Shanghai Media Group and the Shanghai unit of China Telecom have launched the country's first commercial Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) service in two districts of Shanghai, China's biggest city.
BesTV will expand to the entire city by mid-2006.
SMG will supervise and control content on the network. The two groups will share the income. BesTV features 50 live broadcast channels and 1,000 hours of skeins, including interactive shopping, Internet access, online games, sports, weather and traffic reports. Programming is expected to expand to 3,000-5,000 hours early next year. Subscribers will pay a promotional rate of 30 yuan ($3.70) a month until March, when the rate will double.
SMG is China's second-biggest media group, but the launch of BesTV has given it a head start on national broadcaster China Central TV in expanding into the new medium.
DEREK ELLEY LONDON
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