Speech at CCBN2011 Keynote Speech Conference
- CCBN 2011 Keynote Speech Conference
(March 22, 2011)
Tian Jin

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

As we raise the curtain on CCBN 2011, on behalf of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and Mr. Cai Fuchao, Vice Minister of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee and President of SARFT, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations on the opening of CCBN 2011, together with a warm welcome to exhibitors from home and abroad, to fellow colleagues and to friends from all walks of life. Please let me express our sincere gratitude for your contribution to the prosperous development of China's radio, film and television industry.
The 18-year history of CCBN has witnessed great development in the radio and television industry: expanded scale, innovative ideas and continuously improving appeal. This year is the 19th anniversary of CCBN, which has attracted more than 1,000 enterprises and institutions from 30 countries and regions and hit a new record high. CCBN has developed into the largest radio and television technology and equipment exhibition in the Asia-Pacific Region and evolved into an important platform for publishing industry policies, displaying the latest technology developments and facilitating international exchange. I sincerely hope that CCBN will continue to play its role of bringing far-flung interests together and thereby contributing  to the healthy development of China's radio and television industry.
With "innovation, convergence, and service" as the core concept, CCBN2011's  themes of "promoting Three Network Convergence and the future development of radio, television and telecommunications" accurately hits the target, complies with the requirements of the CPC committee and meets the needs of the masses, but also is consistent with development trend of information technology and the objective law of radio and television industry development. In recent years, with the rapid development of science and technology and accelerated economic globalization, information transmission has undergone significant changes, from one form to multiple forms, from resource monopoly to the sharing of resources, from proprietary to open systems. It is against such a backdrop that telecommunication, radio and television and the Internet converge. The so-called Three Network Convergence refers to the fact that the three networks tend to have consistent technical features and the same business scope while they develop gradually to broadband telecommunication, digital radio and television and NGB. The networks are interconnected with shared resources and can provide users with audio, data and radio & television along with other services. Therefore, Three Network Convergence has become a vital channel to achieve "innovation, convergence, and service" in the information culture industry, representing the future development direction of information and cultural industries including radio and television. Three Network Convergence occupies the high ground of development and aims to satisfy the needs of the people. In this sense, Three Network Convergence with Chinese characteristics is an important embodiment of the implementation of Scientific Outlook of Development.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Under the guidance of Scientific Outlook of Development, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have grasped the trend of global information industry development in a scientific manner and made the major strategic decision of Three Network Convergence based on the national conditions of China in an effort to nurture cultural industries to be a pillar industry to the national economy. Therefore, we must pay close attention to it.
1. The State Council and CPC Central Committee attach great importance to Three Network Convergence which will be incorporated into the new-period national development strategies as an important part.
China is early in understanding and proposing three networks convergence. In the face of the development trend of economic globalization and global informatization, the Central Committee, on the basis of the study on the situation and scientific decision-making, clearly brought up Three Network Convergence in the 16th and 17th National People's Congress and included it in the national "Tenth Five-Year Plan" and "Eleventh Five-Year Plan". The State Council held the 60th Executive Meeting on April 29, 2009 to push forward Three Network Convergence into a fast track. Thanks to the organization and coordination of the State Council, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and SARFT jointly formed the team to initiate the drafting of the overall program for three networks convergence. After much discussion and revision, consensus was finally reached on a number of major issues. Premier Wen Jiabao chaired the 97th State Council executive meeting on January 13, 2010 and approved Overall Program of Three Networks Convergence, based on which Pilot Program was drafted, and pressed and issued by the State Council on June 9, 2010. On the principle of voluntary reporting by the people's governments of provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities),the first batch of 12 pilot areas (cities) were identified in accordance with the requirements and approved by the State Council Coordination Group of Three Networks Convergence. The General Office of the State Council officially announced the list on June 30, 2010. Later, under the leadership of the people's governments of provinces (cities), such pilot areas (cities) developed implementation plans, and went all out for preparation. By then, Three Network Convergence had entered into a substantive stage. The Twelfth Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development which was passed in the just-concluded 4th Session of the 11th NPC clearly requires the promotion of the cultural industry  in an effort to make it a pillar industry of the national economy, and demands for the convergence of telecom, radio and TV, and Internet networks to build broadband, convergent and secure next-generation national information infrastructure. Therefore, conscientious implementation of the deployment of the CPC Central Committee to accelerate network convergence is a vital task in the current and future economic and social development as well as for the radio and television system.
