NAIROBI, Jan 12 – China Central Television (CCTV) on Wednesday started broadcasting English-language African news produced at a centre in Kenya’s capital.
It is the first time state-run CCTV News has set up a production centre outside of China and about 100 people are employed there.
The channel’s first daily, hour-long African broadcast was transmitted at 1700 GMT. It included reports from around Africa as well as content from outside partners, including AFP.
Kenyan Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and various ministers attended a launch ceremony.
Musyoka called on CCTV to “cast a new image of the continent” because Africa “is often shown as the continent of endless calamities.”
CCTV-News, an international part of the China Central Television group, is mainly broadcast on DStv, Africa’s main satellite provider.
Nairobi also is home to the African office for China’s state news agency Xinhua.