China to digitise TV networks

China has laid out plans to digitise all of its cable TV networks by 2015 in order to spur convergence of cable TV, telecommunications and the Internet, reports ZDNet.

"For cable TV operators, digitalisation is the key to (drive) three-network convergence," says Tian Jin, vice-minister of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), at the China Content Broadcasting Network conference, states China Daily.

According to Chinese government officials, a digitalised cable TV network enables a larger amount of content transmission and, together with other technologies, will make it possible for TV broadcasters, telecom carriers, and Internet companies to enter each other's fields and provide services.

The country's cable TV subscribers reached 187 million by the end of last year, of which digital TV users were 88 million.

SARFT will be responsible for the upgrading and conversion of China's cable TV network, indicates Marbridge Consulting.

Jin says more than 30 provinces have completed work in integrating the provincial cable TV network. However, he adds the overall development in the 12 cities involved in the next-generation broadcasting trial was unsatisfactory.

China.org says while China has only three carriers in the telecom market, there are many cable television networks in China, all run by different operators at varied administrative levels.

At the county level alone, there are about 3 000 networks. Chinese government claims the lack of a nationwide unified network has become an obstacle to the three-network convergence strategy.