2. Accelerate the convergence of three networks based on the priority of development and promote the country's political, economic, cultural and social development.
The convergence of three networks is conducive to the rapid elevation of the national information level, and thereby promotes innovation and application of information technology. The convergence of three networks is the inevitable trend of modern information technology convergence, the internal needs of further development of modern information industry, and the urgent requirement of national economic and social informatization. Relative to the general technology industry, the information technology and information industry is highly innovative, penetrative and of great driving force. The convergence of three networks is an important measure to improve comprehensively the information level and is conducive to the innovation and application of information technology, and better involvement in global information technology competition and occupation of the high ground of future information technology. It also helps to push ahead industrialization and modernization by means of informatization, to promote economic restructuring and industrial structure upgrading, to rapidly elevate the national information level, which thereby will be good for building an innovative country, and further enhancing the strategic role of the information level in economic and social development.
The convergence of three networks is beneficial to innovating the mode and expanding the scope of information dissemination, and therefore promoting prosperity and development of Chinese culture. The convergence of three networks changes the mode of transmission and results in new needs, new services and new models. It gives birth to a variety of transmission means, receiving terminals and business forms, and imposes revolutionary impact on information dissemination concepts including radio and television, production, business forms, service modes and institutional mechanisms. The convergence of three networks will help to stimulate publicity innovation and business innovation and promote the digital and network dissemination of good audio and video products. By virtue of new technologies, it will help broaden information dissemination channels, enrich information content, improve the efficiency of information dissemination, enhance service effectiveness, and boost and safeguard Chinese culture.
The convergence of three networks is conducive to development of related industries, and helps foster new economic growth and satisfy the diversified needs of the people. Promoting the convergence of three networks is the top priority of cultivating strategic emerging industries and of great significance for transforming economic development patterns and optimizing industrial structure. The convergence of three networks can push ahead the development of information services, electronics manufacturing, the software industry and other related industries, and plays a great driving and supporting role for the financial, education, medical and health industries. It will help break monopolies and introduce competition, and by means of business and technology innovation, provide consumers with diversified products and better service at lower prices and greater convenience, in an effort to meet the increasingly diverse demands of people's production and living services. Thus, the convergence of three networks will stimulate domestic consumption and give birth to new economic growth. The convergence of three networks can also promote the development of the Internet and of the Connected Home.
It should be noted that Three Network Convergence is neither triple play, nor mutual replacement of networks, but refers to the business integration of three networks. Each network is able to carry out a variety of businesses and users can make a phone call via cable TV, get into broadband Internet, and watch TV via the telecom network. Basic networks will long exist, both  for historical reasons and for the sake of development. The convergence of three networks is  gradual and progressive, which should be fully understood.
3. Draw experiences from abroad in a scientific manner and firmly grasp global information industry trends based on the overall situation at home and abroad.
The convergence of three networks results from the rapid development of information technology and network technology and is new and important to countries around the world. To meet the trend of technological development, European, Asian and other countries have studied a variety of ways to promote Three Network Convergence as early as the 1990s. 
From the foreign perspective, the United States and many European countries have completed the CATV network digital two-way transformation in terms of broadcasting and television, and make CATV network an ideal vehicle for information superhighway by relying on the bandwidth advantages. In addition to hundreds of TV shows and dozens of high-definition TV programs, the U.S. CATV network also provides telephone and broadband Internet services. Almost half of broadband users in the United States have access to Internet services through CATV. About a quarter of CATV subscribers in Europe make phone calls and get broadband Internet access through CATV networks. From the perspective of the United States and Europe, CATV network based broadband Internet services and telephone services have attracted a considerable number of users and enjoy an increase in market share year after year. CATV network companies have become an important provider of both types of services.
In terms of telecommunication, telecommunication companies in the United States, Europe and other countries and regions are working on the comprehensive upgrading of existing networks,   including the creation of fiber networks to promote the convergence of three networks. Some telecom companies are starting to provide triple services, that is, the operator in the same or different networks provide users with telephone, television and Internet services under the same brand.
The Internet as an open network connection system is not just dependent on a specific type of physical network. It can support the telecom network and the broadcasting network. Due to technical constraints in the early stage, there was a time when the Internet could only provide simple texts and pictures, but now it is able to send quality audio and video information. With the rapid development of broadband technology and extensive application of optical fiber, the quality of audio, data and video service provided through next-generation Internet will be further improved.
