Chinese television started in 1958 but variety in programming and production of sets priced within reach of individuals were slowed by the Cultural Revolution. Since the economic and political reform movement began in 1979, Chinese television has been maturing as an important cultural and political force. The People's Republic of China is a Third World nation but has a strong television manufacturing capacity. China Central Television (CCTV) and provincial and city broadcasting stations--all government controlled, and all broadcasting in color--reach half the households, perhaps 600 million viewers with more than 100 million sets. The audience is demanding and getting better programs, such as CCTV's own "Last Emperor," and many imported movies and series that have become national rages. Educational television has come on strong. Television, however, remains a tool of the government and party, tends toward the didactic, and is less outspoken than the press. News format is modeled on the American-Canadian but is much stiffer and more predictable. Some of the same issues and problems found in the West are surfacing in China: television has been blamed for encouraging violence, subverting traditional national values and distracting students. It is becoming more reliant on advertising, including foreign ads. Its future depends on the direction that will be taken by political and economic reforms; however, that direction has become more uncertain. Spending and the growth of a consumer-oriented market economy were slowed in 1989 as the nation attempted to curb rampant inflation. (Thirty-three notes are included.) (MS)