Since the first HD OB truck was built for live coverage of the PRC’s 50th Anniversary celebration in 1999, the total number built is now approaching 30.  Since Beijing Olympic Broadcasting (BOB) has an extensive plan to rent HD OB trucks, it has offered a great incentive for various Chinese broadcasters to build their HD OB trucks. As the most valuable piece of equipment at a station, the trucks use at Chinese stations is mainly based on the station's routine requirements while also considering the need of BOB.  According to the basic configuration requirements of BOB, the trucks currently under construction can be categorized into Classes A, B and C.  There are 3 Class B trucks, 18 Class C and 4 Class B.  A few stations actually have broken these categories by combining different functions.  Chongqing TV has combined Class B truck body and Class A space, while Shanghai Media Group (SMG) uses Class B and C truck for Class A functions.

　　Among all these HD trucks, CCTV, SMG, and Qingdao TV have each built two, with 15 others belonging to other provincial stations and 8 for city TV stations.  HD trucks haven’t been limited to provincial TV stations and big municipal stations.  Even mid-sized cities such as Daqing TV and Luoyang TV are investing in HD trucks.  They want to be ready when HD migration finally arrives, since they believe it will take place in the next decade.  The life span of a truck usually covers at least 10 years.  So “to invest once for 10 year's benefit” has become a popular idea.  Among all the HD trucks completed so far, 7 trucks were tendered before 2005, 10 in 2006, and 12 this year (data date: February 2007).   It appears there is a drive to get HD trucks ready for the Beijing Olympic Games.

　　For channel numbers, there are 16 trucks with over 10 channels and 9 with less than 10 channels.  This shows that more channels are preferred among the Chinese broadcasters.  But there are inherent problems with so many channels.  Big trucks, for example, are not easy to move around and perhaps are not suitable for routine program production.  They may simply be banned for certain streets or time periods by traffic control regulations.

　　Therefore, some stations opt to combine HD trucks with EFP boxes.  Tianjin TV has done so by bundling their truck-loaded 8+2 channel system seamlessly with a 6+2 channel EFP system.  Inner Mongolia TV and Liaoning TV are using 8+2 channel truck-loaded systems with 6 channel EFP.  Such trucks perfectly fulfill routine production and coverage needs while they can also be flexibly put together for multi-channel large event coverage.  EFP systems are far more convenient and flexible than trucks and are very advantageous for places trucks can’t go.  Because of its rugged geographic structure, Qingdao TV simply built two HD trucks, one with 8 channels and the other 6 channels.  They are used independently for routine operation and then assembled together for large sport events.  Stations such as Shandong, Chongqing, Hunan, and Qingdao have also equipped their trucks with audio vans, tool vans, equipment vans, power vans and other utility vehicles for even more flexible applications.

　　For the truck structure, 18 trucks have used pull-trailers.  The advantage of such trucks comes from the fact that the power unit and carriage unit are separated from each other.  They need smaller turning space, carry more weight, have more internal space and are easy to remodel and maintain.  In the meantime, other stations such as Changchun TV, Luoyang TV and Beijing TV have gone for directly connected trailers, as they are more secure.  Pull-trailer style trucks aren’t easy to stop when brakes are suddenly applied as trailers tend to bump into the steering compartment.  Twelve trucks are pulled from one side as their owners b