In foreign countries, the basic approaches to promote the Three Network Convergence are as follows:
First, strengthen legislation and promote the adoption of policies. The United States, Britain and the European Union have gradually introduced or revised laws to adapt to the needs of electronic communications technology and industrial development, boosting Three Network Convergence from a legal perspective.
Second, restrain monopoly, and maintain a fair environment for competition. Based on separation of new competitors from dominant operators, regulatory authorities in the above mentioned countries perform asymmetric regulation. They focus on preventing dominant operators from taking advantage of their controlling position to limit competitors, to abuse their market power, or to monopolize, undermining fair competition and public interest. Meanwhile, new competitors are given policy support to have a level playing field as soon as possible.
Third, recognize differences and carry out segregated supervision. Although telecommunications and broadcasting have ceased to be isolated from each other thanks to Three Network Convergence, both of their independent intrinsic properties and operation rules still exist. Because the former is a completely market-oriented and important economic sector, while the latter has distinct binary values of cultural and economic characteristics, these countries have taken full account of the differences in the intrinsic properties of both industries when formulating regulatory policies. Many countries carry out segregated supervisions, providing different access conditions and implementing different regulatory measures.
Fourth, implement the Three Network Convergence in a step-by-step manner. The United States and European countries did not accomplish Three Network Convergence in a one-step manner. Since the mid 1990s, they have adhered to the step-by-step principle for over a decade. According to technological development and changes in market conditions, these countries constantly carried out institutional innovation, adjustment and improvement of relevant policies and regulations, actively fostered market players and competitors, and strengthened legislation to reinforce supervision, and gradually established a fair and orderly market environment with a competitive pattern.
Overall, in the information era, people around the world are hoping to get more access to information channels, to get voice, data, video and other services simultaneously, and to flexibly achieve customization and combination of various businesses. The customers' objective demands have created a broad market and have become the original driving force for Three Network Convergence. Meanwhile, the rapid development of high-technology pertaining to communications, digital, IP and software has enabled telecommunications networks, radio and television networks and the Internet to carry voice, data and video signals for transmission, laying a solid technical foundation for Three Network Convergence.
In terms of domestic development, broadcasting, television and telecommunications institutions have carried out some positive explorations in recent years. China has accelerated the transformation of telecommunications network into broadband, gradually transmitting television programs to household users. China has significantly sped up the digitalization and two-way transition of the cable TV network, which has laid a good foundation for the cable TV network to participate in Three Network Convergence. In recent years, enterprises of broadcasting, television and telecommunications in some cities have taken the lead in taking tests on access of Internet TV, IPTV, mobile TV, CMMB, cable TV and Internet, which were popular among the people, resulting in positive economic and social benefits. This has accumulated useful experience in promoting Three Network Convergence on a larger scale and higher levels. In terms of network infrastructure and market space, China has basically met the technology conditions for further development of Three Network Convergence, and is in a crucial period to promote it.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
In order to actively and steadily promote Three Network Convergence, we must comprehensively implement the spirit of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, explore how to establish a Three Network Convergence model in line with China's national conditions, and take the road with Chinese characteristics.
1. We must adhere to Chinese characteristics as well as to the general idea of"two obedience, one respect", so as to ensure the correct orientation of Three Network Convergence. Overall and pilot plans promoted by the State Council are the policy basis and starting point, whose spirit is embodied in the following two aspects:
First, we must adhere to Three Network Convergence with Chinese characteristics."Probing for a Three Network Convergence model in line with China's national conditions and taking the road with Chinese characteristics" are the essence of the two plans promoted by the State Council. China's national conditions are different from those in Western countries, so are media policies and network development, these mean that China cannot copy other countries' models, but can only go our own way. The most important element of "Chinese characteristics" is to uphold the right direction of public opinions, to stick to the integration of economic and social benefits, with emphasis on social benefits, to insist that radio, film and television departments are responsible for the integrated broadcast platform of IPTV and mobile TV, and to ensure cultural security, information safety and social stability.
Second, we must adhere to the general idea of"two obedience, one respect" to promote Three Network Convergence. This requires us pursue obedience to national interests, and obedience to the people's interests, and to respect scientific laws. Based on the overall national situation and the people's interests, we should properly handle relationships between short- and long-term interests, between departmental interests and national interests along with the people's interests. We should uphold that short-term interests are subject to long-term interests, and departmental interests to national interests and the people's interests. We must perform in the light of scientific laws.
