According to information provided by SARFT, five stations (CCTV-1, BTV-1, Shanghai Dragon TV, Jiangsu TV, Hunan TV) will begin simulcasting HD and SD TV programming on September 28th.

 "Simulcasting" HD and SD TV programming refers to simultaneously broadcasting a program of one channel in both HD and SD formats. SARFT recently released a new document which clarifies requirements for the simulcasting HD & SD program.

The SARFT whitepaper proscribes that broadcasting rates of HD programming should be higher than 50% in the first year, higher than 70% in the second year, and then comprise all broadcasting in the third year. For the first and second year, prime time programming (18:30-23:00) on HD channels should all be HDTV programming, including advertisements and weather forecasts. 

The whitepaper also proscribes that all cable networks should be connected to the first set of HDTV channels at no extra ge for the connections, and that any encoding and ges to users for viewing HDTV programming transmitted by the terrestrial wireless system is prohibited.

Prior to the five stations' simulcast of HD and SD TV channels, there were already some pay HDTV channels in existence, such as the CCTV HDTV channel, Shanghai Media Group's SITV, and CHC of the China Film Group Corporation. SARFT's prohibition of extra ges for viewing HDTV only affects the new simulcast HD and SD TV channels, and will not apply to existing pay-HDTV channels.

SARFT's new measure is widely viewed as providing a favorable climate for improving HDTV.

 At present, users can watch HDTV via both terrestrial and the cable digital broadcasting signals. In areas which have completed reconstruction and improvement projects related to nationwide broadcasting digitalization, network operators can receive signals from CHINASAT 6B and redistribute its signal into their local networks. Users simply need to install a cable HD set-top-box and an HD cable set-to-box to watch free HDTV programming at home.