Participants attending the Ministerial Seminar on New Media Capacity Building for Women Officials from Belt and Road Countries were taken on an educational visit to Hunan Broadcasting System in Changsha, where they learned how one of China’s most influential broadcasters is embracing AI to revolutionise content production and international broadcasting.
During a presentation, Nan Hui, a senior staff member at Hunan Broadcasting System, explained that the broadcaster has spent nearly three decades building a reputation for producing award-winning television dramas, documentaries, reality shows and digital content that now reach audiences across the globe.
Hunan Broadcasting System, widely recognised through its streaming platform Mango TV, has become one of China’s largest media groups, combining traditional television with digital innovation. The platform distributes content in multiple languages and has expanded its global footprint through entertainment, documentaries and cultural programming.
Nan Hui revealed that one of the broadcaster’s documentaries focusing on Africa has become highly popular among viewers, reflecting China’s growing interest in telling stories that connect different cultures.
She noted that HBS has also pioneered reality television programmes that not only entertain but promote traditional Chinese culture and local products. Some products featured during the programmes reportedly sold out within just 48 hours, demonstrating the increasing influence of media on consumer behaviour.
“Our mission is not only to entertain but also to preserve and promote traditional Chinese culture through creative storytelling,” she told the international delegates.
The broadcaster’s television dramas have received numerous international awards, while its Chinese drama productions continue to gain popularity on overseas digital platforms.
One of the most striking presentations focused on the explosive growth of short dramas, a rapidly expanding format attracting millions of viewers worldwide. According to Nan Hui, HBS has produced approximately 5,000 short dramas, including productions created with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
She explained that AI is increasingly being integrated into script development, production workflows and visual creation, allowing media organisations to produce content more efficiently while maintaining high production standards.
“Artificial intelligence is becoming an important tool in modern broadcasting,” she said, adding that many of the broadcaster’s latest productions now incorporate AI technologies to enhance creativity and improve production speed.
The delegates also learned that the broadcaster’s streaming platform serves audiences in more than 190 countries and regions, offers multilingual subtitles, and has accumulated billions of online views, making it one of China’s fastest-growing international media platforms.
For many participants, the visit highlighted how rapidly AI is changing the global media landscape. From automated production systems to AI-assisted storytelling and digital distribution, China’s media industry is increasingly blending technology with creative content to reach international audiences.
The visit formed part of the ongoing seminar aimed at strengthening media capacity among women officials from Belt and Road countries, exposing participants to China’s latest innovations in journalism, broadcasting and digital communication.
As the seminar continues in Changsha, delegates are gaining first-hand experience of how Chinese media organisations are positioning themselves at the forefront of the digital era where artificial intelligence, innovation and cultural storytelling are becoming the new language of global communication.
