Hunan Satellite Television over China

Abstract

: This article reviews the history of satellite television in China through a case study of Hunan Satellite Television. Not long ago, regional broadcasters were intended to be mere gap-fillers in the united front against imminent invasion by foreign signals. A quarter of a century later and thanks to the technology of satellite transmission, several of them have become fully fledged commercial enterprises reaching national audiences, thus threatening the domination and even the legitimacy of the national network. The case study examines three aspects of the growth of Hunan Satellite Television: its share of difficulties in accessing the national market, its successful capitalisation, and the ‘enchantment’ of its alternative programming. The review, together with the case study, suggests that internal transformation can be more subversive than hostile foreign signals. All that is required is some imagination in relation to sourcing finance and creating interesting content.