Studies show that children in China and the US watch TV two to four hours a day. That can add up to 20,000 hours by the time they reach 18-years old. Now with that much TV time, it's no wonder children are so heavily influenced by the shows they watch. But what kind of shows are deemed responsible? Experts on children's TV programs are now in Beijing for the Asia-Pacific Children & Youth TV Festival.

The festival opened Sunday night. More than one-hundred experts from 40 countries are taking part in this year's event. The festival is being held in China for the first time. It's co-organized by Prix Jeunesse International and China Central Television.

Zhao Huayong, President of China Central Television, said, "Children are the future of every country. TV experts should take the obligation and responsibility. Asia-Pacific Children & Youth TV festival is a platform that is for all the professionals of children TV programs in the Asia-Pacific region to exchange ideas, share experience, update information for better programs for children."

Ursula von Zallinger, the Secretary General of Prix Jeunesse International, says it's been 20 years since she first dreamed of launching a regional Prix Jeunesse children's television festival in Asia, Africa and South America.

In the next four days, experts will watch more than 160 programs from over 20 countries. They will compete for the ten awards including Best Fiction, Best Non-Fiction and Chinese Children's Favorite. The awards will be handed out on Thursday night at China Central Television.

(CCTV October 12, 2005)