China has launched CNC World, a 24-hour English news channel. From the Associated Press:
China Xinhua News Network Corp. (CNC) began broadcasting its first English TV service, CNC World, around the clock on Thursday, including news segments, feature stories, weather updates and special bulletins, the official Xinhua News agency said.
“The English service will provide international and China news with a Chinese perspective to global audiences,” CNC President Wu Jincai said at a news conference on Thursday.
CNC World has begun broadcasting in Hong Kong and will continue to expand to Europe, North America and Africa by the year-end, he said.
CNC World will have about 70 percent international news and 30 percent news about China – with a wide range of topics such as breaking news, travel shows, sports, and weather, Wu said.
Watch CNC World (IE required).
See also from the New York Times: “China Puts Best Face Forward With News Channel” as well as articles from the Guardian and the Independent. Also, from the official People’s Daily:
Xinhua News Agency, a 79-year-old wire service from China, announced the official launch of China Xinhua News Network Corporation (CNC) World, offering a full operation of TV news broadcasts, including news and in-depth reports, feature stories, talk shows and cultural and lifestyle programs.
On the kick-off ceremony at its Beijing headquarters, Xinhua President Li Congjun said, “CNC World will report international news with a China perspective and China news with a global vision.”
Besides the newly-born television service, Xinhua, with more than 10,000 employees positioned around the world, also has print publications, financial services, photo suppliers and new media research and development capacities.
The ambitious global expansion of Xinhua, a multi-billion-dollar media industry leader in China, echoes Chinese President Hu Jintao’s aspiration for “a modern communication system” and “communication capacity” for Chinese media at home and abroad.