Soon... more choices in English-language propaganda
Rumour has it that Shanghai Media Group, the city's largest TV conglomerate which operates 20 television and radio channels, has plans to start a new 24-hour English language news channel. Rejoice all ye who don't have (or can't afford) satellite at home (that includes us)! Well apparently this has been in the works for a year now, and while SMG hasn't jumped pass the final regulatory hurdle, it has already started hiring "hiring English-speaking presenters, editors and reporters, including foreigners, for the new service" (now just where does one send in his CV?).
Dutch reporter Fons Tuinstra of China Herald asks a rhetorical question, Can the Shanghai Media Group beat CNN?:
Could the Shanghai Media Group (or any other state-owned broadcasting station in China) compete on a global market. I'm not the most reliable expert in this field, since I have given up watching the boring nonsense on Chinese TV years ago.
To be honest, we're not too sure ourselves but from what we've seen of SMG's English-language lunchtime news segment, they have a jolly good chance of putting CCTV-9 to shame. Go SMG go!
Related links
Reuters: Shanghai Media plans English news channel in China
China Herald: Can the Shanghai Media Group beat CNN?
