Shanghai Media Group

Shanghai Media Group (SMG) is a Shanghai-based state media conglomerate and one of the largest media organizations in China. It operates across radio and television broadcasting, digital and mobile media, business journalism, film production, entertainment, and performing arts. The group is associated with the Radio and Television Station of Shanghai and is described as having one of the country's broadest portfolios of media and related businesses. SMG was formed in 2001 through the consolidation of several Shanghai broadcasting and television organizations, including the People's Radio Station of Shanghai, East Radio Shanghai, Shanghai Television, and Oriental Television. The merger created a unified regional media group capable of managing multiple broadcast outlets and developing businesses beyond conventional radio and television. Its portfolio subsequently expanded to include content production, online distribution, film partnerships, events, and specialist media brands. One of SMG's best-known television assets is Dragon TV, the national-facing brand developed from the Shanghai Broadcasting Network. The group also operates or has operated Shanghai-focused radio services and a range of television channels, including the Shanghai International Channel, commonly known as ICS. In January 2008, ICS became a 24-hour English-language television news channel, making it one of the earliest such services in mainland China after the English-language channel of China Central Television. SMG content has also been distributed through mobile and internet platforms. SMG's business-media activities have been organized around China Business Network, later known as Yicai Global. This platform has included a television channel, CBN Weekly magazine, CBN Paper newspaper, CBN Radio, and related websites. In 2015, Alibaba Group acquired a 30 percent stake in China Business Network from SMG for 1.2 billion yuan, according to the cited reference material. The business later became internationally notable when the United States Department of State designated Yicai Global as a foreign mission of the Chinese government in October 2020. The group has also participated in film development and production. Its credits and partnerships cited in reference material include Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, Last Flight, Kung Fu Panda 3, Born in China, Earth: One Amazing Day, 21 Carats, and Kiangnan 1894. A 2014 announcement described a movie-development agreement between Shanghai Media Group Pictures and The Walt Disney Studios under which Chinese themes would be incorporated into Disney-branded films. In addition to commercial and news programming, SMG has used its broadcast and event capabilities for cultural programming and international exchanges. It hosted a concert in October marking the twentieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, with performers including Kim Jang-hoon, Super Junior-M, and EXO-K. English-language radio programming has included Live It Up, Shanghai, broadcast through an East Radio service. SMG therefore combines the functions of a regional broadcaster, national content provider, state media institution, business-information publisher, and entertainment producer. The available reference material does not establish a single current corporate website, public listing, current executive roster, or detailed financial profile.

Shanghai Media Group emerged from the restructuring of Shanghai's major radio and television institutions at the beginning of the twenty-first century. It was established in 2001 through the merger of the People's Radio Station of Shanghai, East Radio Shanghai, Shanghai Television, and Oriental Television. This consolidation brought several established broadcasters under one group and created a larger organization with the capacity to coordinate programming, distribution, production, and related commercial activities. The group's early development included an effort to broaden its reach beyond Shanghai and to develop programming for audiences outside mainland China's Chinese-language television market. In 2003, SMG examined the feasibility of creating a new English-language channel. Around the same period, the Shanghai Broadcasting Network was renamed Dragon TV. The reorganization also involved moving the prominent English program News at Ten to Shanghai Television Business Channel and Dragon TV, linking the group's international-language programming with its better-known television brands. A major international-facing step came in January 2008, when SMG launched ICS, or International Channel Shanghai, as a 24-hour English-language television news channel. The channel was among the earliest full-time English news services established by a mainland Chinese broadcaster, following China Central Television's English-language channel. ICS programming was also made available through mobile and internet distribution, reflecting the group's move toward multiplatform delivery. English-language radio programming included Live It Up, Shanghai, broadcast through East Radio frequencies identified in the reference material as 792 AM and 89.9 FM. SMG's portfolio extended beyond general-interest broadcasting. The group became the holding company of China Business Network, later known as Yicai Global. The business-media operation included a television channel, CBN Weekly magazine, CBN Paper newspaper, CBN Radio, and websites using the CBN name. Its development illustrates SMG's interest in specialist information services as well as mass-market entertainment. In 2015, Alibaba Group bought a 30 percent interest in China Business Network from SMG for 1.2 billion yuan. In October 2020, the United States Department of State designated Yicai Global as a foreign mission of the Chinese government, placing the outlet within a broader discussion of the institutional status of Chinese state-linked media in the United States. The group also developed a film and entertainment presence. Reference material lists SMG-related participation in films including Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, Last Flight, Kung Fu Panda 3, Born in China, Earth: One Amazing Day, 21 Carats, and Kiangnan 1894. These credits encompass Chinese-language commercial cinema, international co-productions or partnerships, animation-related projects, nature documentaries, and other forms of film content. In 2014, Shanghai Media Group Pictures and The Walt Disney Studios announced a movie-development agreement focused on bringing Chinese themes into Disney-branded movies. Cultural events and international exchange have formed another part of SMG's activities. The group hosted a concert marking the twentieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, with a lineup that included Kim Jang-hoon, Super Junior-M, and EXO-K. Through television, radio, online services, films, publications, and live events, SMG has developed from a Shanghai broadcasting consolidation into a diversified media group. The available sources do not provide enough information to document a complete sequence of later reorganizations, current leadership, ownership percentages across all subsidiaries, or a definitive current operating website.

