Encrypted satellite gives control to govt: Expert

Residents who rely on shanzhai (copycat) satellite dishes to watch 48 national channels distributed by a live TV broadcasting satellite Zhongxing-9 will be blocked as the satellite gets encrypted in January next year. The encryption will blacken television screens for copycat dish users, according to the State Administration of Radio Film and Television.

Zhongxing-9, a satellite ordered by China Satcom from the France-based Thales Alenia Space, is used for broadcasting 48 channels to rural and remote areas where cable TV is unreachable. The receivers for people in remote areas are for free.

The 48 standard-definition and high-definition channels include China Central Television (CCTV) channels as well as provincial channels.