MOVING INTO MEDIA.(China)(Brief Article)(Column)

What Great Wall of restrictions face western media owners when entering China? Chris Walton reveals the facts every western media owner needs to know

To say there has been a drive by western media into mainland China is an overstatement. It's more accurate to say that it's a hitchhike -- and there's not been much traffic. Generally, western media has been limited for two reasons: the regulatory barriers limiting development of foreign-owned media and the lack of appeal of non-local media to Chinese consumers.

These factors mean that the current potential for growth in China for foreign media owners is restricted. So the big players are biding their time, focusing on other areas of Asia with more immediate potential.

It is almost impossible for foreign media owners to reach the Chinese population as, officially, foreign TV stations are allowed to …