China Media Group

China Media Group (CMG), formally known in Chinese as Central Radio and Television General Station, is the People's Republic of China's central state-controlled radio and television organization. It was established on 21 March 2018 during a broad reform of Party and state institutions. The reorganization brought together the country's principal national broadcasters: China Central Television (CCTV), China National Radio (CNR), and China Radio International (CRI). CCTV's international television operation, China Global Television Network (CGTN), became part of the consolidated structure as well. CMG combines domestic broadcasting, international media distribution, news gathering, cultural programming, sports coverage, entertainment, documentary production, and digital publishing. Its television portfolio includes the large CCTV family of general-interest, news, financial, sports, cultural, military, documentary, drama, children's, agricultural, and high-definition channels. Its radio operations are based largely on the former CNR network, which provides general news, business, music, traffic, regional, ethnic-minority, and Greater Bay Area services. Through CGTN and the international-language activities inherited from CRI, CMG also distributes television, radio, online video, and other content to audiences outside China. The group was created to consolidate national broadcasting resources and strengthen unified editorial, technical, and administrative coordination. In domestic China, CMG is a principal platform for official news, public information, national ceremonies, major political events, cultural showcases, and large-scale live broadcasts. Its output includes the long-running national evening news program Xinwen Lianbo, televised political coverage, public-service content, major sporting events, and the annual Spring Festival Gala. The organization also maintains production facilities, news bureaus, overseas operations, and digital platforms intended to extend its reach across television, radio, websites, mobile applications, and streaming services. CMG's international role is principally carried through CGTN, multilingual programming, overseas correspondents, and radio and digital services connected with CRI and CNR. The organization has described its international broadcasting mission in terms of presenting China's perspective and communicating Chinese culture and policy to foreign audiences. Independent observers commonly characterize CMG as a state-media or propaganda institution rather than an autonomous public-service broadcaster, because its governance and editorial direction are closely tied to the Communist Party's central publicity system and the Chinese state. The organization is headquartered in Beijing and serves both the domestic Chinese market and audiences worldwide. It is not a listed commercial media company and does not publish the type of standalone investor reporting normally associated with a public broadcaster or private media conglomerate. Shen Haixiong has led CMG since its formation as president and editor-in-chief. The group remains active and continues to expand integrated broadcasting, overseas distribution, high-definition and ultra-high-definition production, digital media, and technology-oriented initiatives.

China Media Group emerged from the 2018 restructuring of China's central broadcasting system. Before its creation, China Central Television, China National Radio, and China Radio International operated as separate national media organizations with distinct television, radio, international, and administrative functions. CCTV was the country's principal television network and also operated the international service that became associated with CGTN. CNR was the main national radio broadcaster, while CRI provided international radio programming in multiple languages. On 21 March 2018, authorities announced that these organizations would be unified as China Media Group as part of the deepening reform of Party and state institutions following the 13th National People's Congress. The consolidation was intended to place major national broadcasting assets under a common structure, reduce institutional fragmentation, coordinate production and distribution, and improve the country's ability to communicate domestically and internationally. Shen Haixiong was appointed president of the new organization on the same day. The group was subsequently inaugurated in Beijing. CMG inherited a large and diverse portfolio. The television side included the many CCTV channels serving general news, finance, sports, films, drama, documentary, culture, agriculture, science, children's programming, and other audiences. The radio side incorporated CNR's national frequency network, including news, business, music, regional, ethnic-minority, and special-area services. International operations included CGTN's television and digital channels as well as the multilingual radio and online services associated with CRI. The merged structure therefore functioned not simply as one television station, but as a broad national media system spanning terrestrial, satellite, radio, web, mobile, and streaming distribution. CMG's editorial and institutional position is closely connected with China's Party-state communication system. Reference sources describe it as directly controlled or supervised by the Central Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party, with links to the State Council and the National Radio and Television Administration. This governance model gives the organization a central role in disseminating official news and policy messages, broadcasting national political events, promoting Chinese culture, and shaping international presentations of China. For this reason, outside media researchers generally classify CMG as state media and frequently discuss it in the context of government communication and propaganda rather than independent journalism. Its domestic output includes the flagship evening news program Xinwen Lianbo, nationally televised ceremonies, public-information broadcasts, cultural programs, documentaries, entertainment, and extensive sports coverage. The annual Spring Festival Gala is among the group's most prominent productions and has become a major national television event. CMG also develops integrated digital platforms such as Yangshipin, enabling users to access live television, radio, short-form video, and on-demand programming through internet and mobile products. Internationally, CMG has sought to extend its reach through CGTN, multilingual content, overseas bureaus, regional offices, and cooperation with broadcasting organizations. The Asia-Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong, established in 2020 and formally inaugurated in 2023, illustrates this effort to coordinate regional reporting and production. CMG describes its foreign-facing role as presenting China's viewpoint and telling Chinese stories to global audiences, while external observers examine the same activity as part of China's international information and influence strategy. The organization remains active, headquartered in Beijing, and responsible for a substantial share of China's national radio and television infrastructure. It is a state-controlled public broadcasting institution rather than a listed commercial company. Its continuing development has focused on cross-platform distribution, ultra-high-definition production, integrated media operations, international broadcasting, and the use of emerging technologies in content creation and dissemination.

