Hong Kong, Jan 08: News Corp's year-old Mandarin language channel is set to gain new rights from Beijing that will expand its broadcast area in China to selected venues throughout the country, an industry source said on Wednesday. The development is the latest advance in China for Rupert Murdoch's Australia-based company, which has been among the most persistent foreign firms looking to grow its presence in the restrictive mainland media market.
A year ago, both News Corp's Star Group and rival AOL Time Warner won rights to begin Mandarin-language broadcasts in south China's wealthy, Cantonese-speaking Guandong province.
Broadcasters in general look at China as a major growth opportunity because of the nation's fast-expanding economy and audience of more than one billion potential viewers.
Under the new arrangement, News Corp's Star TV unit will be allowed to transmit its Xingkong Weishi channel into three-, four- and five-star hotels throughout China, as well as office and residential compounds designed for foreigners, said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Bureau Report