ASIA-PACIFIC BROADCASTING

These developments not only mark an exciting phase in China’s broadcast history but also serve as a beacon of light to many foreign and domestic industry players in the current gloomy global economic climate.

Held at Beijing’s China International Exhibition Center from August 26-29, this year’s event showcased a total of 419 exhibitors, of which 170 were from overseas and the rest from the domestic industry. An estimated 50,000 visitors from over 40 countries attended the show.

As economies around the world take a beating from the economic crisis, many companies look towards the gigantic and growing Chinese market for opportunities. China — backed by a socialist economy — is proving to be the fastest-growing market.

In its fight against the global downturn, the Chinese government had earlier announced the strategies of ensuring growth, securing the livelihood of its people and stimulating domestic demands. As part of these strategies, the government came up with revitalisation plans for 10 industries, including the steel, automobile and telecoms industries.

On July 23 this year, China’s State Council’s Routine Conference discussed and passed the Revitalisation of Cultural Industry Plan. Under this plan, China’s cultural industry has been identified as a key strategic sector. The effects of this on the broadcast and telecommunications industries are the push for digital TV, cable network, digital movies, development of cinema chains, transformation of traditional media, rigorous development of mobile multimedia TV, IPTV and mobile TV, and more.

Against this backdrop, Zhang Haitao, Vice-Minister of State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), while delivering his keynote address at the BIRTV Summit Conference on Day One, announced and reiterated the following SARFT initiatives:

• To strongly develop HDTV  to meet the higher audio-visual needs of the general public.
• To expedite the integration of cable TV and Internet to accelerate the setting up of next-generation broadband and propel the convergence of Internet, telecommunications and broadcasting.
• To expedite the digitising terrestrial DTV, and raise the public service standard of TV broadcasting.
• To expedite the development of the China Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting (CMMB) standard to drive the industry operations and future development for sustenance.

These initiatives, especially with the clear direction and timelines set for full HD broadcasting within three years and complete digitisation of TV by 2015, brought great cheers to the many exhibitors, both local and foreign. They have been expecting this good news and were all well prepared with their products to meet the surge in market demands.

Karen Lo, Asia managing director of TV One Limited, said that the company’s sales in the Chinese market has increased by 50% over the same period last year and the company is on track to meet the target of doubling the sales in China for 2009.

Another company that is celebrating is Datavideo Technologies. Its president, Jack Lin, told APB: “The current development is much better than what we expected. The economic crisis had brought about a decline in many economies, but, for us in China, we have a 40% growth in the first half of the year.”

Last month, five Chinese stations — CCTV-1, Beijing Satellite TV, Shanghai’s Dragon TV, Jiangsu Satellite TV and Hunan Satellite TV — began the simulcasting of HD and SD programming, so as to ensure that the simulcasting is in place before China celebrates its 60th National Day this month.

One of the companies that has benefited from this development is Grass Valley. Han Shengli, its general manager of China sales, said: “The speed of development is very fast; previously, everyone was hesitating whether or not to go HD as HD is a very big investment. Under the government’s push, there is no more hesitation, as everyone has to go on board as soon as possible.

“For us, out of the five TV stations, CCTV-1, Beijing Satellite TV and Hunan Satellite TV have placed orders with us and started to use our HD facilities, such as the HD server. Of the remaining two, one is testing our facilities while the other is still selecting which facilities to test. At BIRTV2009, to meet this current development, we are promoting our HD facilities.”

Galen Wei, CEO of Opvision Corporation, echoed Han’s sentiment. He said: “Everyone is trying to meet the government’s deadline of completing digitisation by 2015. This is a very good opportunity, and the market is very big. The competition in the Chinese market is getting keener, especially between overseas and Chinese manufacturers, but, at the same time, there are more opportunities for growth. Innovation is still the key to success; good products and good concepts would attract customers’ interest.”

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