The 2025 Spring Festival Gala, organized by China Media Group (CMG) on January 28 (Chinese New Year’s Eve), once again captivated global audiences.
As the first gala following the successful inclusion of the Spring Festival in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, CMG leveraged a multilingual, multi-platform international media network to share this culturally rich Chinese celebration with the world.
By 6 p.m. on January 29, the overseas dissemination of the gala had achieved unprecedented milestones, setting new historical records.
Leveraging its expansive international network, CMG delivered the gala in 82 languages, 14 more than in 2024, ensuring accessibility from Southeast Asia to South America. The broadcast’s linguistic diversity was matched by its geographic spread: over 3,100 media partners, including CNN, Japan’s Niconico, Russia’s VK, and Italy’s Alma TV, synchronized their coverage, amplifying the event’s reach.
Notably, CNN’s week-long promotional campaign drew over 800 million viewers globally, while Japan’s Niconico celebrated a decade-long partnership with a live Japanese-translated stream, attracting 101,000 concurrent viewers.
Audience engagement soared to new heights. CGTN, CMG’s international arm, reported 1.738 billion content reads and 587 million video views, reflecting the gala’s magnetic pull. CGTN also launched the “Snake Year Dance Fun” event on social media platforms, which saw participation from users in over 70 countries.
The gala’s vivid performances transcended screens, illuminating over 3,500 public displays in 136 cities worldwide, from New York’s Times Square to Moscow’s Red Square. This year’s global screen count rose by 223, with coverage expanding to 87 countries.
For millions of Chinese families, watching the Spring Festival Gala on the Chinese New Year’s Eve, together with their families, is a cherished New Year tradition which symbolizes unity, warmth and the joy of reunion.
Beyond the border, the gala also served as a bridge for cross-cultural dialogue. Many viewers on social media platforms such as YouTube commented that they know more about China and its richly cultural heritage through the gala.