaching only around 40 percent of the population. The channel is to carry a mix of news, social education, arts, film and drama programming with around 60 percent produced in-house (including translated programmes).

CMI - 22/8/06