We look at three kinds of TV in China: state TV, TV that lives on ads, and streaming apps. One boss watches over all three.
The NRTA is a government office. It gives out licences, checks what goes on TV, and controls the airwaves.
One boss over all three kinds of TV.
China Media Group runs CCTV and CGTN. The state owns it. It makes news, culture and learning shows.
Channels from provinces like Hunan, Zhejiang and Jiangsu. They work like businesses and live on ads.
Tencent Video, iQiyi, Youku, Mango TV and Bilibili. You pay, or you watch ads.
Beijing TV starts regular broadcasts. It later becomes CCTV.
It is renamed China Central Television as China opens up.
A new rule lets many local stations open.
Provincial channels go on satellite. TV that sells ads grows fast.
The government creates the NRTA and forms China Media Group.
Streaming and short dramas beat normal TV. TV moves onto apps.
The government owns all of it. It works under the State Council and the Party's publicity office.
In March 2018, CCTV, China National Radio and China Radio International joined into one group: CMG.
From the state budget and from ads. There is no licence fee like in Europe.
51 TV channels, 19 radio channels, and shows in 85 languages.
Everyone in China. People abroad too, through CGTN in over 200 countries.
To inform, teach and bring people together. It guides public opinion. It is not made to sell.
News, learning, culture and national unity.
It shows China's face to the world in many languages.
Provinces or cities own them, but they run like businesses to make money.
Hunan TV's company, Mango Excellent Media, is listed in Shenzhen as 300413.
Ads, sponsors and selling shows. No money from the state budget.
The market: more viewers, more ad money, more members.
Big crowds. They also chase young people, women and smaller groups.
Fun shows, reality shows and dramas. Entertainment is the product.
Mango Excellent Media made 13.81 billion yuan. Its Mango TV app made 11.17 billion yuan.
Members paid 4.65 billion yuan. Ads brought 3.83 billion yuan. 75.6 million paying members at year end.
The class asks four questions: who owns it, where does the money come from, who watches, and what must it do. This table answers all four, for all three.
| Question | State TV (CMG) | Ad-funded TV (provinces) | Streaming (apps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who owns it | The government, under the State Council | Provinces own them, but they run like businesses | Mostly private tech firms: Tencent, Alibaba, Baidu. Mango TV is owned by a broadcaster |
| Where money comes from | State budget and ads. No licence fee | Ads, sponsors and selling shows | Both: you pay, or you watch ads |
| Who watches | Everyone in China, plus the world through CGTN | Big crowds, young people, smaller groups | Young people on phones, with special tastes |
| What it must do | Inform, teach, unite. Show China's face abroad | Entertain, win viewers, make money | Give any show, any time. The app picks for you |
Tencent Video, iQiyi, Youku, Mango TV and Bilibili. Free short-drama apps like Hongguo too.
You pay, or you watch ads. They are also moving into other countries.
Young people on phones, with special tastes. They watch on phones, tablets and smart TVs.
Give any show, at any time. The app picks shows for you.
Short videos and short dramas now take the most viewing time. They are changing long shows.
In 2025, 31 Chinese apps were in the world's top 100 by downloads. About half were short-drama apps.
All three now sit on the same screen. They fight for your time, but each one still follows its own rules about owners and money.
Everyone in China, plus the world through CGTN.
Inform, teach and unite the country.
News, culture and guidance.
News is for everyone, not for sale.
A sharper picture, and more growth abroad.
Big crowds, families and young people.
Entertain and win the most viewers.
Variety shows, reality shows and drama.
Viewers, ads and members.
Moving closer to streaming: memberships and selling show formats.
Young people on phones, with special tastes.
Give any show, at any time.
Personal, picked by the app.
Members and ads.
Short dramas, AI-made shows and growth abroad.
Normal TV, online video and short video now all live on one screen.
Short dramas now take more daily viewing time than long shows: 129 minutes a day per person.
The NRTA is fixing confusing paid plans, checking content, and rolling out sharper TV in 2025.
Chinese apps and short-drama apps are among the most downloaded in the world.
Fewer people pay for long-video members. So apps want more money per user and use AI to make shows.
A big state TV tier and ad-funded provincial channels. Streaming now beats both on screen.
All three sit under one office, the NRTA. But they differ in owners, money, viewers and jobs.
Tencent Video, iQiyi, Mango TV, Youku and Bilibili, plus short-drama apps. You pay or watch ads. Young people lead. It is going global.