On November 27, 2017, the State Administration of Radio and Television issued the "Notice on Accelerating the Development of High-Definition Television" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice") to the press and publication, radio, and television bureaus of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, as well as to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Press and Publication, Radio, and Television Bureau, the various departments and bureaus within the administration's headquarters, and all directly affiliated units. The notice redefined priorities for current efforts in HD TV development and introduced a series of new policy measures.
Regarding the production and broadcasting of high-definition TV content, the "Notice" clearly states that by 2020, provincial-level and more developed prefecture-level stations will have largely completed their transition to HD. Meanwhile, major channels at prefecture-level (and above) stations will achieve simultaneous HD and SD broadcasts, making HD channels the mainstream broadcasting format. County-level stations are encouraged to upgrade to HD; those approved to retain their full sets of TV channels may apply for simultaneous HD and SD broadcasting if they meet the relevant criteria.
The "Notice" mandates that, starting from January 1, 2019, cable network operators must cease distributing and selling cable set-top boxes that do not support high-definition television. By 2020, the widespread adoption of HD set-top boxes is expected to be largely achieved. Each cable network is encouraged to actively support the growth of HD TV by ensuring seamless access and reliable transmission of HD channels, while accelerating the rollout and popularization of HD set-top boxes. Cable networks are required to guarantee free access to and transmission of standard-definition (SD) and simultaneously broadcasted HD versions of key channels from CCTV, provincial-level stations, and local broadcasters. When organizing the channel lineup within their networks, operators should prioritize promoting HD content by placing HD channels prominently—both in the main positions and at the top of the programming schedule—while ensuring that CCTV channels remain prioritized first. Additionally, cable providers are urged to proactively integrate legitimate HD content sources and encourage digital pay-TV channels to transition toward HD offerings. The Notice emphasizes that all HD channels and video-on-demand services transmitted over cable TV networks must comply with legal and regulatory standards.
Regarding the development and support of high-definition television, the "Notice" recommends that broadcasting and television authorities at all levels actively seek attention and support from Party committees and governments for HDTV advancement. This can be achieved through various funding channels, such as government-specific subsidies, special funds for public cultural services, and financial resources allocated to cultural industry development. Priority should be given to supporting broadcast organizations in upgrading their HD production and broadcasting capabilities, as well as encouraging cable network companies to replace and promote HD set-top boxes. These measures will provide essential financial and policy backing to help broadcasters and transmission providers fully advance their transition to high-definition operations.