According to the spirits above, in the process of promoting Three Network Convergence, we must accurately grasp and fully implement the series of instructions from the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Based on China's national conditions and the people's fundamental interests, we must vigorously promote two-way access between the broadcasting industry and the telecommunications industry, speed up upgrading network and information technology innovation, and intensify training and establishing qualified market players. We will also build an appropriate competitive industrial pattern, and strengthen laws and regulations as well as policy system, with a push for institutional innovation, promoting the coordinated development of information industry, culture industry and social undertakings. We should strengthen and improve network and information management, consummate a management system for cultural publicity, so as to ensure internet, information and cultural security. We should enhance overall planning, focus on long-term development, and track international advanced technologies, in order to determine a reasonable, advanced and suitable technical route. We should steadily promote network construction, business applications, industrial development, supervision and management, explore the establishment of a Three Network Convergence model in line with China's national conditions, and take the road with Chinese characteristics. We should continue to meet the growing material and cultural needs of the people, and strive to improve the quality and standard of living, and promote the sound and rapid economic and social development.
2. We need to grasp the five basic principles, so as to ensure smooth implementation of Three Network Convergence. According to the requirements by the overall and pilot plans, the successful Three Network Convergence entails the following five basic principles:
First, we should strengthen our confidence, and actively and steadily perform the Convergence. The Three Network Convergence is of great significance and is imperative. With basic conditions, we must unswervingly carry it forward to achieve tangible results as soon as possible. We also need to completely envision possible difficulties, to have courage to tackle tough problems, to step up reform of systems and mechanisms, to do all the work in an in-depth and detailed manner, and to actively and steadily organize and implement plans.
Second, focus should be highlighted and pilot plans should be implemented. Three Network Convergence involves a wide range of stakeholders, especially people's life and work, so any anxiety about success should be averted during specific implementation. We should focus on two-way access by the broadcasting and telecommunications industries,  foster qualified market players and upgrade the network. In accordance with requirements of"easier issues come before harder ones, pilot plans go first, push forward step by step, and solidify work results", the promotion work should be planned in a step-by-step manner to ensure substantive progress.
Third, co-ordinate planning and resource sharing. The construction and upgrading of transmission networks of communications and broadcasting should be included into the construction range of national critical information infrastructure, with overall planning and scientific proof. Policy support for their construction should be strengthened to achieve interconnection and resource sharing, and to improve network utilization and avoid duplicated construction.
Fourth, segregate supervision but achieve common development. In accordance with their respective functions, departments of the broadcasting sector and of the telecommunications sector should separately fulfill their supervisory duties on relevant enterprises, but jointly safeguard fair and orderly market environment. Enterprises of both sectors should be encouraged to conduct cooperation, to complement each other and to achieve common development.
Fifth, we must strengthen management and safeguard security. We need practical implementation of management on network information security and cultural security, improve and perfect the regulatory approach, and strengthen inter-sector cooperation, so as to ensure network, information and cultural security.
3. We must ensure Three Network Convergence is put in place, according to the requirements of the overall objectives and major tasks. In accordance with the plan, its overall goal is this: By 2015, China will have achieved convergence of the telecommunication network, broadcast and television network and the Internet, with constantly emerging information products and services; there will be a substantial increase in network utilization, with significantly reinforced scientific and technological innovation; the national economy and social information will be enhanced by leaps and bounds, so will network information security and cultural security; the information industry, the cultural industry and social undertakings will obtain further development; with more abundant socialist culture, people will have more diverse, efficient, economic services regarding culture and information.
According to the general goal of Three Network Convergence, there are mainly four tasks:
The first task is to promote the two-way access between the Radio and TV broadcasting industry and the telecommunications industry. That is, companies and units of the two industries carry out related business, in accordance with the business scope of two-way access provided in the overall program and pilot programs. Qualified radio and television companies can operate value-added telecommunications services in the light of their basic telecommunications services, based on Internet access services, value-added services of Internet data transmission as well as domestic IP phone business provided by cable television network. Radio, film and television departments are responsible for an integrated broadcast platform of IPTV and mobile TV, which also should be under the guidance of the publicity department. Under the supervision of relevant departments, eligible state-owned telecommunications enterprises can be engaged in production of radio and television programs except current event politics, signal transmission of the Internet audio-visual programs, rebroadcasting audio-visual program services concerning current event politics, public Internet audio-visual programming services outside broadcast radio and television stations, IPTV transmission services and mobile TV distribution services.
