Beijing Begins Digital TV Trials
Three commercial television channels have begun commercial
trials of high resolution digital television signals in
Beijing. The channels include two from CCTV (China Central
Television) and one from Phoenix, and will last three
months.
Viewing digital television requires the purchase of a
special receiver, which costs from US$73 to $217. Coverage
extends to 18 districts and counties in Beijing. The current
channels include soap operas and shopping guides, but
will extend to other channels later.
The trial is now being conducted under the supervision
of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television
(SARFT). According to SARFT's plan, China will soon announce
its own digital TV standards, and plans to sign up one
million subscribers by the end of the year, and have 10
broadcasting channels. Under the plan, China aims to have
30 million digital TV subscribers by 2005.
Digital subscribers will form a majority in 2010, and
the country plans to phase out analog TV by 2015.
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