Workers were busy Sunday installing a digital television system in two of Beijing's subway lines to prepare for live broadcasts of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

 

Passengers will be able to watch Liu Xiang and other sports stars on mobile broadcasts in 56 trains on the Batong Line and 24 trains on Line 13, with six screens in each carriage, according to Beijing Mobile TV -- the company in charge of the project.

 

Subway cars on Lines 1 and 2, and brand-new Line 5 which will start carrying passengers in September, will also provide live television broadcasts with the same technology.

 

Subway passengers will be able to watch news reports, get information updates such as live traffic situations, and watch live broadcasts of the upcoming Olympic games.

 

The installation comes after a successful one-year trial operation of the digital TV system in part of Beijing's subway network.

 

Trial broadcasts of digital television programs were first launched in Beijing's ground transit system in 2004, providing news, information and entertaining programs to passengers.

 

So far, about 5,000 buses have been equipped with the digital television system, and the government plans to install the system in 12,000 more buses and 30,000 cabs before 2008.

 

The company plans to expand the technology to private cars, buildings and public places -- part of Beijing's efforts to create a high-tech Olympics.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2007)