Chongqing Broadcasting Group


Chongqing Broadcasting Group is a government-owned television network based in the city of Chongqing in southwestern China. Established in 1981, Chongqing Television has been the leading broadcasting network in Chongqing and its affiliated counties and districts. After Chongqing became a direct-controlled municipality in 1997, Chongqing Television became the official TV program to represent and propagate the cultures and development of Chongqing. Chongqing Television became a subdivision of Chongqing Broadcasting Group in 2004 with a headquarter in Jiulongpo District. Its main channel, CTV is carried on cable systems in urban areas throughout mainland China and is available nationwide on both analogue and digital satellites.

List of CBG channels

Chongqing Broadcasting Group currently provides more than ten TV channels, and most of those channels are broadcast in the Municipality of Chongqing. The flagship channel of Chongqing Television, Chongqing Satellite Television Channel or CQTV-1, is broadcast in more than 25 provinces in Mainland China. The international channel has oversea broadcasts.
ChannelOld Channel NumberChannel NameProgramsNote
CQTV-ChongqingCQTVSatellite ChannelGeneralBroadcast in many other provinces
CQTV-MovieCQTV-1Movie and TV Series ChannelMovies and TV Series
CQTV-NewsCQTV-2News ChannelLocal news
CQTV-EducationCQTV-3Sciences and Education ChannelNatural and social sciences, education, documentaries
CQTV-UrbanCQTV-4Urban ChannelLifestyles and fashion in Chongqing
CQTV-EntertainmentCQTV-5Entertainment ChannelArts, Sports and Entertainment
CQTV-Life InfoCQTV-6Life ChannelShopping, recreation, real estate, business
CQTV-ComedyCQTV-7Comedy ChannelSitcomsDefunct, most programs merged into CQTV-Fashion
CQTV-Fashion--Fashion ChannelFashion shows, local sitcoms, local culturesHave a special version for Guangdong
CQTV-Public and AgricultureCQTV-8Public and Agriculture ChannelRural cultures of Chongqing, agriculture, laws, tourism
CQTV-Children--Children ChannelCartoons, Children and Teenager variety, Classic foreign movies
CQTV-International--International ChannelNews, Tourism and CultureOversea broadcasting
CQTV-Dress--Fashionable Dress ChannelModel clothesDefunct since 2015
CQTV-Auto--Auto ChannelAutomobileKnown as China Auto Channel, a leading Automobile TV channel in China
CQTV-Colorful--Qingcai Chongqing ChannelScenic views and tourism
CQTV-New Finance--New Finance ChannelFinance and Economy
CQTV-Mobile--Mobile ChannelGeneralBroadcasting on public transportation

CBG talent show controversy

On 15 August 2007, a CBG talent show was suspended following criticism from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. The show, titled First Heartthrob was condemned for "stunts and sensationalism". CQTV has been ordered to take disciplinary measures against relevant staff. The programme is one of many idol-style shows carried on Chinese provincial stations, in an attempt to emulate the success of Super Girl. This particular show also includes elements of reality television programmes like Big Brother.
According to Chinese media reports, programme director Zhou Zhishun claimed that the suspension was due to an incident on Friday 12 August, when contestant-judges clashes resulted in tears. He is reported to have said, "This sudden event caused a loss of control on the set, and hence the restructuring was requested by SARFT." There may also be a political element: the Administration urged other broadcasters to "voluntarily abide by political discipline and propaganda discipline", and the AP news agency linked this with the upcoming 17th Party Congress.
SARFT's action has received praise from some Chinese commentators. Chang Ping, an editor in the popular Southern Metropolis Daily, wrote "After Chongqing TV's First Heartthrob, similar programs Guangdong TV's Date With Beauty and Shenzhen TV's Super Date were ordered to stop broadcasting. In the eyes of viewers, they all share one quality: vulgarity... has won wide acclaim. According to the results of a survey by China Youth Daily's survey center, 96.4% of those respondents who were aware of what First Heartthrob was cast their vote in support of SARFT's action."