China’s CCTV gets new boss

Friday 25 Nov 2011
The Chinese government on Thursday named a new head of the government-run China Central Television (CCTV) network.

Hu Zhanfan, Chief Editor of the state-run national newspaper Guangming Daily, will lead an expansion by the flagship broadcaster, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Mr Hu, whose appointment is the latest in a string of recent leadership changes in state-controlled organisations, takes the helm weeks after reports the broadcaster of 37 channels was planning a major global expansion.

Beijing has earmarked 45 billion yuan (US$7.07 billion) to fund the expansion of state-owned media groups including CCTV, Xinhua and China Radio International, according to previous reports.