Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, April 2011

It's been over a year since my last report! Not a lot has happened from the OTA side, but Time Warner did start offering a competitive Chinese language package (look at picture above).

Time Warner's new package includes
ETTV News
ETTV Super
ETTV China
ETTV Drama
ETTV YOYO
Phoenix InfoNews
Phoenix NA Chinese Channel
CTI-Zhong Tian
CCTV-4
CCTV-NEWS

Another OTA channel started up in February 2011 backed by the ETTV guys on 62.6. Mostly Taiwanese content from channel surfing there. I've mostly been watching the news there, pretty recent news too. However, I do get periodic signal distortion with this channel.

Also, since my last post, the 31.X channels signal has improved. Improved so much that I can't remember the last time I didn't get signal.

There also a wikipedia page that keeps a pretty good listing of the channels in Mandarin Chinese, Los Angeles free-to-air networks. The page neglects to list 31.9 as an CCTV-9 channel.

Great news to all you people that want to get FREE Chinese Channels.

18.8 has also increased its coverage to the "cable" networks with these channels:


Related Posts to Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles:
March 2010
January 2010
October 2009
May 2009
April 2009
Part 3 (January 2009)
Part 2 (January 2009)
Part 1 (August 2008)

Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, March 2010

Much has changed in just 2 short months.

There are now 4 more free digital stations with Mandarin Chinese content since my last update on January 1st! Four!

57.9 was advertising at my daughters' Chinese school during their spring festival celebration. So, I checked it out and it's mostly Taiwan programming. The station is run by Zhong Want TV Inc.

Three other new channels:
31.5 - SkyLink TV
31.7 - TBWTV - Advertised for months, but as of my last report, wasn't airing. Now its up.
31.8 - Programming from China (company unknown)

The 31.X channels are really poor signal quality. I can't watch it nor understand anything due to poor sound quality. I'll check them out periodically to see if KVMD gets a stronger signal.

There you have it, 4 more Mandarin Chinese centric stations in the Los Angeles area. It really is making the argument for dropping cable.

BTW - 31.9 and 31.10 are airing content but the signal is so poor, I can't make out what type of broadcast. Maybe it's more Chinese stations!

Related Posts to Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
April 2009
May 2009
October 2009
January 2010

Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, January 2010

Happy New Years everyone!

I am going to start 2010 with an update on the current Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, January 2010 edition.

In September 2009, digital 62.2 started broadcasting out of City of Industry. HTTV USA (Hantian TV) is 24 hours of Mandarin language television. I didn't even know about this until a friend cancelled his cable because of all the free Chinese television available now.

The other free 24 hour Chinese stations in Los Angeles are 18.8, 44.6, 44.7. and 44.8. You can include 62.2 as part of that group now. 18.1 still has Chinese on for about 5-6 hours a day.

I currently have FiOS and get a few hours of Chinese programming on Channel 20 and 26 everynight. Channel 281 is a Bay Area station that runs 24 hours.

My parents recently switched to DirectTV's "MandarinDirect III" package. It includes CCTV-4, Tai Seng Sat TV, Phoenix North America, Phoenix InfoNews, CTI, TVB8, and TVBS. Pretty impressive. Although the Taiwanese Mega Pack and Great Wall TV package from Dish Network seems to have DirectTV beat.

I'll cross my fingers and hope FiOS gets these type of packages soon. I don't think my wife would like it. ~_~

Ok, that's the latest update from City of Angels. Go Lakers!

Related Posts:
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, Part 2
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, Part 3
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, April 2009
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, May 2009
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, October 2009

Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, October 2009

KXLA's 44.8 is a new all China channel labeled ICN. But it is run by the IAVC folks.

KSCI's 18.8 is sporadic and shows Super Spy now.

I actually got FiOS TV when I upgraded to FiOS from DSL a few months back. I get 2 versions of Sino TV, one for the LA region and one from San Jose. Zhong Tian is broadcast about 5 hours a day on a channel.

All in all, I miss 44.6 and 18.8 when I am on FiOS. But I switch back and forth once or twice a week.

Related Posts:
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, Part 2
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, Part 3
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, April 2009
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, May 2009

Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, May 2009

KXLA's 44.7 is a New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV) channel, based out in New York City. I noticed some of the commericals had NYC addresses. They are showing mostly strange stuff to me at the moment.

KSCI's 18.8 is starting to re-run some of the main LA 18 main Chinese programming.

KXLA's 44.6 is IAVC and they changed the nighttime programming to have Taiwanese variety shows every night at 9 now. Most of the weeknight shows are from around a year ago.

Keep it up LA, the free programming in Los Angeles is getting better. I am not getting cable anytime soon.

Related Posts:
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, Part 2
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, Part 3
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, April 2009
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, October 2009

Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, April 2009

So, a few things have happened for free Chinese TV in LA in the last couple of months.

18.6's TopTV is off the air. I think it was around early March that I noticed.

There is a new Chinese station on 44.7. Unfortunately, I can't find any information on it. Seems to be a channel from Taiwan.

18.8 and 44.6 have been awesome these last few months. Looking forward to 44.7 being regular.

Related Posts:
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, Part 2
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, Part 3
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, May 2009
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, October 2009

Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, Part 3

Back in November, I wrote a post about Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles. I followed that up with a part 2. Here's a part 3!



If you live in the greater LA area and have Chinese stores around, you might have run into the TV Channel Magazine run by the Yes Marketing Group in Monterey Park. I've been picking up these mags for what seems like the last 5 years. It's published on a monthly basis.

It's in Traditional Chinese and has almost no English. I picked it up to see the TV listings for the Chinese TV stations in the Los Angeles area. It has listing for the new 44.6 channel. Very helpful as I get a chance to see what's on tap for the month.

It also includes reviews for upcoming new dramas from China or Taiwan and also a Hollywood roundup.

Look for it next time you're in LA. They haven't gotten the mag into the digital era.

Related Posts:
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, Part 2
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, April 2009
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, May 2009
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, October 2009

Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles

I don't recall the 70s, but LA has had Chinese Language TV since the 80s on KSCI, Channel 18.  Since the 90s, they've added cable stations and the 00s, digital channels and broadbrand's KyLin TV.

Most recently, IAVC is starting a 24/7 digital station on channel 44.6.  Here's an excerpt of their media kit release:

"On December, 1, 2008, IAVC will launch one 24/7 Chinese channel on UHF Ch.44.6, TV viewers in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and Ventura County may watch IAVC’s digital-quality channel without paying any fees."

That's pretty cool since I don't have cable or dish.  I rely on free TV.  Up until a couple of days ago, they were on this repeated commerical that looped every so often.  They seem to be showing regular stuff now.   But there's the big "TEST" in the middle of the screen, so it looks like they really are waiting until 12/1.

Back in the 90s, channel 62 (KRCA) use to have chinese broadcast.  But I think that the increase in cable stations may have played in a role in those broadcasts ending.  I am just guessing.  I use to watch a show called "Flash Beat" with a host named Harry.  Ironically, Harry and I went to the same high school and church, but didn't know each other from there.  But were introduced by a mutal friend years later.

If you're in the LA area, you can get Chinese Language TV for free, on cable, on satalite, or broadbrand.  Its just a mater of looking for it.

Related Posts:
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, Part 2
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, Part 3
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, April 2009
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, May 2009
Chinese Language TV in Los Angeles, October 2009