Since its launch in 2012, CCTV Africa has grown considerably in its distribution and programming. However, the central question remains as to whether or not anyone is actually watching, to justify the massive investment undertaken by the Chinese government. According to research by leading Sino-Africa media scholar Bob Wekesa, the channel is apparently building an audience on the continent through its coverage of so-called “positive news.”
Recommendations
- “Live, Talk, Faces: An Analysis of CCTV’s Adaptation to the African Media Market,” Bob Wekesa and Zhang Yanqiu, Discussion Paper: Stellenbosch University Centre for Chinese Studies, May 2014
- “Pursuing Soft Power, China Puts Stamp on Africa’s News,” Andrew Jacobs, The New York Times, August 16, 2012