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China Starts 24-Hour English Channel

AP, Sunday, May 2, 2010 11:27 PM

China's biggest national news agency is set to launch its global, English-language television news network, part of efforts to expand the government's media influence abroad. Starting Saturday, May 1, China Xinhua News Network Corp. (CNC) will begin trial broadcasts of its English TV service 24/7, including news segments, feature stories, weather updates and special bulletins. The channel is officially set to launch on July 1. The agency did not immediately say what countries would receive the channel.

Chinese authorities have expressed disapproval of much of the international coverage of sensitive events in China, such as human rights. They accuse international media organizations of being biased and focusing on negative news. In January, Xinhua began broadcasting TV programs in Chinese in Asian and select European countries. Last year, CCTV began a 24-hour channel airing in 22 Arabic-speaking countries, reaching a total population of nearly 300 million people.

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