Hunan Television

Corporate brand

Unclaimed Request correction

A major Chinese provincial satellite television channel based in Changsha, Hunan.

Last updated October 9, 2026

AI crawler reads

No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.

Overview

Hunan Television, also known as Hunan TV or Hunan Satellite Television, is a provincial satellite television channel headquartered in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. It is owned by Hunan Broadcasting System and is one of the most prominent entertainment-oriented television brands in the Chinese market. The channel began broadcasting on September 29, 1970, and subsequently developed from a provincial broadcaster into a nationally distributed satellite network with a strong emphasis on variety programming, music competitions, reality formats, serial drama, lifestyle content, and large-scale entertainment events. The channel is widely associated with the nickname “Mango Channel,” a reference to the mango-shaped imagery used in its branding and logo. This identity has also influenced the naming of related digital and media activities connected with Hunan Broadcasting System. Hunan Television’s programming strategy has historically relied on recognizable hosts, recurring studio formats, celebrity participation, audience voting, and adaptations or localized versions of international television concepts. Programs associated with the channel include Happy Camp, Super Girl, Super Boy, Where Are We Going, Dad?, I Am a Singer, Day Day Up, Super-Vocal, Chinese Restaurant, Takes a Real Man, Come Sing with Me, 72 Floors of Mystery, and Back to Field. Hunan Television’s terrestrial and satellite distribution covers most of China, with availability extending to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. The channel has also operated an overseas service known as Hunan STV World. The international service has been distributed in a range of Asian, Pacific, African, American, and European markets, giving the broadcaster a platform for presenting Chinese entertainment programming to audiences outside mainland China. Hunan Television World launched in Hong Kong on May 20, 2009, and was described in the reference material as the first permitted international channel of its kind. The broadcaster has pursued international cooperation as part of its programming development. In December 2006, it worked with the BBC on Just the Two of Us, described as the first global-scale entertainment collaboration between a Chinese television organization and the BBC. This type of cooperation reflected Hunan Television’s broader positioning as an innovative entertainment broadcaster willing to use international production knowledge while adapting formats for Chinese audiences. Hunan Television began high-definition broadcasting on September 28, 2009. Its national reach and entertainment-led schedule helped it become one of China’s most watched television channels. Reference material describes it as generally ranking second nationally behind CCTV-1, while also noting that it has at times surpassed CCTV-1 in ratings. A 2013 account cited more than one billion cumulative viewers in China, approximately 210 million daily viewers, and substantial online viewing activity, although these figures are historical and should not be treated as current audience measurements. The channel’s schedule has also been shaped by broadcasting regulation. In 2015, following policy changes by China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, Hunan Television adjusted its prime-time drama schedule from three episodes per night to two and moved the start of prime time from 19:30 to 20:00. The channel was also noted for airing drama at 22:00, a scheduling practice described as unusual outside CCTV. Overall, Hunan Television’s brand is defined by its provincial public-broadcasting base, nationwide satellite distribution, strong entertainment franchise portfolio, high-profile variety formats, and international ambitions.

History

Hunan Television began broadcasting on September 29, 1970, as a provincial television service in Hunan. Over time, it developed a broader satellite footprint and became one of China’s leading entertainment-focused television channels. Its base in Changsha placed it within the institutional structure of Hunan Broadcasting System, while satellite distribution allowed its programs to reach viewers across most of China and in nearby territories including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. The channel’s later identity was shaped by its programming model. Rather than relying only on general-interest provincial broadcasting, Hunan Television invested heavily in variety shows, music contests, celebrity-led reality programs, lifestyle formats, and serial drama. This strategy produced a group of highly recognizable programs, including Happy Camp, Super Girl, Super Boy, Day Day Up, I Am a Singer, Where Are We Going, Dad?, Super-Vocal, Chinese Restaurant, Takes a Real Man, Come Sing with Me, 72 Floors of Mystery, and Back to Field. The channel’s mango-associated logo led audiences to refer to it as the “Mango Channel,” a nickname that became an important part of its public identity. Hunan Television also pursued cooperation with international media organizations. On December 15, 2006, it collaborated with the BBC on Just the Two of Us. The cooperation was presented as a pioneering global entertainment collaboration between the BBC and a Chinese television organization, demonstrating the channel’s interest in adapting international production approaches for Chinese audiences. Its international distribution expanded further with the launch of Hunan Television World in Hong Kong on May 20, 2009. The service was described as the first permitted international channel of its type. Hunan Television World subsequently reached audiences in a wide group of markets across Asia, the Pacific, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. These overseas broadcasts gave the channel a means of distributing Chinese entertainment content to diaspora and international audiences. On September 28, 2009, Hunan Television began broadcasting in high definition. This technical change accompanied its continuing expansion as a satellite network. By 2013, reference material reported a cumulative Chinese audience exceeding one billion, approximately 210 million daily viewers, and 730 million online views. These figures indicate the scale attributed to the channel during that period, although they are historical estimates rather than current audience data. Regulatory changes affected the channel’s schedule in 2015. After changes introduced by China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, Hunan Television altered its prime-time drama output from three episodes per evening to two and shifted the start of prime time from 19:30 to 20:00. The channel was also identified as one of the few broadcasters besides CCTV to schedule drama at 22:00. These adjustments illustrate how Hunan Television’s programming and commercial-entertainment strategy operated within China’s regulated broadcasting environment. Hunan Television remains associated with Hunan Broadcasting System and with a nationally recognized portfolio of entertainment formats. Its historical importance lies in combining provincial television administration with nationwide satellite reach, distinctive visual branding, celebrity-centered programming, format experimentation, and overseas distribution.

