CCTV is a national television station and a national vice-ministerial institution. It was established on May 1, 1958. CCTV was originally named Beijing Television and was officially broadcast on September 2, 1958. It was renamed China Central Television on May 1, 2011.

China Central Television is an important news and public opinion organization in China, an important mouthpiece of the government and people, an important ideological and cultural front in China, and one of the most competitive mainstream media in China today. It is the main channel for the national public to obtain information and an important window for China to understand the world and the world to understand China. Its international influence is increasing day by day.

Nowadays, CCTV is "prosperously developing". In terms of influence, it currently ranks first among the central media, especially "Xinwen Lianbo". Most people think that the central news media unit ranks first among the central media units. The TV station is the number one, but actually it is not.

People’s Daily and Xinhua News Agency are directly under the central government and the State Council, so they are both ministerial-level units. CCTV is only the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television under the State Council, so it is only a deputy-ministerial unit.