• 2023

  Asia-Pacific headquarters inaugurated

  [3]China Media Group's Asia-Pacific headquarters inauguratedabu.org.my

  CMG formally inaugurates its Asia-Pacific headquarters and production facilities in Hong Kong.

• 2020

  Asia-Pacific headquarters established in Hong Kong

  [3]China Media Group's Asia-Pacific headquarters inauguratedabu.org.my

  CMG establishes a regional headquarters in Hong Kong to coordinate reporting, broadcasting, and production across Asia-Pacific markets.

• 2018

  CMG is established

  [1]China Media Group - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  China announces the creation of China Media Group through the consolidation of CCTV, CNR, and CRI, with CGTN included in the resulting national broadcasting structure.

• 2018

  Shen Haixiong becomes president

  [8]Shen Haixiong becomes presidenten.wikipedia.org

  Shen Haixiong is appointed president of CMG at the time of its formation.

A centralized national broadcasting platform combining domestic public-information and cultural programming with international television, radio, and digital distribution. Its output is closely aligned with the communication priorities of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government.

• Television broadcasting

  CCTV television channels

  The CCTV portfolio forms CMG's principal domestic television operation. Its channels cover general programming, news, finance, sports, films, drama, documentaries, culture, science, military affairs, agriculture, children's content, and other specialist subjects. The network also includes high-definition and ultra-high-definition services and selected regional or overseas-oriented channels. Together, these services provide CMG with broad reach across China's television market and supply much of the group's live event and national-news output.

• International television and digital media

  China Global Television Network

  CGTN is CMG's principal international television and digital media operation. It distributes English-language and other multilingual news, current-affairs, documentary, cultural, and feature programming through global television channels, websites, applications, and social platforms. CGTN developed from CCTV's former international service and serves as a major vehicle for CMG's presentation of Chinese news and perspectives to audiences outside mainland China.

• Radio broadcasting

  China National Radio services

  The CNR component supplies CMG's domestic radio network. Its services include general news, business, music, regional and traffic programming, cultural content, ethnic-minority broadcasting, and channels focused on particular geographic or audience groups. CNR programming is distributed through traditional radio as well as online and mobile platforms, giving CMG a nationwide audio presence that complements its television operations.

• International radio and multilingual media

  China Radio International services

  CRI's inherited operations provide international radio and digital programming in multiple languages. The services cover news, current affairs, culture, language learning, and information about China for overseas audiences. Within CMG's integrated structure, this international audio capability works alongside CGTN's television and online services to extend the group's foreign-language distribution.

• Digital video and streaming

  Yangshipin

  Yangshipin, also known as CCTV Video, is CMG's digital video platform for live and on-demand television, radio, news, entertainment, cultural programming, and major event coverage. It represents the group's effort to connect its traditional broadcast assets with internet, mobile, and streaming consumption.

• Spring Festival Gala

  China · Worldwide

  CMG's annual Spring Festival Gala is a large-scale televised celebration combining music, comedy, dance, drama, technology, and cultural performances. It is produced for the Lunar New Year period and distributed through television and digital channels to domestic and overseas audiences.

  Outcome. The gala remains one of CMG's most prominent recurring cultural broadcasts and a major showcase for national television production.

  Source

• 2023

  Expansion of Asia-Pacific regional operationsStrategy

  Background

  CMG had established an Asia-Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong in 2020 as part of its regional broadcasting and production network.

  Action taken

  The organization formally inaugurated the headquarters and associated newsroom and production facilities in Hong Kong.

  Aftermath

  The regional center strengthened CMG's coordination of reporting and programming across Asia-Pacific markets.

  Source

• 2018

  Consolidation of China's central broadcastersM&A

  Background

  CCTV, CNR, and CRI had separate institutional structures despite their overlapping national broadcasting and international communication functions.

  Action taken

  The Party-state institutional reform created CMG as a unified organization encompassing the three broadcasters and the international television operation CGTN.

  Aftermath

  The consolidation produced a centralized national radio and television platform with coordinated domestic, international, digital, and live-event operations.

  Source

• 2023

  CMG opens Asia-Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong[3]China Media Group's Asia-Pacific headquarters inauguratedabu.org.my

  Other

  CMG inaugurated its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. The facility supports regional news gathering and program production and oversees the organization's operations across a broad group of Asia-Pacific markets.

• 2018

  China announces the formation of China Media Group[1]China Media Group - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  China announced the consolidation of CCTV, China National Radio, and China Radio International into a single national broadcasting organization during the reform of Party and state institutions. Shen Haixiong was named its president.

• 2018

  China Media Group inaugurated in Beijing[2]China Media Group inaugurationnews.cgtn.com

  Other

  An inauguration ceremony presented CMG as a unified broadcasting platform formed from CCTV, China Radio International, and China National Radio.

1. 1China Media Group - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2China Media Group inaugurationnews.cgtn.com
3. 3China Media Group's Asia-Pacific headquarters inauguratedabu.org.my
4. 4China Media Groupstatemediamonitor.com
5. 5China Media Group — Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6China Media Group overviewlingua-sinica.org
7. 7总台之声cctv.com
8. 8Shen Haixiong becomes presidenten.wikipedia.org
9. 9忠旺集团入选央视首批中国“榜样100品牌”finance.sina.com.cn