2015
Prime-time schedule revised
[1]Hunan Television - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Regulatory changes led Hunan Television to reduce nightly prime-time drama output and move the start of prime time to 20:00.
2009
International channel launches in Hong Kong
[1]Hunan Television - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Hunan Television World began broadcasting in Hong Kong on May 20, 2009.
2009
High-definition broadcasting begins
[1]Hunan Television - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The channel began high-definition broadcasting on September 28, 2009.
2006
BBC entertainment collaboration
[1]Hunan Television - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Hunan Television collaborated with the BBC on Just the Two of Us on December 15, 2006.
1970
Hunan Television begins broadcasting
[1]Hunan Television - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The channel launched on September 29, 1970, as a television service serving Hunan Province.

Products and positioning

A nationally distributed, entertainment-led Chinese provincial satellite broadcaster with a distinctive “Mango Channel” identity and a strong portfolio of variety, reality, music, lifestyle, and drama programming.

Variety television
Happy Camp
A flagship entertainment and variety program associated with Hunan Television’s celebrity-centered programming strategy. It helped reinforce the channel’s image as a major national platform for studio entertainment and popular culture.
Music competition
Super Girl
A major televised singing competition associated with Hunan Television. The format formed part of the channel’s emphasis on audience-facing music entertainment and talent discovery.
Music competition
Super Boy
A male-oriented music competition listed among Hunan Television’s notable programs. It belongs to the channel’s wider group of televised talent and music formats.
Reality television
Where Are We Going, Dad?
A reality format centered on family and parent-child experiences. Its inclusion in Hunan Television’s notable programming reflects the channel’s use of unscripted formats alongside studio variety shows.
Music competition
I Am a Singer
A performance-based music competition featuring singers and competitive stage presentations. It represents Hunan Television’s emphasis on large-scale music entertainment.
Variety television
Day Day Up
A variety program included among the channel’s best-known entertainment offerings. It contributes to Hunan Television’s long-running studio and host-led programming portfolio.
Music competition
Super-Vocal
A vocal-performance competition associated with Hunan Television’s continuing investment in music-based reality and talent programming.
Lifestyle reality
Chinese Restaurant
A food and hospitality-oriented reality program listed among Hunan Television’s notable offerings. It extends the channel’s entertainment portfolio into lifestyle and culinary programming.
Reality television
Takes a Real Man
A reality program included in Hunan Television’s recognized programming slate, illustrating the channel’s use of challenge-based and personality-driven unscripted entertainment.
Music entertainment
Come Sing with Me
A music-focused entertainment program associated with the channel’s broader strategy of combining celebrity performance with accessible audience-oriented formats.
Reality entertainment
72 Floors of Mystery
A mystery and challenge-oriented entertainment format listed among Hunan Television’s notable programs, reflecting its interest in high-concept unscripted programming.
Lifestyle reality
Back to Field
A lifestyle-oriented reality program associated with rural, food, and everyday-life themes. It represents a softer, observational side of Hunan Television’s entertainment portfolio.

Controversies

2020
Happy Camp hosts' acceptance of fan gifts sparks controversy and internal investigation
In December 2020, the acceptance of gifts from celebrity fans by Happy Camp hosts sparked discussion about program cooperation, fan support, and boundaries of interests. He Jiong responded and apologized, and Hunan TV said it would investigate and rectify. This entry concerns gift-giving and management controversy; the cited reports did not determine that relevant personnel committed bribery crimes.
Source

2009Hunan Television World international distribution
Hong Kong · Asia-Pacific · Africa · the Americas · Europe
The launch of Hunan Television World extended the Hunan Television brand to overseas audiences and supported distribution of its Chinese entertainment programming outside mainland China.
Outcome. Created an international broadcast outlet; the longer-term audience outcome is not specified in the available source.
Source
2006Just the Two of Us BBC collaboration
China · United Kingdom
Hunan Television worked with the BBC on an entertainment production described as the first global-scale collaboration between the BBC and a Chinese television organization.
Outcome. Established an early international cooperation milestone for the channel.
Source

Brand decisions

2015
Prime-time drama schedule adjustmentStrategy
Background
Changes to policy by China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television affected the scheduling of television drama.
Action taken
Hunan Television changed its prime-time drama schedule from three episodes per night to two and moved the start of prime time from 19:30 to 20:00.
Aftermath
The channel continued to schedule drama at 22:00, a practice described in the source as unusual among broadcasters other than CCTV.
Source
2009
Move to high-definition broadcastingOther
Background
Hunan Television was expanding its satellite and international presence and upgraded its technical broadcast service.
Action taken
The channel began high-definition broadcasting on September 28, 2009.
Aftermath
The available reference confirms the launch of high-definition service but does not provide further technical or audience results.
Source

Sources7 sources

Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/hunan-television · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled