As expected, on the eve of the New moon -the day before the start of the Chinese New Year-, he China Media Group (CMG) celebrated the popular “Chunwan”the Spring Festival Gala which holds the record of being the most watched television program in the world. The typical live show with which people welcome the new year at twelve.
It was first broadcast in 1983, and since then it has become an indispensable cultural ritual for Lunar New Year celebrations. It accompanied the social and economic transformation of China and established itself as one of the largest platforms for artistic and cultural dissemination on a global scale.
Each edition brings together the more than one billion viewers through television and digital platforms, becoming an unprecedented media phenomenon.
For the Chinese public, see the Gala on New Year’s Eve is synonymous with family reunion. Beyond the geographical distance -inside or outside the country-, the opening melodies of the program mark the symbolic beginning of the reunion.
On one stage they come together traditional opera, folk dances, martial arts, contemporary music, humor and technologically advanced shows.
In each edition, established artists share the stage with representatives of different social sectors, reflecting the pulse of the country and the collective wishes of prosperity and hope for the new year.
An innovative edition
In recent years, the Gala incorporated technical innovations that redefine the television show. Each edition builds a visual story that celebrates Chinese identity in dialogue with the world.
In the last edition there were immersive digital sets, multi-platform transmissions in high definition, performances that integrate artificial intelligence and robotics, robots dancing to the rhythm of traditional yangge or interacting with human artists.
One of the most significant advances of the most recent production was its comprehensive commitment to accessibility. The Gala was not limited to the inclusion of subtitles or specific descriptions, but from the original design it incorporated versions adapted with sign language, auditory narration and formats optimized for different devices.
The accessible signal, which had already been implemented on digital platforms, will also be transmitted on traditional television, allowing people with hearing or visual disabilities to share the experience with their families, without barriers.
The 2025 edition had left eloquent testimonies about this progress. A hearing-impaired viewer reported on social media that he dismantled his television to place it vertically so he could better follow the accessible broadcast optimized for mobile phones.
International transmission through signals such as CGTN Spanish It allowed the Spanish-speaking audience to simultaneously access this celebration, further expanding its global reach.
The «Chunwan» of China Media Group (CMG), is – as we said – broadcast every year on the eve of the Lunar New Year. Guinness recognizes her as the most watched television program (by reach) and, for example, records for 2012 a unique reach of almost 499 million only on Chinese national channels.
