The percentage of people in China who can receive TV and radio broadcast increased to 95.81 in 2005 from 87.68 percent in 1997, Xinhua News Agency reports. China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television’s spokesman, Zhu Hong said 50 million Chinese, mostly in the rural areas, were unable to receive TV or radio broadcasts at the end of 2005, down from 148 million in 1997.
“The government invested RMB3.44 billion (US$430 million) over the last eight years in expanding radio and TV transmission to outlying areas. So far, 97 million people have benefited,” he said.
The percentage who could listen to radio programmes had risen to 94.48 percent from 86.02 percent. The project to transmit radio and television to all villages was launched in 1998 to keep rural people informed of government policies, current affairs and other information to raise living standards.
(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)
