China Digital TV Declares Special Cash Dividend to Shareholders

BEIJING, Nov. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- China Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STV) ("China Digital TV" or the "Company"), the leading provider of conditional access ("CA") systems to China's expanding digital television market, today declared a special cash dividend of US$2.00 per share on the Company's ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share, to be paid in two installments of US$1.00 each during 2011. Each of the Company's American depositary shares represents one ordinary share.

Shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 23, 2010, U.S. Eastern Standard Time, will be eligible to receive the dividend. The first installment of the dividend is expected to be paid on or around January 13, 2011, and the second installment is expected to be paid in due course after the completion of the ongoing dividend repatriation process by the Company's PRC subsidiaries.

Mr. Jianhua Zhu, China Digital TV's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented, "Our Board of Directors believes that a special dividend is an efficient use of cash to maximize shareholder value at this time. Meanwhile, our robust cash reserves and consistent, healthy operating cash flow are sufficient to support our multiple growth objectives."

As of September 30, 2010, China Digital TV had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments totaling US$252.5 million, or US$4.30 per share on a diluted basis.

Safe Harbor Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Such forward-looking statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "may," "should" and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation and comments by management in this announcement about trends in the CA systems, digital television, cable television and related industries in the PRC and China Digital TV's strategic and operational plans and future market positions. China Digital TV may also make forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties.  Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about China Digital TV's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from projections contained or implied in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: competition in the CA systems, digital television, cable television and related industries in the PRC and the impact of such competition on prices, our ability to implement our business strategies, changes in technology, the structure of the cable television industry or television viewer preferences, changes in PRC laws, regulations or policies with respect to the CA systems, digital television, cable television and related industries, including the extent of non-PRC companies' participation in such industries, and changes in political, economic, legal and social conditions in the PRC, including the government's policies with respect to economic growth, foreign exchange and foreign investment.

Further information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in our annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. China Digital TV does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release.

About China Digital TV

Founded in 2004, China Digital TV is the leading provider of CA systems to China's expanding digital television market. CA systems enable television network operators to manage the delivery of customized content and services to their subscribers. China Digital TV conducts substantially all of its business through its PRC subsidiary, Beijing Super TV Co., Ltd., and its affiliate, Beijing Novel-Super Digital TV Technology Co., Ltd., as well as subsidiaries of its affiliate.