China Central Television and America's National Geographic have signed a cooperation agreement in Beijing. The deal states the American National Geographic channel will provide programs for CCTV's new channel "World Geographic".

The agreement was signed on Wednesday afternoon and is part of preparations for CCTV to open one of its first pay-per-view channels in September.

"World Geographic" will be a specialized documentary channel offering 19 hours of programs every day to explore the space that humanity lives in.

CCTV and National Geographic also agreed to establish joint companies to produce more China-based geographical programs and bring them to the overseas market.

(CCTV.com August 5, 2004)