Funding the first live AFL telecast into mainland China on Saturday night, Port Adelaide is still waiting a ratings report requested two weeks ago to measure the success of its trailblazing test foray into foreign territory.

In a goodwill arrangement with the AFL and Power, China Central Television (CCTV) - the equivalent of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – is set to televise three home-and-away games this season free of charge.

Port Adelaide is footing the transmission fees of roughly $600 per hour to transmit pictures captured by the AFL's free-to-air rights holder, the Seven network, to China's CCTV 5+ channel.

Port's round-five clash with Geelong will be beamed into Beijing from 5:30pm China time and broadcast in Mandarin from Adelaide Oval by Australian-based Chinese nationals Jamie Pi and Jinsong Li.

This follows a broadcast — delayed by four hours, so aired in China at 9:30pm — of Port's round-three match against Essendon; the Chinese ratings for which the AFL is also naturally eager to receive and dissect.

Port estimates that two million people might have watched its game against Essendon  given the CCTV's television audience is said to be 1.2 billion. That result would more than double the combined national peak audience of 982,000 that watched the same Power-Bombers game on Channel 7 in Australia.

The third game Port Adelaide is talking to the AFL about having broadcast in China this year is its multicultural themed Thursday night game against Hawthorn in round 16.

With Port hoping potentially lucrative opportunities could grow from what is a three-match experiment  this year, ratings are crucial to monetising the opportunities.

But apart from relaying it was pleased with viewing results of the Power-Bombers clash — this message was relayed to Port Adelaide through a translator it has engaged to assist with communications to China — CCTV has not provided data.

It would appear elements of the Power's ratings request may have been lost in translation or that ratings assessments are collected and made differently in the two countries. Television ratings are ascertained and freely distributed in Australia in very short turnaround. While clearly eager for numbers they can assess, Port bosses await these patiently as communication lines between CCTV and the club develop.

Port is also producing and fully funding a weekly 25-minute documentary that is airing on CCTV on Saturday nights. The club is naturally eager for ratings figures for these too.

Meanwhile, Port's CEO Keith Thomas denied reports on Friday that the Gold Coast were locked in opponents for the home-and-away match the Power hopes to play in China next year.

"No decision has been made as to who our opponent will be in the event of a game in Shanghai next year," Thomas told Fairfax Media.

"A few clubs have expressed an interest in playing us and Gold Coast are obviously one of those club.

"From here it's up to the AFL to process those requests and determine the fixture."