Yang Weiguang, Trailblazer of China’s TV Industry
Building CCTV into a World-class TV Station
In 1993, Yang, who had kept a low profile, ambitiously proposed to build CCTV into a world first-class TV station befitting China’s great power status.
After Topics in Focus, the department that created Oriental Horizon went on to produce two new hits: the talk show Tell It Like It Is and an in-depth news program News Investigation. Their reputation strengthened CCTV’s authority and raised public trust, as well as cultivating China’s first TV professionals. In the 1990s CCTV attracted many media workers who dreamed of reforming China’s TV industry. Meanwhile, Yang also encouraged the production of new TV series and variety programs with attractive, engaging content. Domestic TV plays developed rapidly, with ratings surpassing the imported plays which had dominated televisions throughout the 1980s. CCTV also began to export Chinese-made TV shows. The Spring Festival Gala, a Chinese New Year special produced by CCTV, became a must-see for Chinese people during the Chinese New Year.
Yang still had another great ambition – establishing more channels, with different specialties, and setting up communication satellites to transmit CCTV around the world. Yang’s goal of making CCTV a worldwide network by 2000 was actually reached earlier. By 1996, CCTV had eight channels, and the 24-hour program CCTV Chinese International covered 98 percent of the world.
By 1998, CCTV revenues exceeded RMB 5 billion, with world-class technology and fixed assets that had increased more than tenfold over six years. The 1990s was regarded as a golden age of Chinese TV.
Yang summed up his views on TV as follows: “People are the masters of television. The modernization of China’s TV industry depends on the people’s attitude – on whether or not people are happy and supportive.”
Yang’s retirement in 1999 came as a surprise, as no one had realized he was overage for the job. Chinese media mourned the loss of this talent, but Yang felt relieved. After retirement, Yang served as president of the China Television Artists Association, building the brand of China Golden Eagle TV Art Festival and establishing his own company, which produced Home with Kids, a children-centered sitcom. Yang also took academic posts, including dean of the School of Media and Design of Shanghai Jiaotong University and doctoral supervisor at Communication University of China, devoted to making the news and communications education more practical. In addition, he launched the “Charming China” IPTV to further spread China’s film and television culture.
Yang never balked at taking risks or exploring opportunities. He constantly advanced and always lived up to his potential.
LIU HONGMEI is a lecturer with a doctorate degree at Institute of Communication Studies of Communication University of China.
