ALMOST four million viewers tuned into the broadcast of Port Adelaide's round five game against Geelong on CCTV in China, and almost two million saw the Power defeat Essendon in CCTV's first broadcast into China in round three.
On the back of the initial success of the Power's foray into China, CCTV and the AFL have entered a partnership to broadcast one game into the world's most populous nation each week.
CCTV will also broadcast any finals in which the Power is a competitor.
Along with weekly match broadcasts, CCTV will continue to screen Port Adelaide's AFL Show – a 30-minute program wrapping each round of the AFL season with highlights from across the competition, as well as covering the journey of Port Adelaide SANFL Academy player Chen Shaoliang at Alberton.
The first screening of the AFL Show was seen by about two million viewers.
Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas said the club wasn't sure how matches would be received by a Chinese audience, and "the real story is in the staggering growth from our first broadcast game to the second.
"On these figures we estimate that by season's end potentially 60 million Chinese viewers would have watched Port Adelaide on CCTV in 2016."
Port Adelaide plans to host a premiership match in Shanghai next season as part of a sponsorship deal with a Chinese property developer.