Chinese welcome back BBC World

The BBC is being allowed for the first time to beam direct television broadcasts into China.

In an indication of a major thaw in relations with the Chinese authorities, BBC World -- the corporation's twenty-four-hour TV news channel -- will be shown in major hotels and the residences of the Chinese elite and foreign expatriates.

It won't be available to ordinary Chinese, however.

BBC World used to be available in China by satellite on the Star TV network, but was dropped in 1994 by Star's owner, Rupert Murdoch.

Observers say the Chinese authorities were unhappy with some BBC coverage -- especially of the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations. The BBC Beijing correspondent says the Chinese media market has been transformed in recent years, with a profusion of cable TV stations and internet sites.

However, he says the authorities will still take stern action against any domestic outlet that runs material deemed as politically sensitive.

BBC radio broadcasts have in the past been jammed by the Chinese authorities.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service