China Central Television (CCTV) officially has introduced its first two interactive channels on tv.cctv.com, Monday.

The two channels, one on news and the other on recreation, will provide interactive programs on line as well as chatroom services.

Cctv.com started in 1996 and now has 36 channels. In 2004, CCTV began to prepare 31 interactive channels, which are now mostly operating on a trial basis.

Interactive news has been a long-awaited and much-talked-about industry in China. Many domestic and overseas entrepreneurs are eyeing the lucrative, huge market in the country.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2005)