Jiang Heping, TV executive
How did you become CCTV 5's controller?
It was a great surprise when it happened [in 2005]. I was the controller of CCTV 9, the English-language channel, when I got a call to say Mr Ma [Guoli], Channel 5's controller, had been appointed the chief operating officer at the Beijing Olympic Broadcasting Company and could I fill the vacancy. I had no idea I would be appointed. I used to watch CCTV 9 all day, from morning until night. I never even watched CCTV 5.
You must have been delighted
It was unimaginable to me, and to most of my colleagues it was also a great surprise. I was completely unprepared. It was a great challenge and of course a great honour. We only started preparing for the Games after I started at Channel 5 and there were many, many planning and brainstorming sessions, from the grass-roots staff to the top management levels. We were brainwashed into thinking of nothing but the Olympic coverage.
How are the preparations going?