Sky Link TV

Sky Link TV is a Chinese-language television network based in Los Angeles and directed primarily at Chinese-speaking audiences in the United States. The service originated as North America Television, or NATV, which was established in Los Angeles in 1989 by a Taiwanese American financial group. Its early distribution strategy centered on reaching Chinese-language viewers through American cable systems. The network entered Charter Cable in 1990 and later established a New York branch that joined Time Warner Cable in New York City in 1992. The New York operation was closed in 1999. In December 2001, the operating company changed its name to Global Communication Group, Inc. and began doing business as Sky Link TV. The rebranding accompanied an expansion from a local or regional Chinese-language outlet into a broader television service. Sky Link TV subsequently developed distribution relationships with satellite and internet platforms. It joined Dish Network in 2006 and Kylin Internet TV in 2007, giving the brand access to viewers beyond its terrestrial cable footprint. Ownership changed several times during the following decade. In July 2009, the network was sold to Tian Xing Media Company, a private Chinese company. Later that year Sky Link TV launched KVMD UHF 31.5 as a free-to-air Mandarin channel operating around the clock. In September 2012, it was sold to Guangzhou Media American Co., Ltd., a company associated with Guangzhou Broadcasting Network. The network then expanded its language and channel portfolio: in November 2012 it launched a 24-hour Cantonese service on KXLA UHF 44.4, describing the expansion as making it the first television station in the United States to broadcast continuously in both Mandarin and Cantonese. A third channel, a Mandarin service on KXLA UHF 44.3, followed in May 2014. At the same time, Sky Link TV ended its affiliation with KVMD 31.5. The brand has combined television distribution with community-oriented programming and live events. It began broadcasting the Rose Parade live in Mandarin on New Year's Day in 2004, later adding Cantonese coverage in 2013. It also organized live entertainment events, including stand-up comedy performances by Dayo Wong in Pasadena in 2012 and in New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles in 2014. Sky Link TV discontinued its Kylin TV internet-streaming affiliation in May 2015, but continued developing conventional broadcast and cable distribution. In September 2015 it reached an agreement with KRON-TV, after which Sky Link TV San Francisco became available through KRON 4.2 and Comcast Xfinity channel 193. The network's later corporate history includes a reported merger and acquisition transaction involving Jetsen Huashi Wangju Cultural Media Company. On March 22, 2019, Jetsen Huashi Wangju announced a merger with Sky Link TV USA. The available reference material does not establish the final operational structure, current ownership arrangements, present channel lineup, or whether all listed services remain active. Sky Link TV is therefore best understood as a Chinese-language American television brand with a history spanning terrestrial broadcast, cable, satellite, internet distribution, live event programming, and cross-border media ownership.

Sky Link TV traces its origins to North America Television, founded in Los Angeles on December 1, 1989, by a Taiwanese American financial group. Its initial purpose was to provide Chinese-language television for viewers in the United States. The service entered Charter Cable in 1990 and established a New York City branch in December 1992, where it obtained distribution through Time Warner Cable. That branch was closed in 1999. In December 2001, North America Television changed its corporate name to Global Communication Group, Inc. and adopted Sky Link TV as its business identity. The network then pursued a combination of cable, satellite, internet, and broadcast distribution. It began live Mandarin coverage of the Rose Parade on January 1, 2004, joined Dish Network on August 10, 2006, and entered the Kylin Internet TV platform on November 9, 2007. A major ownership transition occurred on July 27, 2009, when Sky Link TV was sold to Tian Xing Media Company. In December of the same year it launched KVMD UHF 31.5, a free-to-air channel carrying Mandarin programming continuously. On September 17, 2012, the network was sold to Guangzhou Media American Co., Ltd. Its channel strategy then became explicitly bilingual. On November 2, 2012, it launched a Cantonese service on KXLA UHF 44.4. A Mandarin channel on KXLA UHF 44.3 was added on May 15, 2014, when the network also ended its KVMD affiliation. Sky Link TV has also used live events to build cultural visibility. It hosted a Dayo Wong stand-up comedy performance at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on November 4, 2012, and hosted further performances in New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles on November 16, 2014. The network ended its Kylin TV internet-streaming relationship in May 2015. In September 2015 it signed an agreement with KRON-TV; Sky Link TV San Francisco subsequently broadcast on KRON 4.2 and was carried by Comcast Xfinity on channel 193. In December 2018, Sky Link TV selected Nielsen as its local television measurement provider. On March 22, 2019, Jetsen Huashi Wangju Cultural Media Company announced a merger involving Sky Link TV USA. The available material does not provide enough information to determine the transaction's final structure, the network's current operating status, or its present distribution footprint.

• 2019

  Merger announcement involving Sky Link TV USA

  [1]Sky Link TVen.wikipedia.org

  Jetsen Huashi Wangju announced a merger and acquisition transaction involving Sky Link TV USA.

• 2015

  KRON-TV distribution agreement

  [1]Sky Link TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sky Link TV San Francisco began broadcasting via KRON 4.2 and Comcast Xfinity channel 193.

• 2014

  Third broadcast channel launched

  [1]Sky Link TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sky Link TV added a Mandarin service on KXLA UHF 44.3 and ended its KVMD affiliation.

