December 1, 2011 Source: Telecommunications Industry Network Editor: KeXunWang Troy
On December 1, news reports indicated that Cai Fuchao, the Director of the National Radio and Television Administration, stated in an interview in Beijing that by the end of 2012, there would be one network per province, along with the establishment of a national-level broadcasting and television network company. This initiative aims to gradually achieve a unified planning, construction, operation, and management of the national cable television network. Previously, there were reports that the China Broadcasting Network Company would officially be listed in September of this year.
Last year, the State Council issued the "Overall Plan for Promoting the Integration of Three Networks," clearly stating that China will establish a national-level entity during the pilot phase of the three-network integration (2010-2012) to serve as a market participant for cable television networks in the integration process. Various support policies will be implemented, including national funding. To this end, in August 2010, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television established a preparatory group for the national-level cable television network company, led by Deputy Director Zhang Haitao, with the company temporarily named "China Broadcasting Television Network Company" (hereinafter referred to as "China Broadcasting Network Company").
Previously, there were reports that China Broadcasting Network Corporation would officially go public in September this year. However, due to the long-standing "four-level television management" policy in our country, the asset ownership of broadcasting enterprises across various regions is complex, making it difficult to complete integration quickly in the short term. Industry insiders had previously suggested that the asset integration process of the National Cable Network Company might even take up to two years to complete.
In March of this year, the voice from the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) was relatively positive. Tian Jin, the deputy director of the NRTA, revealed at the CCBN 2011 keynote conference that "the NRTA has developed a basic idea and preliminary plan for the establishment of a national-level broadcasting and television network company, and is currently soliciting opinions from relevant departments to expedite the submission for approval." Tian also mentioned that once the plan is approved, the national-level broadcasting and television network company will participate as a market entity in the integration of the three networks.
Broadcasting expert Wu Chunrong previously stated that the current situation of broadcasting enterprises acting independently may, to some extent, affect the establishment of national cable television network companies. Since some provincial and municipal broadcasting enterprises have already gone public or partnered with telecommunications companies, the integration of national broadcasting assets has risen to the capital level, which objectively increases the difficulty of integrating national cable network companies.
Cai Fuzhao emphasized in an interview that the focus should be on advancing the establishment of China Broadcasting Network Co., Ltd. and deepening the reform of the industrial system and mechanisms.
Previously, Cai Fuzhao stated that in the next five years, key tasks in the broadcasting and television sector will also include accelerating the development of mobile multimedia broadcasting and television, mobile TV, as well as in-vehicle and building television as public audiovisual carriers. There will be a focus on strengthening the construction of integrated broadcasting and control platforms for new media such as IPTV and mobile TV, to better utilize various information network facilities. Additionally, there will be an emphasis on accelerating the development of key content industries, cable television network industries, and new media content and service industries.