The first CCTV New Year's Gala aired in 1983.
The inaugural broadcast took place on February 12, 1983, for Chinese New Year's Eve. It was organized by China Central Television and later became the annual program now known as the CMG Spring Festival Gala. The show helped establish a national television tradition at a time when television ownership and programming were rapidly expanding in China.
The first edition was produced on a modest budget in a studio of about 600 square meters, with roughly 200 guests and only a small production staff. Because there was little money for recording and editing, much of the program was broadcast live. Viewers could even telephone the studio, an unusual feature that made the event feel interactive.
The original hosts included Liu Xiaoqing, Ma Ji, Jiang Kun, and Wang Jingyu. The gala's success led to annual broadcasts and eventually made Chunwan one of the world's most widely watched television programs. The date is sometimes confused with 1986 or 1990, but those were later editions.