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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| China launches Arabic TV channel | China launches Arabic TV channel |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| China is launching an Arabic-language TV channel to show the Middle East and North Africa the "real" China. | China is launching an Arabic-language TV channel to show the Middle East and North Africa the "real" China. |
| China Central Television's station will broadcast news, entertainment and cultural programmes 24 hours a day. | China Central Television's station will broadcast news, entertainment and cultural programmes 24 hours a day. |
| It is part of the Chinese government's plan to promote its own viewpoints by encouraging state-controlled media organisations to go global. | It is part of the Chinese government's plan to promote its own viewpoints by encouraging state-controlled media organisations to go global. |
| Beijing, while saying that some foreign broadcasters misrepresent China, tightly restricts its own media. | Beijing, while saying that some foreign broadcasters misrepresent China, tightly restricts its own media. |
| 'Distorted views' | 'Distorted views' |
| "It is imperative for us to be a multi-language, multi-faceted and multi-perspective broadcaster," said Zhang Changming, vice-president of CCTV. | "It is imperative for us to be a multi-language, multi-faceted and multi-perspective broadcaster," said Zhang Changming, vice-president of CCTV. |
| Speaking at a launch event, he added: "[We hope] the world can know China and China can know the rest of the world even better." | Speaking at a launch event, he added: "[We hope] the world can know China and China can know the rest of the world even better." |
| CCTV already has four international channels that broadcast in English, French and Spanish, as well as Chinese. | CCTV already has four international channels that broadcast in English, French and Spanish, as well as Chinese. |
| The new Arabic channel will be accessible for nearly 300 million people in 22 Arabic-speaking countries from 25 July. | The new Arabic channel will be accessible for nearly 300 million people in 22 Arabic-speaking countries from 25 July. |
| CCTV will present the world with the real China Zhang ChangmingVice-president, CCTV | CCTV will present the world with the real China Zhang ChangmingVice-president, CCTV |
| The broadcaster declined to comment on how much the channel was costing and how many viewers it is hoping to attract. | The broadcaster declined to comment on how much the channel was costing and how many viewers it is hoping to attract. |
| It will have an initial staff of about 80 and is being fronted by Arabic-speaking Chinese presenters. | It will have an initial staff of about 80 and is being fronted by Arabic-speaking Chinese presenters. |
| Mr Zhang made it clear that the aim was to counter some of the "distorted" views about China that are put out by a number of foreign broadcasters. | Mr Zhang made it clear that the aim was to counter some of the "distorted" views about China that are put out by a number of foreign broadcasters. |
| "Our principle is to be real, to be objective, to be accurate and transparent. CCTV will present the world with the real China," he said. | "Our principle is to be real, to be objective, to be accurate and transparent. CCTV will present the world with the real China," he said. |
| He did not mention that Chinese media outlets are routinely censored by the government and face tight restrictions about what stories they can cover. | He did not mention that Chinese media outlets are routinely censored by the government and face tight restrictions about what stories they can cover. |
| Expansion plans | Expansion plans |
| CCTV also plans to launch a Russian-language channel in September and is not the only Chinese media organisation to have expanded. | CCTV also plans to launch a Russian-language channel in September and is not the only Chinese media organisation to have expanded. |
| In April the Chinese-language Global Times newspaper launched an English edition with the aim of promoting Chinese people's views to foreigners. | In April the Chinese-language Global Times newspaper launched an English edition with the aim of promoting Chinese people's views to foreigners. |
| China has long complained about what it says are biased and unfair reports about the country carried by foreign media outlets. | China has long complained about what it says are biased and unfair reports about the country carried by foreign media outlets. |
| There was a government-backed campaign against the "prejudiced" foreign media last year following the unrest in Tibet, which led to death threats to some foreign correspondents based in China. | There was a government-backed campaign against the "prejudiced" foreign media last year following the unrest in Tibet, which led to death threats to some foreign correspondents based in China. |
| But China is not the only country broadcasting to the Middle East. Last year the UK's BBC launched its own publicly funded Arabic TV channel. | But China is not the only country broadcasting to the Middle East. Last year the UK's BBC launched its own publicly funded Arabic TV channel. |