KTSF's Chinese-Language Newscast Celebrates 20th Anniversary

KTSF's Chinese-Language Newscast Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Tiananmen Square Protests Helped Establish Long-Running Newscast

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cantonese Newscast" on KTSF Television, the nation's largest Asian-language broadcast station, will celebrate two decades of in-language news reporting this Friday, February 6th. Today, KTSF's highly-rated primetime Chinese-language news program is a credible and integral news source for San Francisco Bay Area's growing Chinese community.

Premiering February 6, 1989, the "Cantonese Newscast" was uniquely well positioned to provide in-depth reporting of news and information relevant to San Francisco Bay Area's Chinese community. Less than four months after its launch, the Tiananmen Square protests dramatically unfolded in China. KTSF and its team of experienced Chinese-speaking journalists quickly became a critical resource of up-to-the-minute news coverage and analysis for the Bay Area, including mainstream network television stations.

It was this first newscast on February 6, 1989 which was inducted into the permanent collection of the Paley Center for Media (formerly the Museum of Television and Radio) last July. Considered a program of social and historical importance by the Paley Center, the "Cantonese Newscast" premiered as the first, live local Chinese-language newscast in the United States to enthusiastic audience feedback.

"Even though we serve a multi-ethnic, in-language audience, we have always viewed ourselves as a mainstream station," noted KTSF General Manager, Michael Sherman. "In 1989, we felt it was time to do what mainstream stations do and that was to produce a high quality local newscast. KTSF today has become a trusted news source with our in-depth coverage of local, national and international issues."

KTSF chief editor and award-winning anchor, Mei-Ling Sze, a newscaster from Hong Kong made her debut on the "Cantonese Newscast" 20 years ago and continues to anchor the nightly 7 PM newscast. "The strength of KTSF news is, from its inception, to provide an authentic narrative of the Chinese American experience," she said.

Community leaders, like Anni Chung, President/CEO of multi-service non-profit Self-Help For The Elderly recently stated in a testimonial for the newscast, "We cannot imagine the Bay Area without KTSF news. It is such an integral part of our community. Their anchors, editors, and reporters collaborate regularly with many community organizations on many fronts. We are partners, striving to improve the quality of life for the people we serve in the community."

KTSF is the only U.S. television station to broadcast nightly, live news programming in Cantonese and Mandarin. The "Cantonese Newscast" airs weeknights at 7 PM and Saturdays at 6 PM. The "Mandarin Newscast" airs weeknights at 10 PM and Sundays at 6 PM.

About KTSF Television

KTSF Television is the largest Asian-language broadcast station in the United States. Established in 1976, KTSF is an independent, full-power television station providing news and entertainment programming to over 2.75 million television households. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, KTSF broadcasts in 12 languages. KTSF is available over-the-air on channel 26 and on cable channel 8 on Comcast Cable throughout the Northern California market. DirecTV, Dish Network and AT&T U-Verse also carry KTSF. KTSF is the first Asian media outlet in the United States to offer Nielsen Media Research data to its clients. For more information, please visit http://www.ktsf.com/.

Source: KTSF Television

CONTACT: Mary Placido of GolinHarris, +1-415-274-7902,
mplacido@golinharris.com, for KTSF

Web site: http://www.ktsf.com/

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