CCTV-17 Agriculture
Product brand
UnclaimedA Chinese free-to-air television channel dedicated to agriculture, rural communities, and village life.
Last updated October 9, 2026
Overview
CCTV-17 Agriculture, also known as CCTV-17, is a Chinese free-to-air television channel focused on agriculture, rural communities, village development, and countryside culture. It is operated within China Central Television and forms part of the national television system associated with China Media Group. The channel's Chinese name identifies it as the Agriculture and Village Channel, reflecting a remit broader than crop production or farming news alone. Its programming covers agricultural affairs, rural livelihoods, agricultural technology, village culture, rural entertainment, and serialized television content presented for rural audiences. The channel was created during a reorganization of CCTV's thematic services. Agricultural programming that had previously been carried by CCTV-7 was moved to the new channel as CCTV-7 was repositioned. Trial broadcasts began on 1 August 2019. CCTV-17 formally launched on 23 September 2019, timed to coincide with celebrations connected with the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival. The launch gave agriculture and rural affairs a dedicated national television outlet rather than treating them as a programming strand within a broader military-and-agriculture service. CCTV-17's programming mix combines informational, educational, documentary, cultural, and entertainment formats. Agricultural and rural-affairs programs address farming practices, rural economic activity, technology, village development, and stories of people working in the countryside. Named programs associated with the channel include Jujiao Sannong, commonly translated as Agricultural Watch; Zhi Fu Jing, or Agribusiness Today; Keji Lian, an agricultural-technology program; The Big Stage of Village, a rural cultural-entertainment format; Xiang Yue, which focuses on social and relationship themes in countryside settings; Heroes Everywhere; and repeat broadcasts of television dramas under the Rural Theatre strand. As a state-run channel, CCTV-17 also serves a public-information and policy-communication role. Its subject matter connects national agricultural priorities with practical stories from villages and farming communities, while its entertainment output presents rural culture in a more accessible television format. The channel is primarily intended for audiences in China and is distributed as part of the domestic CCTV television offering. Available reference material does not establish a separate commercial ownership structure, public listing, advertising revenue figure, or international operating network for CCTV-17. Its identity is therefore best understood as a specialized television channel brand within the CCTV family rather than as an independently listed media company.
History
CCTV-17 emerged from the restructuring of China's central television service in 2019. Before the channel was established, agricultural programming was carried by CCTV-7, a service whose programming remit was subsequently changed. The reorganization separated agriculture and rural-affairs content into a dedicated national channel, allowing the subject to receive a clearer schedule identity and a continuous broadcast home. Trial transmissions for CCTV-17 began on 1 August 2019. The channel then received its formal launch on 23 September 2019, a date connected with celebrations of the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival. Its Chinese designation, China Central Television Agriculture and Village Channel, indicates the breadth of its mandate: the channel addresses not only agricultural production but also village society, rural culture, countryside livelihoods, and development themes. The channel's programming is built around a mixture of factual and entertainment formats. Jujiao Sannong provides agricultural and rural-affairs coverage. Zhi Fu Jing presents stories and information related to becoming prosperous through agricultural or rural business activity. Keji Lian focuses on agricultural science and technology. Other programs use cultural and social formats to reach viewers beyond specialist farming audiences. The Big Stage of Village emphasizes rural performance and culture, while Xiang Yue places social and relationship topics in a countryside setting. Heroes Everywhere and the Rural Theatre strand further broaden the schedule through human-interest programming and drama repeats. CCTV-17 is part of the state-run CCTV system rather than an independently owned commercial broadcaster. Its role combines television distribution with public communication about agriculture and rural life. The channel gives national visibility to farming communities and rural development stories, while translating technical, economic, and social subjects into general-audience television. Publicly available reference material identifies the channel's launch history and program categories but does not provide enough information to establish individual executives, detailed audience metrics, financial performance, or subsequent ownership changes. On the available evidence, CCTV-17 remains an active specialist channel within the CCTV portfolio.
- 2019
Trial broadcasts begin
[1]CCTV-17 starts trial broadcasts on 1 August as a new dedicated outlet for agricultural and rural programming.
- 2019
Formal channel launch
[1]The channel officially launches on 23 September during celebrations associated with the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival.
- 2019
Agricultural programming moves from CCTV-7
[1]Agriculture-related programming previously carried by CCTV-7 is transferred to CCTV-17 as part of the television service reorganization.
Products and positioning
A national specialist television channel combining agricultural information, rural-development coverage, agricultural technology, countryside culture, and entertainment for audiences in China.
Agricultural and rural-affairs program
Jujiao Sannong
A program focused on agriculture, rural communities, and the three rural issues commonly associated with farming, villages, and rural residents. It represents CCTV-17's core informational and public-affairs role.
Agricultural business program
Zhi Fu Jing
A program centered on agricultural and rural business stories, economic opportunity, and ways in which people and communities pursue prosperity through countryside activities.
Agricultural technology program
Keji Lian
An agricultural science and technology program presenting the role of technology and innovation in farming and rural development. It reflects the channel's educational and practical-information remit.
Rural culture and entertainment
The Big Stage of Village
A village-oriented cultural entertainment format that gives rural performance, local talent, and countryside cultural expression a prominent place in the channel schedule.
Rural social program
Xiang Yue
A social and relationship-oriented program set in rural contexts. Its countryside setting extends CCTV-17's coverage beyond farming and policy information into everyday village life.
Human-interest program
Heroes Everywhere
A program highlighting notable people and stories from across the country, including individuals associated with rural communities and everyday public life.
Television drama strand
Rural Theatre
A schedule strand devoted to repeat broadcasts of television series, providing narrative entertainment within CCTV-17's broader rural-oriented programming environment.
Brand decisions
2019
Create a dedicated agriculture and rural-affairs channelStrategyBackground
Agricultural programming had previously been carried by CCTV-7, whose service was being reorganized.
Action taken
CCTV established CCTV-17 as a specialist free-to-air channel and moved agricultural programming to it.
Aftermath
The reorganization gave agriculture, rural development, village culture, and related entertainment a dedicated national television platform.
2019
Launch CCTV-17Product launchBackground
The new channel conducted trial broadcasts from 1 August 2019.
Action taken
CCTV formally launched the channel on 23 September 2019 in connection with the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival.
Aftermath
CCTV-17 became the dedicated CCTV outlet for agricultural and rural programming.
Recent events
- 2019
CCTV-17 begins trial broadcasts[1]
Product launch
The agriculture-focused CCTV channel started trial transmissions on 1 August 2019 ahead of its formal launch.
- 2019
CCTV-17 formally launches as a dedicated agriculture and rural channel[1]
Product launch
CCTV-17 officially launched on 23 September 2019, with the launch associated with celebrations for the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival and the transfer of agricultural programming from CCTV-7.
Sources4 sources
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