In a move to broaden global access to Chinese programming, China Global Television Network (CGTN) has launched three new English-language channels – CGTN Global Biz, China Travel, and Discovering China – now streaming 24/7 on the Myco platform. The channels debuted this month at a media forum in Xi’an, China, marking a key step in China Media Group’s international outreach strategy. Myco is an official partner in this rollout, making CGTN’s latest content available to its worldwide user base in real time. The result is a free, round-the-clock window into China’s economy, culture, and history for English-speaking audiences everywhere.
Expanding China’s Media Reach via FAST Streaming
These new CGTN channels are part of the rapid rise of Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) in global media. FAST platforms distribute live, linear channels at no cost to viewers, supported by advertising, and have become a fast-growing format in recent years. For CGTN – the international arm of China’s state broadcaster – embracing FAST is a strategic move to amplify its voice abroad. The three channels will broadcast around the clock in English across 15 major streaming platforms, including Myco, collectively reaching nearly 200 million viewers worldwide. This 24/7 English access is significant: it ensures that no matter the time zone, global audiences can tune in to Chinese content at their convenience, breaking down language barriers and timing gaps.
CGTN has been laying groundwork for this expansion since 2023, having already launched its main CGTN English news channel and an English documentary channel on leading FAST services. The addition of Global Biz, China Travel, and Discovering China represents the network’s first specialized thematic channels on streaming platforms, each tailored to overseas interests. They were unveiled on November 6 at the Global Video Media Forum, where international media representatives welcomed the channels’ potential to add “vibrant, authentic narratives” from the Global South to the world’s media mix.
CGTN Global Biz: Round-the-Clock Financial News from China
For business professionals, investors, and anyone monitoring China’s economy, CGTN Global Biz delivers continuous financial news and analysis with a China focus. The channel aims to be a “round-the-clock financial information service platform,” featuring real-time financial news, market analysis, and in-depth interviews to help global viewers decode China’s latest economic policies and market trends. From stock market updates and tech industry news to expert discussions on trade and policy, Global Biz serves as a one-stop source for understanding the world’s second-largest economy in context. This 24/7 business coverage is especially relevant as China’s financial decisions increasingly ripple across international markets. Perfect for overseas investors and analysts who need insight into developments in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. By broadcasting in English around the clock, the channel makes China’s economic pulse accessible to global audiences in real time, underscoring China’s growing influence in global business discourse.
China Travel: Showcasing Tourism and Lifestyle
China Travel offers viewers an immersive journey through the country’s diverse landscapes, cities, and traditions.This channel “seeks to spotlight China’s tourism and lifestyle trends, serving as a window for the world to better understand the vibrant cultural offerings in today’s China”
From the snow-capped peaks of Tibet to the bustling streets of Shanghai, programming on China Travel showcases popular tourist destinations, hidden gems, food and festivals, and everyday life across different regions. The channel is tailored for travel enthusiasts, culture explorers, and curious viewers abroad who want to experience modern China beyond the headlines. Programs might include travelogues in English, guides to historic sites, and features on contemporary Chinese lifestyle; all curated to inspire and inform potential visitors. The timing is apt: as international tourism to China rebounds and global curiosity about Chinese culture grows, a dedicated 24/7 travel channel provides an accessible platform to discover the country’s attractions from afar. For global audiences, China Travel not only entertains with stunning visuals and travel tips but also deepens cultural understanding, acting as a form of soft diplomacy through virtual exploration.
