CCTV-The First Theater

CCTV-The First Theater is a premium movie channel of China Central Television, launched in August 2004. Its schedule features Chinese and international feature films in themed blocks, drawing on the broadcaster's licensed film library. The channel belongs to CCTV's pay-TV digital family, so availability depends on the local pay-TV package rather than free-to-air reception, and unlike the free-to-air movie channel CCTV-6 it screens films in longer uninterrupted runs. It broadcasts in Chinese and is listed in the index with HD and SD versions. The broadcaster's official site, tv.cctv.com, publishes channel information and authorised viewing details.