China Mulls News Corp., AOL Time Warner Access

BEIJING – China is in negotiations to let News Corp. and AOL Time Warner broadcast directly to television audiences in limited parts of southern China, the government's broadcast authority said Wednesday.

A deal would be contingent on the two companies ensuring wide access to the United States for CCTV-9, the English-language channel of China's main government-controlled television network, said a spokeswoman for the State General Administration of Radio, Film and Television.

If negotiations are successful, China intends to allow New York-based AOL and Sydney-based News Corp. to broadcast to households in parts of Guangdong, a booming southern province next to Hong Kong, the official said. She refused to be identified by name.

``We have agreed that they can broadcast in parts of Guangdong, but not all the province. There are limits,'' she said. ``We hope that the two companies will help us get CCTV-9 — the English channel — into the United States.''