Beijing Radio and Television Station
A government-owned Beijing broadcaster operating radio, television, digital and online media services.
Last updated October 9, 2026
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Overview
Beijing Radio and Television Station, commonly known as BRTV and formerly associated with the Beijing Media Network name, is a government-owned broadcasting organization based in Beijing, China. Its operations combine municipal radio and television services with digital distribution and online content. The station’s programming is primarily in Chinese and serves audiences in Beijing while also reaching broader domestic and overseas audiences through satellite, cable, digital and internet platforms. The organization’s institutional roots extend to the Beijing municipal broadcasting system established in 1979. Television broadcasting began on 16 May 1979, when the Beijing television service started transmission on VHF channel 6. The organization later developed a group of radio services covering news, music, sports, youth programming, city life, finance and other subjects. Its radio distribution has included AM, FM, cable FM, digital radio and internet streaming, while its television services have been distributed through terrestrial, cable, digital and satellite platforms. A significant expansion occurred on 1 January 1998, when the Beijing television service began satellite broadcasting. This placed the service within the wider national movement among regional broadcasters to distribute channels beyond their home regions. The organization subsequently operated a portfolio that included Beijing Satellite Television, commonly known as Beijing TV or Beijing Satellite, as well as specialized services such as Kaku Children’s Channel. Radio offerings have included Beijing News Radio and other thematic channels. The present institutional structure reflects a later consolidation of Beijing’s municipal broadcasting assets. On 1 June 2020, Radio Beijing Corporation, Beijing Television and Beiguang Media were merged into Beijing Media Network. The resulting organization is identified in current references as Beijing Radio and Television Station. This consolidation brought radio, television and related media capabilities under a more integrated municipal broadcasting structure. BRTV’s business scope centers on the creation, acquisition, scheduling and distribution of broadcast content. Its output includes news, public-affairs programming, cultural content, entertainment, music, sports, children’s programming and city-oriented services. In addition to traditional broadcasting, the station distributes content through online platforms and digital media. Its channels have been available through Beijing’s broadcast infrastructure and, depending on the service, through national, international or internet-based distribution. The organization has also participated in the broader platform economy surrounding Chinese digital media. In October 2022, BRTV took a minority ownership stake in Kuaishou, a major Chinese short-video and livestreaming platform. The investment connected the municipal broadcaster with a large digital-content ecosystem, although the available reference material does not specify the size, value or precise terms of the stake. BRTV is best understood as a public-sector media institution rather than a conventional consumer brand. Its positioning combines the role of Beijing’s mainstream municipal news and information provider with that of a large entertainment, cultural and digital-content network. Because channel lineups and online services have changed over time, individual radio services listed in historical references should not all be assumed to remain active.
History
The history of Beijing Radio and Television Station is rooted in the development of Beijing’s municipal radio and television system. The broadcaster’s radio lineage is associated with Beijing People’s Broadcasting Station, while its television lineage is associated with Beijing Television. Reference material identifies 16 May 1979 as a foundational date for the modern Beijing Media Network broadcasting operation. On that date, the Beijing television service began broadcasting on VHF channel 6, giving the capital a dedicated municipal television outlet. During its development, the radio side became a family of services serving different editorial and audience needs. These included news, music, sports, youth-oriented programming, city-life information, financial content, stories and foreign-oriented broadcasting. Distribution was not limited to one technical system: Beijing services were carried through AM and FM radio, cable FM, digital radio, digital television and internet platforms. The combination of terrestrial and online distribution allowed the organization to function as both a local broadcaster and a broader media network. The television service expanded beyond its original local transmission role. On 1 January 1998, Beijing Television began satellite broadcasting. This change took place during a period when regional television organizations across China were seeking wider distribution and when national policy encouraged television penetration and broader channel availability. Satellite transmission enabled the Beijing service to reach viewers outside the capital and supported its development as a channel with national and overseas visibility. The organization’s historical naming reflects changes in its institutional structure. Beijing Media Network, or BMN, is identified in reference material as a former name associated with the current Beijing Radio and Television Station. The organization should not be confused with China Central Television’s earlier use of the name Beijing Television: China Central Television was known as Beijing Television from 1958 to 1978, before the municipal Beijing television service described here began broadcasting in 1979. A major reorganization took effect on 1 June 2020. Radio Beijing Corporation, Beijing Television and Beiguang Media were merged into Beijing Media Network. The consolidation brought radio, television and related media resources into a single municipal broadcasting structure. Existing summaries sometimes describe the station as established in 2010, but the cited reference material emphasizes the 1979 broadcasting origin and the 2020 merger as the key institutional milestones. Accordingly, 1979 is treated here as the historical foundation of the network, while 2020 marks the creation of the consolidated structure. Following the consolidation, BRTV continued to operate multiple television and radio services and to distribute material through digital and internet channels. Its television portfolio has included Beijing Satellite Television and Kaku Children’s Channel, while Beijing News Radio has been one of its recognized radio services. The organization’s output spans news, public affairs, entertainment, culture, music, sports and children’s content, reflecting the broad remit of a municipal public broadcaster. Several internet-only or specialized radio services listed in historical channel references were later discontinued. Beijing Economic Radio, Beijing Qingmeng Radio, Beijing Popular Music Radio, Beijing Life Radio, Beijing Light Music Radio and Beijing DAB Radio are listed as ending on 1 January 2022. Beijing Story Radio, Radio Beijing International and Beijing Youth Radio are listed as ending on 1 January 2023. These changes illustrate the continuing adjustment of BRTV’s channel portfolio as listening shifts toward digital platforms and as the organization restructures its services. In October 2022, BRTV took a minority ownership stake in Kuaishou. The move represented an extension beyond conventional broadcasting into a major digital-content platform and reflected the growing relationship between traditional media institutions and online video distribution. No transaction amount or ownership percentage is provided in the available reference material. Today, Beijing Radio and Television Station is a state-owned, Chinese-language media institution centered on Beijing. Its activities include broadcast production and distribution, online content, digital media and participation in broader media-industry initiatives. Its significance lies primarily in its role as Beijing’s mainstream municipal broadcaster and as an integrated platform for news, culture, entertainment and public information.