The second task is to strengthen the network construction, transformation and coordinated planning. Broadcasting and TV system focuses on accelerating the construction and integration of cable, digital TV network, and promotes two-way, digital upgrade and transformation of the network, with intensified training and setting up of qualified market players, along with formation of a national cable TV network corporation. This will help achieve unified planning, unified construction, unified operation and unified management for the national network company, building an appropriate competitive industrial pattern. Telecommunications systems focus on promoting and speeding up construction of broadband telecommunications network, and give robust impetus to urban fiber connections into households; according to different local conditions, the systems also expand broadband network coverage in rural areas, and improve its technological level and operational carrying capacity. Meanwhile, we should strengthen coordinated planning and sharing of broadcast and TV networks as well as telecommunications networks, and develop operational methods; make full use of the existing information infrastructure, and give full play to all kinds of networks and transmission advantages, avoiding duplication, so as to achieve efficient utilization of network resources. The network constructions consistent with overall planning and sharing requirements should be included in urban and rural development planning, land use planning and national investment plans.
The third task is to enhance supervision on the information security and cultural security of the Internet. Management responsibilities for information security and cultural security of the Internet must be effectively put in place. In accordance with the principle of locality management, responsibilities lie with the leading department, with the operator, with the vetting supervisory institution, and with the builder of networks. In this way, the systems for ensuring information and cultural security should be further improved. With effective implementation of safety regulatory responsibilities, information security and cultural security of the network shall be protected. Reliant on technological progress, we must improve management capabilities, so as to provide supports for information security and cultural security of the Internet.
The fourth task is to effectively promote industrial development. We should vigorously develop emerging industries, make innovations in industry forms and marketing models, and promote the rapid development of cultural industry, information content industry, information service industry and other modern service industries. We should strengthen the R&D and manufacture of information technology products, strive to make breakthroughs in a number of core technologies necessary for Three Network Convergence. We also should accelerate the R&D of integrated circuits, software, key components, and other basic products, develop two-way digital TV, multimedia terminals, intelligent household appliances and other applications, promote the R&D and industrialization of broadband information technology products, and coordinate the development of the upper and lower parts of the industry chain. We should make more efforts to establish national standards satisfying the demand for the Three Network Convergence, and in the process of setting standards, we should give priority to the ensuring network information security and cultural security.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
As one of the main participating bodies in Three Network Convergence, the radio, film and television departments should be under the guidance of the general principle of"obedience to the interests of China and the people, and respecting scientific laws". In future work, we will strive to grasp the main direction, highlight focus, enhance security, strengthen management, and further promote the Three Network Convergence in a solid manner.
SARFT attaches great importance to Three Network Convergence, and has actively promoted and seriously implemented it, in line with the overall program and pilot programs by the State Council. Since 2010, we have focused on the following work. First, we have stepped up the construction of a national integrated broadcast control and monitoring system for IPTV and mobile TV with unified planning, unified standards, unified organization, and unified management. Second, we have geared up the integration, digitization and two-way transition of cable TV networks, as well as the construction of Next Generation Broadcasting (NGB). Third, we have actively prepared to set up the China Radio and Television Network Company. Four, we have actively made preparations for the pilot project of access into two-way transition.
