In a recent development in mainland China, local finances are becoming increasingly tight, putting the television industry at risk. Reports of a satellite TV channel in a southern province only paying out 38% of salaries have sparked concerns. Meanwhile, Henan Television announced that they are implementing a unified basic salary of 3500 yuan (RMB) across the board. Some analysts see this as a sign that the traditional media industry is facing a harsh winter.
Moreover, the Chinese Journalists Association’s WeChat account shared an article by Wang Renhai, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of Henan Radio and Television, and Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Henan Radio and Television Media Group. In the article, it was revealed that the basic salary standard is set at 3500 yuan.
Wang Renhai stated, “Regardless of one’s status or employment form, the salary will be uniformly set at 3500 yuan.”
The article also mentioned the establishment of a special incentive fund, with individual project teams eligible for a maximum cash reward of 600,000 yuan.
The decision to set the basic salary at 3500 yuan for all employees at Henan Television has ignited discussions across the industry and prompted a deeper reflection on the future direction of the media sector.
Many netizens believe that the key point of this move lies in challenging the conventional understanding of job security and stable income. Can a basic salary of 3500 yuan support the dignity and dreams of a media professional in today’s rapidly rising cost of living? This question is not only on the minds of employees but also a focal point of interest for various sectors of society.
Some netizens suggest that the salary reform at Henan Television signals the beginning of a major transformation in the national media landscape. The Chinese media industry has long operated on a uniform salary distribution model, regardless of work intensity or performance, leading to relatively equal income for employees. The emergence of new media not only impacts the traditional media’s viewership market but also intensifies the competition for talents.
Amid China’s economic downturn and the overall decline in various industries, many companies have resorted to layoffs and salary cuts due to poor financial performance. Recently, there were reports that a satellite TV channel in a southern province is only paying out 38% of salaries starting this month.
Blogger “Lizhi” analyzes that the news of the satellite TV channel in the southern province paying out only 38% of salaries reflects the challenges and struggles facing the traditional media. This may not be an isolated issue for one channel but rather a crisis that the entire industry is facing.
The rise of new media and changing audience habits have led to a decline in traditional TV ratings and a sharp decrease in advertising revenue, becoming an undeniable reality. Faced with such challenges, all traditional media outlets are now at a crossroads.
Against the backdrop of financial difficulties in local funding, county-level television stations in mainland China are facing the risk of closure. There have been recent reports that nearly 2000 county-level TV stations nationwide are at risk of shutdown. The closure of a large number of TV stations will result in a significant number of employees being unemployed, making it difficult for them to find new employment opportunities.
“Lizhi” points out that the news of 2000 county-level TV stations shutting down is like a cold wave sweeping through an already struggling media industry. Some of these closed TV stations are struggling to survive due to poor management, while others are forced to exit the stage of history due to policy adjustments. The future direction of traditional media is a crucial issue that will determine their survival and development.