China to establish multimedia conglomerates

BEIJING: China state media will expedite the integration of TV and radio with new media, as the Communist giant plans to have a number of competitive multimedia conglomerates by 2020, its media regulator said today.

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) said in a circular that media organisations should develop multiple integrated and interactive information networks including TV and the Internet, supported by cloud computing and big data.

The SAPPRFT will support the integration through improving laws and regulations and granting preferable market access, according to the circular, which also aims to have a number of competitive multimedia conglomerates by 2020.

The SAPPRFT said in a separate statement that the current integration of TV, radio and new media is still rudimentary, which falls short of central authorities' requirement and public expectation.

The state media firmly controlled by China's ruling Communist Party has stepped us investments in the print and television media to expand its global reach.