The long-term effect of television on children's human capital development in China

Abstract

This paper examines the long-term impacts of childhood exposure to educational television on human capital formation. We focus on CCTV-14, China's first nationally broadcast channel specifically designed for children. Exploiting variation in the timing of cable and satellite television rollout across communities, we document that access to CCTV-14 led to significant and persistent improvements in non-cognitive skills. These gains are particularly pronounced among left-behind children, suggesting that the channel played a compensatory role in addressing early developmental disadvantages. In contrast, we find no evidence of sustained effects on cognitive outcomes. The observed asymmetry underscores the importance of program content in shaping skill development. Finally, children exposed to CCTV-14 are more likely to achieve a higher socioeconomic status, better health, and enhanced digital literacy than those who did not.