SARFT to Expand DBS Coverage to 200 Mln Households by 2015
RTI, 9/09/11
Zhang Haitao, deputy minister of China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), recently disclosed that China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) calls for direct-broadcast satellite (DBS) to reach 10 mln households in rural areas lacking cable TV access this year, 50 mln in 2012, 100 mln in 2013, 150 mln in 2014, and 200 mln by 2015.
According to Zhang, approximately 200 mln of China's 400 mln households rely on analog broadcast TV and receive at most 6 channels. DBS trials began in rural areas of Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, and Hebei in April. Users who purchase a receiver have free access to 25 TV channels and 17 radio stations.
Zhang added that each trial area is subsidizing receiver purchases. In Ningxia, each household receives a RMB 100 subsidy, while in Inner Mongolia users receive RMB 200.
Keywords: Zhang Haitao subsidy analog rural television users cable TV SARFT DBS 12th Five-Year Plan government initiative Cuncuntong