China to turn TV networks into home information center

BEIJING - China will promote Internet integration of television networks, turning them into in-home streaming information centers, said Tian Jin, deputy chief of State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) on Thursday.

China's radio and TV industry should actively implement "TV+", similar to the Internet plus initiative currently very popular in China, said Tian.

Besides traditional broadcasting, Internet integrated TV can also provide online interactive media, extra content, game consoles, on-demand customized streaming media as well as home networking access.

The networks will offer users a means to track and receive subscribed content and send real-time feedback to TV stations, thus allowing viewers to immerse themselves in their shows.

This idea will take shape based on the upgraded digital TV networks, and be fused with technology including mobile Internet, smart operating system and man-machine interaction system, Tian said.

China has 180 million clients using digital television networks currently with only 34 million of them set up with interactive TV, said Tian.

He said the SARFT is considering a large-scale TV network overhaul, an increase of bandwidth and speed of information transmission, and will extend to intelligent terminals such as mobile phones, pads and digital TV.