China's battle against the ravages of snow storms is such a big story that it will be included in the annual gala for the Lunar New Year celebration on China Central Television (CCTV), a show that is usually the domain of laughter and songs.

"The ice and snow disaster is hogging most of the headlines in the news, and we will definitely put it in this year's gala," said Zhu Tong, the director of CCTV's art department, at a news briefing Thursday.

The gala, since its debut in 1987, has been the most popular TV event of the year attracting a major part of the 1.3 billion Chinese audience on the Lunar New Year's Eve, which this year falls on February 6.

CCTV has sent reporters and editors to snow-hit regions to "collect first-hand material" in the hope of preparing heart-warming stories of triumph over disaster, Zhu said.

"We will use poems and singing, with background video footage of people combating the snow, to demonstrate the high level of attention and caring of Chinese authorities, the efforts of local governments and the military, and touching stories of a helping society," he added.
 
(Xinhua News Agency February 1, 2008)