One hundred domestic newspaper groups are planning to launch a
joint distributing company, today's homeway.com reported.
The company will be based on the existing distribution union which
China Newspaper Association (CNA) members set up last July,
according to Lian Fuying, senior CNA official.
CNA, a 1,500-member organization, has handed in the proposal to the
State Council for approval. If successful, the company will be
established in the last six months of 2002.
With the joint distributor, CNA hopes China's newspaper industry
will become more efficient and competitive in the face of overseas
competition.
One who is keen on China's huge market is Rupert Murdoch. His
American Online (AOL) has started a 24-hour Chinese-language
service in south China's Guangdong province on Chinese
Entertainment Television (CETV), becoming the first foreign
broadcaster to air in China's mainland.
Citing Murdoch's far-reaching distribution network as one reason
for his penetration of the Chinese market, Lian said, "Distribution
is where the Chinese media industry should improve." "Rather than
separate networks, China needs stronger distributors," Lian
said.
China's newspaper distribution channel has long been controlled by
the postal system. To break its monopoly, more than 1,000
newspapers have developed their own channels of distribution.
(eastday.com March 23,
2002)