Fifty national and local TV stations in China have jointly set up a news sharing network, aiming for more original and faster reports.

Luo Ming, vice president of the China Central Television (CCTV), the state broadcaster and member of the newly-established China Satellite News Gathering Alliance (CSNG), said the move was an important step for China to "gain a new stronghold in international media competition".

"The establishment of CSNG would strengthen domestic cooperation in TV broadcasting and help China to boost international cooperation in the area," he said.

According to CSNG articles signed in Beijing on Sunday, alliance members are entitled to share information of on-the-scene newscast and use satellite services to transmit their stories, which could enable the TV news to get to its audience in the shortest time.

TV stories would travel at a greater speed as CSNG members are scattered all over the country with some even based in counties, CSNG said.

Membership of CSNG is also open to enterprises and institutions, publicity departments of the government and the army that have the capacity to broadcast alive.

Coverage on emergencies by local TV broadcasters would be sent to and shared by CCTV and other members.

A website, www. cctvnnn.com. will be set up to serve as the platform for CSNG members to share information and update their news information.

CSNG members could select topics on the platform and seek potential partners that are interested in the same topic, according to CSNG articles.

According to the declaration on CSNG, members are both program suppliers and users. They share information on an equal footing, work to develop CSNG cause and aim to create a "win-win situation" for everyone.

Before the establishment of CSNG, a series of reports called "our 30 years" was made through the joint efforts of CCTV and another 33 TV stations.

The TV series, which was a prelude and trail practice before the inauguration of CSNG, did not label the contributor's logo when they were on show.

Previously, CCTV would solicit news coverage and programs from local TV media or hire local media workers to report stories. Local TV stations would be merited if their coverage is used in CCTV.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2008)