Broadcast since 1 May 1958, China Central Television (CCTV) has 17 channels plus an additional five channels of different languages broadcast from China and across the globe. All CCTV channels are broadcast around the world through satellite broadcast and on Internet television. The CCTV channels are listed below in sequential order with no discerning descriptions, e.g. CCTV-1, CCTV-2, etc.
Contents
Television channels
The following is a list of the channels with their names and descriptions:
CCTV is one of the six participants of Zhongguo 3D dianshi shiyan pindao (Chinese: 中国3D电视试验频道), a television channel broadcasting various digital 3D television content.
All CCTV channels are also broadcast through the following:
International broadcasts
It is possible to receive channels CCTV-4 (Mandarin channel targeted at an overseas Chinese audience), CCTV-News (targeting an English-speaking audience), and CCTV-E (in Spanish and CCTV-F in French) outside China by using a Digital Video Broadcast signal (plus additional broadcast support together with Dolby Stereo, Dolby Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital Advanced Sound Quality Definition and Improvement System Support, technologized and developed by Dolby Laboratories, Datasat, and the SDDS for digital audio system supportments). CCTV has just recently switched from analog to DVB primarily due to better signal quality and the ability to charge for reception (about $10 USD per year subscription). The overseas channels are widely available across many cable and satellite providers. The CCTV administration is also planning to start a CCTV Portuguese station by 2010 and a CCTV English news station by 2011.
CCTV-4 was officially relaunched by the split into three television channels on Monday, 1 January 2007 at 00:00 CST in order to improve service for audiences around the world.
On 25 July 2009, CCTV launched its Arabic-language international channel, stating that it aims to maintain stronger links with Arabic nations and that the new channel would "serve as an important bridge to strengthen communication and understanding between China and Arab countries". The new Arabic Channel will reach the Middle East, North Africa and Asia region. On 10 September 2009, CCTV launched a Russian-language channel, CCTV-Pусский.