In the current and imminent periods, nation-wide radio, film and television departments will regard it as an important task to progress Three Network Convergence, and also the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the Seventeenth Party Congress and the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan". In accordance with the general principle of"Three Network Convergence with Chinese characteristics" and"Subject to national interests and to the peoples' interests, and respect for scientific laws", all relevant departments will seriously implement all the specific tasks prescribed by the overall plan and pilot plans of the Three Network Convergence, fulfill all duties in a solid manner and ensure the smooth progress of Three Network Convergence. We will continue to focus on the following aspects of work:
1. Directed by the Three Network Convergence, efforts shall be made to balance the development of traditional and new media and enhance content innovation with greater focus on new business models and services. Currently, the development of radio, film and television in China has entered into a new stage with program-making and broadcasting capacity reaching a new record. A total of 3,895 radio and television programs, 178 paid radio and television programs and 16 HDTV programs are being broadcast in China. Annually broadcast radio and TV programs reach 12.27 million hours and 15.78 million hours respectively. In 2010, TV series production capacity in China reached 14,000 episodes, ranking No.1 in the world. With a total of 526 films produced in 2010, China now ranks in the world top 3. Film and TV cartoon production capacity reached 220,000 minutes, a 4-fold increase over that of 2005. In the meanwhile, we must be fully aware that integrated development of traditional and new media represents the inevitable trend for radio, film and TV development in future. To make arduous efforts in developing content & creative industries and improving program quality is a must for enhancing the core competitiveness of the radio, film and TV industry. Aiming at consolidating and expanding our propaganda stronghold, enhancing our capacity to guide public opinion and meet people's demand, we should focus more on the development of new media and attach greater importance to ¡®enriched content and enhanced quality'. Efforts shall be made in pushing the integrated development of media. Priority shall be given to IPTV and the construction and management of mobile TV integrated broadcasting and controlling platform so as to facilitate the development of network radio &TV and mobile multimedia radio & TV. New business models and services such as HDTV, on-demand video, on-line payment, video inter-exchange and comprehensive information enquiry shall be actively promoted so as to meet the ever-increasing, diversified and multi-tier spiritual and cultural demand of the people.
Earnest efforts shall be made in establishing and managing the IPTV and mobile TV integrated broadcasting and controlling platforms. IPTV and mobile TV integrated broadcasting and controlling platforms are a new media business for radio and TV stations. In line with requirements contained in the planning for Three Network Convergence, radio and TV broadcasting agencies shall be responsible for integration of programs, broadcasting supervision, electronic program guidance, management of user end, fees, copyrights and so on. Among them, management of user end and fee payment shall be decided by the relevant cooperative parties. Telecom companies can provide programs and EPG items. After being censored by radio and TV broadcasting agencies, these programs and EPG items can be included into source of program and EPG. Under the precondition of broadcasting safety, radio and TV broadcasting agencies and telecom companies can explore multi-modes of cooperation so as to bring their respective advantages and initiative into full play.
In order to implement the requirements on IPTV and mobile TV integrated broadcasting and controlling platform contained in the comprehensive planning and pilot planning on Three Network Convergence, the SARFT formulated and issued the Notice on the Construction of IPTV Integrated Broadcasting and Controlling Platform in Pilot Area for Three Network Convergence (SARFT¡²2010¡³No.344) and the Notice on the Construction, Operation and Management of Mobile TV Integrated Broadcasting and Controlling Platform (SARFT¡²2010¡³No.74 ) in July, 2010, in which specific requirements were put forward on the construction, operation and management of platforms.
In the No.344 notice, in line with the comprehensive planning and pilot planning, the SARFT makes it clear that the CCTV (more specifically CNTV) shall, together with local TV stations, be responsible for the construction of IPTV platform in line with the principle of unified planning, standards, organization and management. Meanwhile, CCTV and the consortium by CCTV and local TV stations shall collectively negotiate and sign agreements with telecom companies responsible for IPTV transmission in line with the principle of unified brand, call signal, planning & negotiation and classified operation. A unified call signal shall be adopted and classified operation and management model shall be implemented for the overall platform and branch platform for IPTV integrated broadcast and control. With approval from the SARFT, the IPTV integrated broadcast and control platform already established by Shanghai Media Group shall improve its operation & management system and technical structure in line with the No. 344 Notice and shall continue to operate. Currently, 12 pilot cities and regions have basically established their branch platform for IPTV broadcast and control and realized inter-connection with the overall platform, laying a solid foundation for Three Network Convergence on a trial basis.
As for the construction of mobile TV platforms, during the pilot period of Three Network Convergence, radio and TV broadcasting agencies which have obtained mobile TV integrated broadcast and control licenses from SARFT shall reform and improve their established platform in line with the requirements of Three Network Convergence. During this process, these radio and TV broadcasting agencies should strengthen cooperation and share resources.
