PBS inks China deal

CHENGDU -- PBS International, the international distribution arm of pubcaster PBS, has signed a multi-year broadcast and distribution deal with China's largest educational TV media and distance education platform, China Educational Television (CETV). CETV, which is tied in to China's ministry of education and operates five TV channels and 11 IPTV channels, will give a daily primetime slot on weekdays for PBS-branded programming to air on CETV-3. This channel covers the Beijing metropolitan area. The series, with the working title "Clear View," will be produced and presented by Chinese anchor and producer Jing Fang, and will bow in January 2012. The deal also means that CETV's distribution arm, Beijing Zhongxian Media, will act as PBS International's sales agent in mainland China for the duration of the contract, with access to PBS International's library of more than 500 hours of documentary, children's and lifestyle programming. "This is, by far, the largest deal we have done in China," PBS International's veep Tom Koch said in a statement, adding that he was very impressed with the resources CETV was putting into promoting and advertising PBS International's programming. CETV president Kang Ning said the cooperation was not just about programming distribution, "but about developing a long-term strategic partnership, and contributing to the development and production of global educational programming." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com