China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television has recently issued two circulars in succession, asking an inspection to be carried out on the ground digital television system and emphasizing that at least six analog channels should be retained during the overall digital television conversion.

SARFT reportedly issued these circulars because some local subsidiaries of SARFT launched unqualified digital television systems by taking advantage of the lack of a national standard in China.

SARFT says that it is working with relevant departments to make detailed measures and policies for digital television conversion. However, this will still take some time and SARFT emphasizes that all companies must not carry out ground digital television technology testing or use television channels without its approval.

SARFT asks its subsidiaries at the provincial level to conduct a check on the local digital conversion systems and submit results to it before February 15, 2007.