Full text: Development of china's news media in 2015

2. A Major Breakthrough Made in Integration of Channels and Platforms

(1) Full integration of the three networks (telephone, computer and telecommunication) significantly improves the carrying capacity of the CATV network. The latter is working to provide digital, intercommunication and broadband connection services, besides building cloud platforms and becoming intelligent. The CATV networks of most provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government have obtained the aptitudes to integrate the three networks to offer internet access and internet data transmission services. By September 2015, there were 200 million subscribers of digital cable television programs nationwide, 128 million households covered by intercommunication networks with over 4,400 paying to such services, and about 16 million subscribers of broadband services. Zhejiang WASU, Beijing Gehua CATV Network Co. Ltd, Jiangsu JSCN and Hunan CATV Network Group Co. Ltd are leading new media development — working all out to broadcast all types of programs and ensure full network coverage, all-terminal services, and presentation on all media. These new businesses have become the major contributor of revenue growth.

(2) Integrated development is accelerating to promote transmission on all channels and platforms. Radio and television agencies providing online audio-visual programs are stable in number. Coordinated efforts are being made to promote transmission through multiple terminals and build media convergence centers.

Radio and television stations at all levels have set up multiple channels and platforms. By the end of 2014, 224 radio and television agencies had been authorized to offer audio-visual services on the internet, 28 radio and television agencies above/at provincial level were allowed to run internet radio and television stations, and 24 city television stations were authorized to run city internet television stations. Also, six radio and television agencies provided integrated broadcast control services for mobile TV, 34 of them were responsible for feeding content to mobile TV, seven radio and television agencies had built, managed and run internet TV integration platforms, and 14 radio and television agencies were feeding content to internet TV. By the end of 2014, the overall platform and individual platforms in pilot areas for integrated broadcast control were in place and linked, and were providing audio-visual programs through broadband connection to over 33 million users nationwide. At present, IPTV platforms offer more services, manifesting IPTV plus features and showcasing integrated and intelligent development, making IPTV an important service provider. By the end of 2014, CNTV had over 560 million monthly unique visitors. It was releasing 130,000 videos daily, making itself one of the most influential audio-visual new media nationwide.

Radio and television stations at all levels are building cloud platforms embracing various communication channels and terminals. For example, CNR's cloud platform offers radio programs for users of internet and internet in vehicles. CCTV is building its own cloud platform too. It has launched projects like CCTV news, CBox, and 4G mobile TV platform. It is accelerating the integrated development of key projects, and consolidating the building of a state video database, user database, interactive television service platform and global video distribution platform. It is also focusing on cooperation between internet TV, IPTV, mobile TV and mobile digital television, and feeding contents to various terminals. CRI has three categories of contents on its cloud platform — "Chinese picture and text," "Chinese audio" and "Chinese video," offering necessary network resource services and technical support for computation and storage to support the distribution of its Chinese series media products across the globe.

Radio and television stations at all levels are reshaping their production chain, which involves collecting, editing and presenting information on multiple media channels. Those without cloud platforms work hard at integrating different platforms and terminals by breaking barriers between traditional media with website, internet TV, internet audio-video platforms and mobile TV. Hunan Broadcasting System has integrated Hunantv.com and the old Mangotv to build a new media platform — with Mangotv as its new logo, and with all its audio-visual programs played on various new media platforms, such as internet TV, mobile TV, video website and IPTV, and accessible on TV, desktop, tablet PC, and smart phone. Beijing Media Network has established its new media network center. Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation has set up an omni-media platform. Daxiang Merged Media under Henan Radio and Television Station is building convergence media center.

(3) Building of new platforms such as Weibo, WeChat and QR code is ongoing. Weibo, WeChat and QR code are now the quickest and most economical convergence platforms, while the clients become the most active communication and operation platform for radio and television programs. Radio and television stations at all levels and individual radio and TV programs are opening accounts on Weibo and WeChat and using QR code to interact with audiences and users. CNR has over 700 verified Weibo and WeChat accounts for its frequencies, programs and hosts. CRI has 62 Weibo accounts, 70 WeChat accounts, and 87 overseas social media accounts. Radio and television stations at all levels are using apps as the focus for platform building, opening up apps for channels, frequencies, programs and news. CRI has 67 mobile apps in 26 languages. Apps such as CNR's Radio.cn, BMN's "Tingting FM," and Shanghai Media Group's ajmide FM have become the new platforms to broadcast traditional media programs.