Society

Chongqing TV gets city govt help after losing ads

By Wang Qingyun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-03-05 16:29

Huang Qifan speaks during an interview on March 4. [Photo/china.com.cn]

Chongqing municipal government will subsidize Chongqing Satellite TV with 150 million yuan ($22.8 million) for the channel's loss from cutting all of its commercial advertisements, Beijing Morning Post reported Saturday.

Related readings: Chongqing TV ends commercials

Replacing commercial ads with public service ads is "an international practice," said Chongqing Mayor Huang Qifan during an interview on Friday.

Chongqing Broadcasting Group runs 12 channels. Huang said except for Chongqing Satellite TV, the other 11 channels can still profit from commercial advertisements: "Of the 300 million yuan Chongqing Satellite TV is going to miss by ending commercial ads, Chongqing Broadcasting Group will make up 150 million yuan, and city government will subsidize the other half."