The development of network radio and TV should be accelerated. In recent years, internet video and audio programs have witnessed rapid development. To date, SARFT has approved the operation of 598 internet video and audio program service agencies. In view of the reality of network radio and TV stations in various localities, in May 2010, the SARFT formulated and issued the Notice on Operating Network Radio and TV Stations (the SARFT 2010 No. 43). This notice makes clear their business nature, operation requirements and registration procedures and supports eligible radio and TV broadcasting agencies in operating network radio and TV stations. Currently, a total of 11 network radio and TV stations including CNTV has been approved. On one hand, we actively encourage mainstream media and radio & TV stations to operate network radio and TV stations with the CNTV, China National Broadcasting Network, China International Broadcasting Network and China Film Network playing a leading role and developing their own brands. On the other hand, we actively support internet video and audio program service agencies in conducting their business legally and expanding their operation. Earnest efforts have been made in strengthening broadcasting and copyright management of internet video and audio programs in a bid to boost its sound and healthy development.
The development of mobile multimedia broadcasting should be expedited. Currently, China Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting has covered 331 cities in China and broadcasts many sets of TV programs. It can be said that a unified operation system has been established. In the next phase, firstly, its coverage should be further expanded in order to meet ever-increasing demand. Secondly, the width and depth of its coverage should be further enhanced so as to extend the coverage from municipal level to county level. In-depth coverage of important locations and indoor coverage should be enhanced. Thirdly, efforts shall be stepped up in developing new technology and new business so as to enrich program content and innovate business models. More efforts shall be made in promoting new business and service in this regard shall be constantly improved.
New business models and services shall be actively developed. One of the important tasks of Three Network Convergence is to fully adopt integration technology and put more emphasis on content and business model innovation. Special attention should be paid to the development of new business with new techniques in order to meet the personal and diversified demand of the masses. Hence we should focus on guidance on creation and production. The content and creative industries should be developed vigorously. Greater efforts shall be made in developing diversified services such as HDTV, on-demand video, on-line payment, video inter-exchange, leisure games, internet education and comprehensive information enquiry. Meanwhile, in line with requirements of the comprehensive and pilot planning of Three Network Convergence, relevant telecom business can be conducted at radio and TV networks. Through new business development, we should build radio and TV networks into information networks providing multiple comprehensive services including video service.
2. With digitalization as the priority, technology innovation should be enhanced and digitalization of radio and TV stations should be expedited. Two-way transformation and digitalization of the cable networks should be accelerated and piloting of next generation broadcasting network should be expanded. Progress in technology forms the basis of Three Network Convergence. In promoting Three Network Convergence in radio and TV networks, digitalization is crucial. Various radio and TV administration departments should enhance their sense of urgency, responsibility and mission and further push forward technology innovation so as to promote digitalization of radio, film and TV industry.
Digitalization and network of radio and TV stations should be further accelerated in a bid to improve their program making and broadcasting capacity. In 2010, radio and TV broadcasting agencies in China made and broadcast various programs totaling 6.72 million hours, of which TV programs account 2.65 million hours. Currently, work should be done in the following 4 aspects with a view of improving program making and broadcasting and management. Firstly, on the basis that central and provincial stations have basically realized digitalization and network operation, efforts shall be geared to digital and network transformation of vice provincial and municipal radio and TV stations across the country. By the year of 2015, digitalization and network operation for all programs making and broadcasting shall basically become true. Secondly, capacity building for HDTV making and broadcasting should be expedited. This year, we shall try to realize 100% HD broadcasting ratio and 100% synchronized high and standard definition broadcasting ratio for all synchronized high and standard definition channels. Eligible TV stations shall be encouraged to operate HD broadcasting channels. By the year of 2015, HD shall be realized in most channels of TV stations at prefecture level and above. Thirdly, a comprehensive program making and broadcasting system facing multiple broadcasting platforms and multiple user ends should be established at an earlier date so as to provide cross-network, cross-platform and cross-system radio and TV program services. Efforts shall be made in turning radio and TV stations into on-demand platform and ports so as to bring the repertoire of various stations into full play. Fourthly, content copyright management and service systems for digital radio, film and TV programs should be improved. Starting from IPTV digital copyright management systems, a digital copyright management system for radio, film and TV programs should be established corresponding to multiple broadcasting platforms.
Two-way transformation and digitalization of cable radio and TV networks should be accelerated. Inter-connection and upgrading of various networks should be pushed forward. Construction of next generation broadcasting network should be promoted. By the end of last year, optical fiber cable trunk lines for cable TV in China reached 3.33 million kilometers with cable TV users reaching 187 million. Among them, digital TV users amount to 87.99 million and two-way coverage users amount to nearly 50 million. By the end of this year, no efforts shall be spared in realizing two-way network coverage in large and medium-sized cities in China. By 2015, cable radio and TV networks in cities above the county level shall realize full digitalization and 80% of them shall basically realize two-way coverage. In the meanwhile, construction of business dispatch and exchange platforms and operational support management systems should be expedited so as to promote inter-connection and resource sharing among various cable networks in China. Unified planning, construction, operation and management shall be gradually realized among various cable networks in China. This year, inter-connection and resource sharing among cable networks shall be realized in 12 piloting cities in the first place so as to standardize the norms, settlement and management and enjoy the benefit of economies of scale and intensive management. Construction of pilot zones for next generation broadcasting networks should be conducted at the same time.
