The US-based Discovery Channel is considering of making programs gearing to the Chinese viewers, the leading global real-world media and entertainment company has said in Beijing.

It also plans to pick program directors in China, said Fang Chang, vice president of the company's country manager of China, at a press conference on Friday.

"Discovery doesn't have its own channel in China and it broadcasts its programs in cooperation with local TV stations of the country," Chang said. "But, that won't hamper our strategy in China."

Discovery will launch four programs of global premiere on the Chinese mainland at the end of the year and it will stage itinerant exhibitions in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, Chang said.

Discovery, which launched with only 156,000 subscribers in the United States on June 17, 1985, currently has 14 channels in the US and 10 other international channels, including seven in Asia, with cumulative 1.3 billion subscribers in 160 countries and regions.

It entered China nine years ago.

"Discovery attaches great importance to the Chinese viewers and we hope China and the world can have a still better mutual understanding through our docudramas," Chang said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2005)