The answer you will get (and the answer you always get in China) is both yes and no.
Undoubtedly, for a Government that clearly recognises the power and importance of TV as a medium, any relaxing of the strict state-owned nature of the broadcast medium is an important step. In general, foreign TV has remained the privilege of the very few.
What is also interesting, particularly in the case of Star's Xing Kong channel, is that the kind of programming these broadcasters are promoting has been previously unavailable in China. Xing Kong's ability to create locally-produced, quality light entertainment based on popular US formats has raised many eyebrows in China. These programmes are a hit with young, affluent women, and it will be interesting to see if local channels follow suit.
However, until the ratings start to arrive, such channels remain on the periphery of the TV market in both Guangdong and China. Those with a more negative disposition would argue that there are far more significant changes taking place in the broadcasting landscape. They point to a more aggressive CCTV, the continued rise of provincial satellite and the formation of a PSTV network to rival CCTV as far more important issues.
While those of the 'not in my back yard' view do tend to be those on the ground in China, this is not to say they are necessarily right. Media departments and clients are staffed by mainland Chinese who tend to have little interest in foreign broadcasters - they see them as a diversion of money needed to do deals with mainland channels. They have little experience of the channels as they cannot watch them at home.
International broadcasters will simply have to re-focus themselves to penetrate the market.
If we look at one key trend in China - the consolidation of city TV stations into single monopolies - it clearly opens up huge opportunities to foreign satcasters in exploiting an ever-growing demand for quality programming.
For example, Shanghai used to have three major broadcasters. Now we have one broadcaster - SMG - developing one news channel, one foreign film channel, one music channel etc. In essence, the result is better, more targeted channels, more choice and better programming for consumers. For foreign broadcasters the result is the need for quality programming, in specific genres and formats beyond the ability of local stations.
MTV and ESPN have successfully taken this route in China for a number of years. Given the obstacles of penetrating Beijing and Shanghai and whatever the outcome in Guangdong, I would be surprised if the likes of Xing Kong, Discovery, National Geographic, with all their programmes and formats do not ultimately focus on the same route into China.