One of China’s biggest media companies has been advertising for English-speaking staff for a new 24hour English news channel that will be aired in China.
Shanghai Media’s plan has already gained support from the Shanghai city government, and is now waiting on approval from Beijing regulators.
Sources claim that Shanghai Media have been pressing a ‘very hard’ case to Beijing, partly because of Shanghai’s successful bid to host the world exposition in 2010.
According to Reuters a well-placed source said: “Shanghai needs an English-language TV channel to serve the increasing number of expatriates living and working in the city and you can imagine how many foreigners will travel to Shanghai during the World Expo.”
If the proposals are successful, Shanghai Media Group will be going head to head with its biggest rival- Central China Television, which currently operates the only 24-hour news channel in China that broadcasts in English.
The channel will be targeting a foreign audience and is hoped to bring in advertising revenue from global companies that want to aim their brands at an English market.
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