• 2020

  Yicai Global receives a United States foreign-mission designation

  [1]Shanghai Media Group - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  The United States Department of State designates Yicai Global, formerly China Business Network, as a foreign mission of the Chinese government.

• 2015

  Alibaba takes a minority stake in China Business Network

  [1]Shanghai Media Group - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  Alibaba acquires 30 percent of China Business Network from SMG for 1.2 billion yuan.

• 2014

  SMG Pictures and Disney announce film-development cooperation

  [1]Shanghai Media Group - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  The parties announce an agreement intended to develop Disney-branded films incorporating Chinese themes.

• 2008

  ICS launches as a 24-hour English news channel

  [1]Shanghai Media Group - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  International Channel Shanghai begins continuous English-language television news broadcasting, with digital distribution also used.

• 2003

  English-channel feasibility work begins

  [1]Shanghai Media Group - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  SMG studies the creation of a new English-language channel and develops the Dragon TV identity from the Shanghai Broadcasting Network.

• 2001

  Shanghai Media Group is established

  [1]Shanghai Media Group - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  SMG is created through the consolidation of major Shanghai radio and television organizations.

A comprehensive, state-owned Shanghai media group combining broadcasting, digital distribution, business journalism, film production, entertainment, and cultural programming.

• Television network · 2003

  Dragon TV

  Dragon TV is SMG's nationally oriented television brand. It developed from the Shanghai Broadcasting Network and became a principal vehicle for distributing Shanghai-produced programming to audiences beyond the city. The channel has also been associated with the group's English-language programming history, including the relocation of News at Ten to Dragon TV and the Shanghai Television Business Channel.

• English-language television news · 2008

  ICS (International Channel Shanghai)

  ICS is SMG's international-facing English-language television service. Launched as a 24-hour news channel in January 2008, it was designed to provide English programming from Shanghai and to reach audiences through both broadcast television and mobile or internet platforms.

• Radio broadcasting

  East Radio

  East Radio is a Shanghai radio service associated with SMG's radio operations. Its English-language output has included Live It Up, Shanghai, and the reference material identifies broadcasts on 792 AM and 89.9 FM. Most programming has been produced through SMG's Radio Centre since 2014, according to the cited source.

• Business media

  Yicai Global / China Business Network

  Yicai Global, formerly China Business Network, is SMG's business-media platform. Its cited portfolio has included a television channel, CBN Weekly, CBN Paper, CBN Radio, and related websites. The platform combines business news, financial information, print publishing, radio, television, and online content.

• Film production

  SMG film production and co-production

  SMG participates in film development, production, and partnerships through its film businesses. Reference material associates the group with projects such as Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, Last Flight, Kung Fu Panda 3, Born in China, Earth: One Amazing Day, 21 Carats, and Kiangnan 1894.

• 2021

  Source

Read more

• China–South Korea diplomatic-anniversary concert

  China · South Korea

  SMG hosted a special concert to mark the twentieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea. The event featured performers including Kim Jang-hoon, Super Junior-M, and EXO-K.

  Outcome. A cultural-exchange broadcast and live-event program was held; the available source does not state audience or commercial results.

  Source

• 2015

  Sell a minority stake in China Business Network to AlibabaM&A

  Background

  SMG sought a strategic relationship for its business-media platform, China Business Network.

  Action taken

  Alibaba Group acquired a 30 percent interest in China Business Network from SMG.

  Aftermath

  The platform continued under the Yicai Global name and remained part of the discussion surrounding Chinese state-linked business media.

  Transaction value. 1.2 billion yuan (2015)

  Source

• 2014

  Agree on film development with The Walt Disney StudiosOther

  Background

  SMG Pictures pursued international film-development relationships and opportunities to connect Chinese stories with global entertainment brands.

  Action taken

  SMG Pictures and The Walt Disney Studios announced a movie-development agreement involving Chinese themes in Disney-branded films.

  Aftermath

  The available source does not identify specific projects or the long-term commercial outcome of the agreement.

  Source

• 2008

  Launch ICS as a 24-hour English news channelProduct launch

  Background

  SMG's international-language strategy called for a dedicated English television news service.

  Action taken

  The group launched International Channel Shanghai, with content distributed through television, mobile, and internet platforms.

  Aftermath

  ICS became one of the earliest 24-hour English-language news channels established by a mainland Chinese broadcaster.

  Source

• 2003

  Develop an English-language international channel strategyStrategy

  Background

  SMG sought to extend its reach through English-language programming and assessed the feasibility of creating a new channel.

  Action taken

  The group conducted a feasibility study, renamed the Shanghai Broadcasting Network as Dragon TV, and repositioned selected English programming across its television brands.

  Aftermath

  The strategy preceded the launch of ICS as a 24-hour English-language news service in 2008.

  Source

1. 1Shanghai Media Group - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2六名主持人出席周正毅寿宴被处理cna.com.tw
3. 3六名主持人出席周正毅寿宴被处理timednews.com