- 2022
Minority investment in Kuaishou
[1]BRTV takes a minority ownership stake in Kuaishou, connecting the broadcaster with a major Chinese short-video and livestreaming platform.
- 2020
Municipal media merger
[1]Radio Beijing Corporation, Beijing Television and Beiguang Media merge on 1 June into Beijing Media Network.
- 1998
Satellite broadcasting begins
[1]Beijing Television starts satellite broadcasting on 1 January, extending distribution beyond Beijing during a broader expansion of regional television networks.
- 1979
Beijing television broadcasting begins
[1]The Beijing television service begins broadcasting on 16 May on VHF channel 6, establishing the modern television lineage of the municipal network.
Products and positioning
Beijing's mainstream municipal public broadcaster and integrated radio, television and digital media organization.
Television channel · 1998
Beijing Satellite Television
BRTV's principal satellite television service and one of the network's most prominent general-interest channels. It originated from the Beijing television service and began satellite distribution in 1998, allowing programming produced in Beijing to reach audiences beyond the municipality. Its broad remit includes news, culture, entertainment and other mainstream television programming.
Radio station
Beijing News Radio
A news-oriented radio service within Beijing's municipal broadcasting system. It represents the information and public-affairs side of BRTV's radio portfolio and has been distributed through Beijing radio infrastructure as well as internet-based channels.
Television channel
Kaku Children's Channel
A specialized children's television service associated with BRTV. The channel forms part of the network's segmented programming portfolio, serving younger audiences through children's entertainment, educational and cultural content.
Radio network · 1979
Beijing radio services
A portfolio of municipal radio services covering subjects such as news, music, sports, youth interests, city life, finance, stories and international broadcasting. Services have been distributed through AM, FM, cable FM, digital radio and internet streaming. The lineup has changed over time, and some specialized services listed in historical references have been discontinued.
Brand decisions
2023
Further radio channel changesStrategyBackground
The network continued revising its radio lineup after the 2022 service changes.
Action taken
Beijing Story Radio, Radio Beijing International and Beijing Youth Radio were listed as discontinued on 1 January 2023.
Aftermath
These changes further altered BRTV's historical radio portfolio; the available reference does not state whether their programming moved to other channels.
2022
Minority investment in KuaishouM&ABackground
Traditional broadcasters have increasingly connected their content and distribution activities with online video and livestreaming platforms.
Action taken
BRTV acquired a minority ownership stake in Kuaishou in October 2022.
Aftermath
The investment gave BRTV a minority position in a major digital-content platform. The available reference does not provide the stake percentage, transaction value or subsequent operating arrangements.
2022
Retirement of selected specialized radio servicesStrategyBackground
BRTV's radio portfolio has been adjusted as the organization has changed the mix of broadcast and internet-based services.
Action taken
Several services, including Beijing Economic Radio, Beijing Qingmeng Radio, Beijing Popular Music Radio, Beijing Life Radio, Beijing Light Music Radio and Beijing DAB Radio, were listed as discontinued on 1 January 2022.
Aftermath
The closures reduced the number of specialized services identified in historical channel listings, although the available reference does not explain the individual business reasons.
2020
Consolidation of Beijing municipal media assetsM&ABackground
Beijing's radio, television and related media operations were being brought into a more integrated institutional structure.
Action taken
Radio Beijing Corporation, Beijing Television and Beiguang Media were merged into Beijing Media Network on 1 June 2020.
Aftermath
The merger created the consolidated organization associated with the current Beijing Radio and Television Station and combined radio, television and related digital-media capabilities.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
iKang and partners launch workplace health co-building initiative[3]
iKang Group, together with Qi An Xin, Beijing Subway, Beijing Radio and Television Station and other units, jointly launched a 'co-building workplace health' action initiative.
Beijing Television announced the planned launch of International Reunion Dinner in Beijing[4]
Reported:
Beijing Television announced that it was set to launch International Reunion Dinner in Beijing, a program focused on dinners featuring different cultural backgrounds, for the Spring Festival.
Sources4 sources
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