Chinese channel launched in
The launch of China Arab TV (CATV) for the growing population of Chinese people living and visiting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, is being dubbed the first of its kind.
A ChinaArabTVChinese-language channel, CATV is broadcast from Dubai Studio City via Nilesat to one million Chinese viewers across the UAE, Middle East and South East Asia. Arabic and English subtitles are provided for the predominantly news and infotainment content.
“Our effort is to build CATV as the informative bridge between China and Arab nations and to improve bilateral economic and trade cooperation,” said Liu Haijiang, chairman, CATV.
Following the satellite channel’s soft launch in September 2015, it now numbers 50 employees including broadcast journalists specialising in UAE and Chinese news.
“Our aim in the near future is to have English, Chinese or Arabic subtitles for all our programmes. While half of the programmes are with Chinese voiceover (with Arabic subtitles), half of the programme is Arabic (with Chinese subtitles),” Svina Wong, vice president, CATV, told Emirates 24/7.
According to the latest Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) report, 450,000 Chinese tourists visited the UAE in 2015, and almost half a million Chinese nationals reside in GCC countries.
“The UAE Government has been encouraging Chinese investors and tourists to come to the UAE. Policy-wise also, it is easy for the Chinese to travel to the UAE,” Svina Wong added.
