SARFT: Five Channels to Begin HD Simulcasting
Sina Tech, 8/11/09
China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has revealed that CCTV-1, Beijing Satellite TV, Shanghai's Dragon TV, Jiangsu Satellite TV and Hunan Satellite TV will begin simulcasting of standard definition and high-definition programming on September 28. The two broadcasts will feature identical content, and the stations will not be permitted to charge additional fees for the addition of the high-definition services.
According to a statement issued by SARFT, the percentage of programming by these channels which must be broadcast in high-definition in the first year must be higher than 50% of a channel's total programming. This figure is to increase to at least 70% in the second year, with the aim of achieving 100% by the third year. Prime-time programming from 6:30 P.M. to 11:00 P.M., as well as advertising weather reports, and other content broadcast during a high-definition broadcast, must all be broadcast in high-definition before the end of the first two years.
The notice added that cable networks must all offer these high-definition channels by the end of September for no additional charge, and terrestrial TV network providers may neither encrypt nor charge additional fees for the high-definition channels.
Keywords: Dragon TV cable TV CCTV-1 content programming television terrestrial DTV SARFT Beijing Satellite TV satellite TV broadcasting HDTV regulation
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