• 2012

  Guangzhou-linked ownership and Cantonese expansion

  [1]Sky Link TVen.wikipedia.org

  The network was sold to Guangzhou Media American Co., Ltd. and launched a 24-hour Cantonese channel on KXLA UHF 44.4.

• 2009

  Ownership change and free-to-air launch

  [1]Sky Link TVen.wikipedia.org

  The network was sold to Tian Xing Media Company and later launched a 24-hour Mandarin service on KVMD UHF 31.5.

• 2006

  Dish Network distribution

  [1]Sky Link TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sky Link TV joined Dish Network.

• 2004

  Mandarin Rose Parade coverage began

  [1]Sky Link TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sky Link TV began annual live Mandarin coverage of the Rose Parade.

• 2001

  Rebranding as Sky Link TV

  [1]Sky Link TVen.wikipedia.org

  Global Communication Group, Inc. began doing business as Sky Link TV.

• 1992

  New York expansion

  [1]Sky Link TVen.wikipedia.org

  A New York branch began operations and entered Time Warner Cable in New York City.

• 1990

  Entry into Charter Cable

  [1]Sky Link TVen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor network entered Charter Cable distribution.

• 1989

  North America Television was founded

  [1]Sky Link TVen.wikipedia.org

  North America Television was established in Los Angeles, creating the predecessor to Sky Link TV.

A Chinese-language television network serving Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking audiences in the United States, with an emphasis on diaspora-oriented programming and broad multichannel distribution.

• Television channel · 2009

  Mandarin television service

  Sky Link TV's Mandarin programming has been distributed through cable, satellite, free-to-air digital television, and local broadcast partnerships. The network launched a continuous Mandarin channel on KVMD UHF 31.5 in 2009 and later introduced another Mandarin service on KXLA UHF 44.3 in 2014. The service has included general Chinese-language programming and live cultural coverage such as the Rose Parade.

• Television channel · 2012

  Cantonese television service

  The Cantonese service was introduced on KXLA UHF 44.4 in November 2012 as a 24-hour channel. Its launch broadened Sky Link TV's appeal among Cantonese-speaking communities in the United States and complemented the network's Mandarin offering.

• Live event broadcast · 2004

  Rose Parade live coverage

  Sky Link TV began carrying the Rose Parade live in Mandarin on New Year's Day in 2004. From 2013, the network also provided Cantonese coverage, making the event a recurring bilingual programming feature.

• 2013Bilingual Rose Parade coverage

  United States

  The network added Cantonese to its live Rose Parade coverage while continuing Mandarin coverage.

  Outcome. The event became a bilingual programming offering for the network's principal language audiences.

  Source
• 2004Rose Parade Mandarin live broadcast

  United States

  Sky Link TV began a recurring live Mandarin broadcast of the Rose Parade, using a major public event to serve Chinese-speaking viewers.

  Outcome. The broadcast later expanded to include Cantonese coverage.

  Source

• 2019

  Merger involving Sky Link TV USAM&A

  Background

  Jetsen Huashi Wangju Cultural Media Company announced a transaction involving Sky Link TV USA.

  Action taken

  The companies announced a merger and acquisition arrangement.

  Aftermath

  The available reference does not establish the completed transaction structure or the network's subsequent operating status.

  Source

• 2015

  Expansion through KRON-TVStrategy

  Background

  Sky Link TV pursued additional local broadcast and cable access in the San Francisco market.

  Action taken

  It signed an agreement with KRON-TV and launched Sky Link TV San Francisco on KRON 4.2, with Comcast Xfinity carriage on channel 193.

  Aftermath

  The agreement extended the brand's local-market distribution in Northern California.

  Source

• 2014

  Expansion to a third broadcast channelGeneration change

  Background

  The network continued restructuring its terrestrial channel portfolio.

  Action taken

  It launched a Mandarin channel on KXLA UHF 44.3 and ended its affiliation with KVMD 31.5.

  Aftermath

  The change shifted the network's over-the-air strategy toward KXLA distribution.

  Source

• 2012

  Launch of the Cantonese channelProduct launch

  Background

  Sky Link TV sought to serve both major Chinese-language audiences in the United States.

  Action taken

  The network launched a 24-hour Cantonese channel on KXLA UHF 44.4.

  Aftermath

  Sky Link TV developed a bilingual broadcast proposition rather than relying solely on Mandarin programming.

  Source

• 2009

  Launch of KVMD free-to-air Mandarin channelProduct launch

  Background

  After its sale to Tian Xing Media Company, Sky Link TV expanded beyond its existing distribution relationships.

  Action taken

  It launched KVMD UHF 31.5 as a 24-hour free-to-air Mandarin channel.

  Aftermath

  The launch increased the network's over-the-air presence in the United States, although the later discontinuation of the KVMD affiliation is documented.

  Source

• 2001

  Adoption of the Sky Link TV business identityStrategy

  Background

  The predecessor organization operated under the name Global Communication Group, Inc. after changing its corporate name.

  Action taken

  The company began doing business as Sky Link TV.

  Aftermath

  The Sky Link TV name became the public-facing identity for the Chinese-language television operation.

  Source

1. 1Sky Link TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Sky Link TV official websiteskylinktv.us