[photopress:program.jpg,full,alignright]Digital pay television is fighting to survive in China despite nearly 90 digital pay television channels covering 150 cities of the country.
Digital pay-TV are still fuzzy, said Song Jun, of China DTV Media (CDM). CDM was China’s first nationwide pay-TV platform funded by the state-run China Central Television (CCTV). Three other providers have since emerged: Shanghai Media and Entertainment Group, TopV and CCTV Channel 6.
Song Jun said, ‘Only one fifth of CDM’s 44 digital pay-TV channels are doing well. The revenue, however, still cannot offset the investment of millions of U.S. dollars.’ Cable TV is still very popular in China. He said ‘It is hard to draw TV viewers away from the economical cable networks and have them subscribe the pay service.’
Viewers can receive more than 30 channels on cable TV costing for only $2 a month while CDM charged RMB5 to 180 ($22.5 dollars) per month for each of its digital pay channels. The digital pay service provide specialist programs on sport, fashion, music, documentaries, high-definition movies, TV series and cuisine.
Song Jun said, ‘To compete with free channels, the pay channels will have to promote more quality programs.’
Source: Xinhua