Discovering China: Documentaries on History and Progress
Rounding out the trio, Discovering China is a channel devoted to documentaries and factual programs that delve into China’s development story, heritage, and global connections. According to CGTN, the Discovering China channel “showcases a selection of documentaries that reflect the achievements of Chinese modernization and highlight exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations,” presenting a panoramic view of China’s development journey alongside its cultural charm. In essence, this channel is for viewers who seek deeper insight into China’s society – from its ancient history and philosophical traditions to its rapid modern advancements. Documentaries may cover topics like China’s technological innovations, poverty alleviation efforts, environmental conservation, as well as profiles of historical figures and cultural treasures. The content is curated from CGTN’s extensive documentary archives and new productions, presented in English for a global audience. Discovering China appeals to history buffs, students, and documentary lovers worldwide, providing context and narratives that often don’t find a place in breaking news cycles. By broadcasting these stories 24/7, the channel plays a role in shaping international perceptions of China, giving nuance and background to the country’s evolution. In the broader media landscape, it offers an alternative library of knowledge on China – one told from a Chinese viewpoint, complementing documentaries produced by Western media.
Myco’s Role as a Global Streaming Partner
The launch of CGTN’s new channels comes via partnerships with platforms like Myco, which is serving as an official distributor for the 24/7 streams. Myco operates a next-generation streaming service (headquartered in Dubai) and has been expanding its lineup of international content. It already features over 100 live TV channels – including major networks like MTV, Comedy Central, Colors, Nick and CGTN’s primary news channels – through more than 500 content partnerships worldwide. By hosting CGTN Global Biz, China Travel, and Discovering China, Myco is deepening its collaboration and bolstering its news and documentary offerings for users.
Importantly, Myco’s platform is free and globally accessible, aligning with the FAST model that CGTN is targeting. Viewers can tune into these channels on the Myco app or website without a subscription, an approach that lowers the barrier for audiences to sample content from China. Myco, which boasts over 21 million users around the world, leverages a Web3-enabled, interactive streaming model – meaning users can engage with content and even earn rewards for watching. This tech-forward approach has made Myco an emerging player in digital media distribution. As the official streaming partner, Myco ensures that CGTN’s English-language channels reach a wide and tech-savvy audience beyond traditional TV. The partnership exemplifies how new distribution channels are enabling state broadcasters like CGTN to connect directly with international viewers through smartphones, smart TVs, and laptops. For Myco’s viewers, it means a richer library of global content at their fingertips – from live sports and entertainment to now a deep dive into Chinese travel adventures, business news, and documentaries.
A Broader Shift in Global Media Dynamics
The introduction of CGTN’s three specialized channels on Myco signals a broader shift in the global media landscape. It highlights China’s drive to extend its media reach and soft power through modern streaming technology. By providing English-language content around the clock, Chinese media is positioning itself to tell China’s story to the world in its own voice, complementing the narratives often dominated by Western outlets. Media experts observing the launch noted that such initiatives can “multiply the voices of the Global South” and carry more diverse, authentic stories to international audiences. In practical terms, global viewers now have greater choice: they can watch a business report from Beijing, a travel documentary in Yunnan, or a cultural special on Confucius – all directly from Chinese sources – as easily as flipping on a traditional Western news channel.
For worldwide audiences, this development offers a chance to broaden their perspective by accessing content curated from within China. It may foster greater cross-cultural understanding at a time of intense geopolitical attention on China. The 24/7 availability also means that educators, researchers, and the Chinese diaspora can continuously tap into programming about China in English, whether for learning or staying connected to home. From China’s standpoint, the global rollout via Myco and other platforms is a sign of confidence and ambition in its media strategy: an effort to engage and even compete in the international information arena.
As streaming services continue to revolutionize how we consume news and entertainment, CGTN’s partnership with Myco exemplifies the new opportunities for content providers to reach audiences without the old barriers of cable deals or satellite footprints. In the long run, the presence of China’s travel tales, economic analyses, and documentaries on a readily accessible app is a reminder that the global media ecosystem is becoming more pluralistic. Viewers everywhere stand to benefit from this diversity: they can explore a China that is often unseen or misunderstood, now just a tap away on their screens. In an era of increasing interconnectedness, the launch of these channels is more than just a programming update – it’s a milestone in China’s global media outreach, and a testament to the growing demand for multicultural voices in the streaming age.
