CCTV
The online arm of China Central Television with live streams, news and programs.
CCTV at a glance
CCTV is a news & media website and one of the most visited sites in China, currently ranked #102 in the country. It was founded in 1958 by Chinese State and is headquartered in Beijing, China. Today CCTV is owned by China Media Group. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 200 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through tv advertising, digital advertising. Its closest rivals include xinhuanet.com, people.com.cn, thepaper.cn.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 188 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 194 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 200 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 212 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct37%
- Organic search34%
- Social18%
- News aggregators8%
- Email3%
Audience & demographics
- Men55%
- Women45%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5423%
- Age 25-3422%
The audience is concentrated in China, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- China86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 60 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- China
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| cctv | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| breaking news | Top 10 | High | — |
| today's headlines | Top 10 | High | — |
| live coverage | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the China web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 79% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading news & media apps in China
Company information
- Website
- cctv.com
- Sector
- News & Media
- Owner
- China Media Group
- Owner type
- State-owned company
- Founders
- Chinese State
- Founded
- 1958
- Headquarters
- Beijing, China
- Employees
- 10,000+
- Ownership
- China Media Group controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $3 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- Chinese, English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $3 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- State-owned company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
CCTV operates a news and media publisher focused on China. The online arm of China Central Television with live streams, news and programs. Revenue comes mainly from tv advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- TV advertising
- Digital advertising
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- China
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (China)
- #102 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading news & media site in China
- Global rank
- 500
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| xinhuanet.com | ≈ 120 million / month | #103 class competitor | — |
| people.com.cn | ≈ 90 million / month | #104 class competitor | — |
| thepaper.cn | ≈ 60 million / month | #105 class competitor | — |
What is CCTV?
CCTV (cctv.com) is a news and media publisher serving users in China. The online arm of China Central Television with live streams, news and programs. It ranks #102 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the news & media category.
Who owns CCTV?
The site is operated by China Media Group, founded by Chinese State. The company was established in 1958 and is headquartered in Beijing, China. It employs around 10,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place CCTV at roughly 200 million visits per month, about 6.7 million per day. Around 79% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 3.1 pages per visit with an average session of 3 min.
How CCTV makes money
Revenue comes primarily from tv advertising, alongside digital advertising.
Competitors in China
Its closest rivals include xinhuanet.com, people.com.cn, thepaper.cn.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1958
CCTV is founded in Beijing, China.
- Growth phase
Expands its news & media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #102 among the most visited websites in China.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Broad daily news coverage with national reach
- Fast breaking-news publishing
- Free access to most articles
- Strong presence in search and social
Cons
- Heavy advertising load on article pages
- Editorial line criticised by parts of the audience
- Clickbait headlines on high-traffic sections
- Paywall limits on premium content
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns CCTV?
CCTV is operated by China Media Group. State-owned company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is CCTV headquartered?
CCTV is headquartered in Beijing, China.
When was CCTV founded?
CCTV was founded in 1958 by Chinese State.
How many employees does CCTV have?
CCTV employs approximately 10,000+ people.
What is CCTV's revenue?
CCTV's revenue: ≈ $3 billion annual revenue (est.).
Who are CCTV's competitors?
Main competitors in China include xinhuanet.com, people.com.cn, thepaper.cn.
How does CCTV make money?
Mainly tv advertising, digital advertising.
Is CCTV publicly traded?
CCTV's ownership: State-owned company.
How many visitors does CCTV get?
Third-party estimates place CCTV at roughly 200 million visits per month, mostly from China, with 79% mobile traffic.
Is CCTV safe?
CCTV is an established news & media site founded in 1958 and ranked #102 in China; use the official domain cctv.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementscctv.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageChina and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos