Bottom line: The closure of former Time Warner Chinese TV station CETV reflects the broader decline of traditional broadcasting worldwide, and also heavy restrictions on foreigners for operating video delivery channels in China.
CETV pulled from China airwaves
As Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) pursues a blockbuster merger deal with AT&T (NYSE: T) in the US, a much quieter story in China reflects the end of a frustrating chapter for the entertainment giant and many of its western peers that hoped to make a fortune in the world’s most populous market. That story has the relatively obscure Tom Group (HKEx: 2383) announcing the shuttering of its China Entertainment Television station, also known as CETV. Read Full Post…
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp (Nasdaq: NWSA) ended its stormy love affair with Chinese television late last week, when it sold its last remaining major asset to a private equity firm. The company’s gradual withdrawal over the last 3 years underscores the difficulty that many western media firms still face in China’s TV market despite rapid changes over the last year. Domestic and foreign companies alike need space to act more commercially in a streamlined regulatory environment for China to develop a truly world-class industry that can someday challenge the dominance of Hollywood. Read Full Post…