3. Network information security and supervision over cultural security should be strengthened so as to ensure that relevant content broadcast is controllable, manageable and safe. Safety and security is the basis of and precondition for smooth Three Network Convergence. In the process of promoting Three Network Convergence, we must safeguard national cultural and information security. Various radio and TV administration departments should fully recognize the importance of Three Network Convergence and information security, earnestly perform their supervision duties, vigorously conduct localized management and ensure cultural and information security through the whole process of Three Network Convergence. Relevant security supervision agencies and systems should be established and improved. IPTV and mobile TV should be included into the scope of broadcast management. Relevant requirements in the comprehensive and pilot planning on program integration, making and broadcasting by radio and TV stations and program transmission & distribution by telecom companies should be implemented. Efforts should be made to ensure that IPTV and mobile TV integrated broadcasting and controlling platforms have control over program sources and ensure the safety and security of program content and transmission in a bid to safeguard the video and audio rights of the masses and promote sound and healthy development of Three Network Convergence.
4. With a focus on system establishment, system and institutional innovation should be expedited. Integration of cable TV networks shall be stepped up. Interaction between radio & TV stations and networks should be strengthened. Effective modes for Three Network Convergence should be explored. Being a pioneering undertaking, Three Network Convergence shall break the traditional segmentation in radio and TV industry and bring revolutionary impact on radio and TV industry in terms of transmission notions, means of production, business models, service, management, system and institution. On the basis of thorough studies, efforts shall be made in establishing and improving management policies and systems suitable to China's reality. System and institutional innovation should be further accelerated so as to inject more vitality into this area.
Integration of cable TV networks should be expedited in order to realize scaled, intensive and industrialized development. In line with the principle of ¡®stabilizing existing ones, developing new ones, government guiding and market driving,active efforts shall be made to integrate various cable TV networks in China. Currently, over 20 provinces (autonomous regions or municipalities) have finished or basically finished the integration task and formed the pattern of ¡®one network for each province'. This year, greater efforts shall be made in integration so as to attain the original targets. Meanwhile, on the basis of widely seeking public comments, SARFT has formed its basic idea and preliminary planning for establishing state-level radio and TV Network Company and is now seeking comments from relevant ministries. After reaching consensus, this planning shall be submitted for approval at an earlier date. Once approved, this state-level company shall be set up immediately and participate in Three Network Convergence as the market player for the radio and TV system and promote unified planning, construction, operation and management of cable TV networks in China.
Coordination and cooperation should be earnestly strengthened. Three Network Convergence not only has a bearing on the relations between Radio & TV stations and transmission & coverage networks but also on the relations among various levels in the radio and TV system. Coordination and cooperation among central and local stations and networks should be strengthened so as to create synergy. In policy formulation, organization and coordination, various Radio and TV administration departments should take all factors into consideration in a bid to promote cross-region and cross-department cooperation and cooperation among various stations and networks. Various stations and networks should have a sense of urgency and overall interest and fully acknowledge their strengths and shortcomings. More efforts shall be made in communication, coordination and cooperation so as to make progress jointly.
Distinguished guests, dear friends, to safeguard the national interest, serve the people and realize Three Network Convergence in line with China's reality is the unshirkable mission for our radio & TV and information and culture workers. Being the inaugural year of the 12th Five-year plan, this year is also a crucial year for Three Network Convergence. Guided by the scientific outlook on development, starting from the fundamental interest of the overwhelming majority of the people, we should align our thinking and action to decision and deployment by the central government, constantly strengthen our sense of responsibility and urgency, unite and work earnestly in a bid to open up new prospects for Three Network Convergence with Chinese characteristics. Greater efforts should be made in turning the culture industry into a pillar industry for the national economy so as to make a due contribution to building up a prosperous  society in all aspects.
Finally, I wish CCBN 2011 a complete success. Many thanks.