So far, more than 500 domestic TV stations, TV programming companies from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and the mainland have registered for the international TV program and technology exposition at the National Architectural Culture Center in western Beijing.

Leading TV equipment and facility manufacturers from across China and from about 30 foreign countries in Europe, Oceania, Asia and North America will participate in the annual event, organizers say.

Sixteen foreign TV station presidents, chief executive officers of major TV, film, entertainment and media conglomerates will attend the TV Week for TV Industry Beijing Forum, which will be held at the New Century Hotel in Beijing, organizers say.

The big-name media companies expected for the TV Week include News Corporation and Seven Network (Australia), Beta (Germany), Viacom, Disney, Discovery Channel (United States), TBS (Japan), TV France International, Mediacorp Studios (Singapore), and TVB (Hong Kong).

At the forum, influential Chinese media researchers, popular TV anchor people and successful TV program producers will meet their foreign counterparts to discuss a range of topics, including "the assessment of the Chinese TV market," "localization of imported TV programs in China," "Chinese TV programs in the international market," and "future development of Chinese cartoon programs."

During the International TV Week, 18 lectures and seminars focusing on the latest trends in TV industry technology will be given in the Conference Hall of the National Architectural Culture Center.

A variety show called "Beijing Embracing the World" will be staged as part of the opening ceremony for the TV Week and will be televised live on Beijing Television Channel 6 on the evening of May 19.

"This year's Beijing International TV Week is being held against the historic backdrop of unprecedented advances in the Chinese TV market, China's pending World Trade Organization entry, and dramatic changes and ongoing drastic reforms in management and operation systems in the Chinese TV industry," said Liu Diyi, director of the managing board of the Beijing Radio, Film and Television Group, at a press conference on May 10.

"This will greatly boost the development of the Chinese TV industry and help more Chinese TV programs reach a wider range of international audiences."

Initiated by BTV in August 1989, the Beijing International TV Week 2001 is sponsored by the Beijing municipal government and has been organized by Beijing Municipal Radio and Television Administration and Beijing Television Station (BTV).

(People's Daily 05/15/2001)