Chinese government officials have confirmed a January 1 2012 launch date for the country’s first 3DTV channel. The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), China’s broadcasting regulator, is working on the project with the country’s state broadcaster, China Central Television, and with regional TV stations from Beijing, Shanghai and three other areas.

“The launch of the 3DTV trial channel will be a new milestone in the history of the development of broadcasting and television in China, symbolising that China’s broadcasting and television is closely following global development trends,” SARFT said in a statement. The new channel will also “bring new audio-visual enjoyment to the people,” drive upgrades of set-top boxes and possibly fuel local development of technology and standards for 3DTV, it said.

The new channel will upgrade from trial to formal operations around the time of the Chinese New Year holiday in late January 2012.

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