Audience can enjoy a clearer, more vivid Spring Festival gala show in the 2006 lunar new year's eve, as China Central Television (CCTV) is going to air this brand program through its digital high-definition TV channel.

"The channel will also carry events like the 2006 soccer World Cup in Berlin, and the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing," said Tao Libao, the channel's majordomo.

But he said the festival gala program through the channel may not be a live show.

The high-definition programs are commercial operations.

It is China's first digital high-definition TV channel.

On September 1, the channel launched its test show in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, and it is applying to 26 cities at present.

"The service will be formally launched nationwide in January 1, 2006, and about 50 cities could have the channel access," said Gao.

In comparison with analogue TV, digital TV has clearer pictures and more channels. The digital format allows for the transmission of a greater volume of data and combines audio and visual content, rather than dividing the two, as in analog format.

Chinese are accustomed to waiting for the lunar new year in front of the TV by watching a five-hour show produced by CCTV, making it one of their new-year-eve rituals since the gala party debuted in 1983.

According to lunar year calendar, the new year will fall on January 29 next year.

Source: Xinhua