CCTV-1

Initially branded as Peking Television (not to be confused with the present-day Beijing Television), CCTV-1 was launched on an experimental basis on 2 May 1958 and officially regular broadcasting for 4 hours 30 minutes each day starting on 2 September 1958. Peking Television was granted a free-to-air terrestrial television broadcasting license in the 1960s. It began broadcasting experimentally in colour in 1971, and later launched via satellite transmissions in 1972 for major events. The first colour programmes were PAL-D/K, and full-time colour broadcasting began in 1977.

On 1 May 1978, Peking Television was renamed China Central Television (CCTV) with the approval of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. CCTV began domestic satellite transmissions in 1984 using the Song Dang Hong 2 satellite. In 1988, it began stereo broadcasting on all television channels. In 1994, it moved satellite broadcasting from Chinasat-3 to Chinasat-4, a quality-level broadcaster. It turned on its digital signal in 2002. CCTV-1 began broadcasting 24 hours a day on 1 October 2004 and began high-definition broadcasting on 28 September 2009. On 1 March 2011, Hong Kong's Asia Television (ATV) started relaying CCTV-1 instead of CCTV-4, a Hong Kong-based free-to-air digital terrestrial station that is usually tuned to 15 on the UHF band. On 29 May 2017, Hong Kong's RTHK started relaying CCTV-1 instead of CGTN Documentary, a Hong Kong-based free-to-air digital terrestrial station that is usually tuned to 33 on the high-definition television.