China Entertainment Television should not be confused with China Education Television.
| China Entertainment Television 华娱卫视广播有限公司 | |
| Type: | Mandarin Chinese-language satellite television channel |
| Country: | People's Republic of China |
| Available: | Satellite television channel |
| Owner: | TOM Group and TBS Networks |
| Website: | cetv.com |
China Entertainment Television (CETV) was a Mandarin Chinese-language satellite television channel in the Greater China region, owned jointly by the Hong Kong-based TOM Group (majority shareholder) and the United States’ TBS Networks (36% shareholder). The broadcaster was originally based in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, but moved to Shenzhen, China since 2003.
At launch, the channel was known for its policy of "no sex, no violence and no news", despite the fact that its founder Robert Chua was known for his sexual activities, including the Hong Kong adult video magazine Le Club.[1] Chua said that the launch of CETV was an opportunity for him to create a network devoid of sex and violence, values practiced decades earlier by Walt Disney, who Chua considered to be a moneymaker, as well as traditional Asian values to counter programming from the western world that was penetrating in the continent. Experimental broadcasts started on 1 December 1994 with 12 hours of programming, six hours of original content and six hours of repeats; on 11 March 1995, the network launched its regular broadcast, with a 24-hour schedule.[2]
The network was facing liquidation on 8 July 1998, with debts worth HK$13 million and ambitions of finding a financier. If no financier was found, CETV would shut down.[3]
On 25 October 2016, TOM Group announced that operations of the television station would be ceased at the end of 2016.[4] [5] The Communications Authority approved to end its non-domestic television programme service licence on 23 December 2016 and it ceased broadcast on 31 December 2016.[6]