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)