Accomplishments of China's Television industry since 1958

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Jiazi in Chinese is a traditional way of celebrating one's 60th birthday. The number 60 means accomplishing one big 60-year cycle and starting another one in one's life following the traditional 60-year calendar cycle of the lunar calendar.

Television industry in China is an important part of the propaganda cause. Over the past 60 years, China's TV industry has undergone several landmark transformations, from black and white to color, analog to digital, rural to urban and domestic group to the world and continue to develop.

VCG Photo

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the development of China's TV industry and the establishment of China Central Television (CCTV), the following takes a look at several important events in the development history over its glorious Jiazi.

China's TV industry was established on May 1, 1958, with the first signal of China's television programs appeared over Beijing, which kicked off China's TV industry.

The broadcast of the first day of Beijing Television. /CCTV Photo

Beijing Television, the predecessor of China Central Television, is also thriving from 1958. On September 2 of the same year, Beijing Television was officially broadcast. Shen Li became the first television announcer.

Moreover, on October 1, 1958, Beijing Television carried out the first live streaming of National Day Ceremony of China on television with the first black and white outside broadcasting vehicle developed by China.

Shen Li, China's first television announcer. /CCTV Photo

After the launch of the station in Beijing, an increasing number of TV stations were set up in big Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Harbin. Since 1970, provincial TV stations have been set up by degrees.

In May 1973, Beijing Television began to broadcast colored TV programs. In July 1977, both programs were changed into colored. From then on, Beijing Television completed the transition from black and white programs to colored.

Li Juan, a news announcer from "Xinwen Lianbo." /CCTV Photo

In 1978, Beijing Television launched the "Xinwen Lianbo," a daily news programme, and the appearance of "Xinwen Lianbo" marked the initial formation of a national television network centered on the capital.

On January 1, 1996, "Xinwen Lianbo" changed from video broadcasting to live streaming, which improved the timeliness of news and became one of the most important channels for people throughout the country to obtain news information at that time.

Official report about renamed "Beijing Television" to "China Central Television." /CCTV Photo

On May 1, 1978, "Beijing Television" was renamed "China Central Television," become China's national television station to clarify the status and role of state television further.

The first foreign communication column "Huaxia Lueying." /Screenshot via CCTV.com

Moreover, when China opened its door to the world since 1978, it also welcomed the opportunity of foreign communication. The first international communication program "HuaxiaLueying," and the first co-production film "The Silk Road," were also shown in CCTV. The first foreign correspondent station was also established during this time.

The first foreign correspondent station. /Screenshot via CCTV.com

The first co-production film "The Silk Road." /Screenshot via CCTV.com

In 1983, the Spring Festival gala was officially launched by CCTV. Since then, the CCTV Spring Festival Gala on New Year's Eve has become a folk custom in China. It is also a milestone for China's TV programs.

The Central Color Television Center, a tower and television complex at 11 Fuxin Road in Haidian District, Beijing, China. /CCTV Photo

On March 15, 1988, CCTV started to use the Central Color Television Center, a tower and television complex at 11 Fuxin Road in Haidian District, Beijing, China, also known as the China Media Group Building after the consolidated in 2018.

In 1997, CCTV provided the live streaming signal worldwide of Hong Kong's Handover. Also, it is the first time that China broadcasted the signal to the world.

CCTV Spring Festival Gala in 2004. /VCG Photo

In March 2018, China Media Group, a new broadcasting platform made up of China Central Television (CCTV), China Radio International (CRI) and China National Radio (CNR), and aiming to be a better Chinese storyteller and to pass the Chinese voice farther.

CCTV, which was established on May 1, 1958, now operates 41 channels, with an annual broadcast of 329,000 hours a year.

It is the only TV station in the world to that broadcasts uninterrupted in all six official languages of the United Nations (UN).

CMG Headquarters /VCG Photo

Looking back on the history of China's TV industry's sixty years of development, there is still room for long-term growth in it. However, we can find that the classic programs and important events that can remain in the memory of the audience and leave traces in the history of the development of Chinese TV are still the topics that people like to talk about.