# Benny Sa

Benny Sa, also known as Sa Beining (simplified Chinese: 撒贝宁; traditional Chinese: 撒貝寧; pinyin: Sǎ Bèiníng; born 23 March 1976) is a Chinese television host known for his work for China Central Television (CCTV). He served as the one-time anchor of the documentary program Legal Report (今日说法).

## Biography
### Early experience

Sa Beining was born in a military family in Zhanjiang, Guangdong in March 1976, the son of Dèng Yǎjuān (邓雅娟), a graduate of Shenyang Conservatory of Music, and Sǎ Shìguì (撒世贵), a Chinese actor in Wuhan Drama Theatre, he has a younger sister: Sǎ Bèinà (撒贝娜).
He started to perform on stage at the age of four, by age eleven, he hosted a house-party with his sister at home.

### Education experience

During high school Sa expressed his desire to attend the Beijing Film Academy or Central Academy of Drama. In the winter holiday before the National College Entrance Examination, he was allowed to join in the winter camp held by Peking University for his abilities in literature and art. Shortly after that he participated in the centralized exam held by Peking University for students who showed an exceptional performance in the exam, resulting in him gaining his letter of admission from Peking University. Because of this Sa served as a teaching assistant to share his experiences with other students before graduation.

### Professional experience

Sa was selected to host the TV program Legal Report due to the recommendations of his instructors at the Peking University Law School, as a result of his many extra-curriculum experiences and high score. The producers initially wanted a lawyer to host the show but chose to go in a different direction as a lawyer might be too busy to host the program and could lack the qualifications necessary for a host. Sa was aware that his hosting skills were weak, particularly during the early recording stage. He was worried that he would be eliminated due to poor performance and kept trying to determine how others viewed him. Sa practiced his hosting skills every day and was eventually selected as the official host of the program. In the second year after entering the China Central Television, he won the championship in the National TV Host Contest.

## Personal life

Sa was in a relationship with Tú Jīngwěi (涂经纬) in 2006. They split in 2009. Then Sa reportedly had a whirlwind romance with Cén Lílán (岑黎阑). Sa was involved in a relationship with actress Zhang Ziyi beginning in September 2011; they split in 2013. In 2015, Sa was seen dating Canadian singer Lisa Marie Hoffman (known by her Chinese name 李白, Lǐ Bái). They married on 28 March 2016.

## Hosting experience

Hosting Programme :
| First Broadcast Time | English Title | Chinese Title | Notes |
| 2021.02.12 | China in Classics | 典籍里的中国 | Programs about traditional cultural works |
| 2019.10.26 - 2020.02.02 | China Central Radio and Television Station 2019 Host Competition | 中央广播电视总台2019主持人大赛 | A national presenter competition |
| 2018-12-16 | Everlasting Classics | 经典咏流传 | Poetry culture music program |
| 2017-12-31 | We Are Teenagers | 放学别走 | Adolescent's talk show |
| 2017-11-19 | Beyond The Edge Season 3 | 挑战不可能第三季 | CCTV inspirational challenge program |
| 2017-10-05 | See China | 绿水青山看中国 | Ecological civilization theme program |
| 2017-09-01 | The First Lesson 2017 | 开学第一课2017 | Theme: My Chinese pride |
| 2017-07-16 | Forward To The Future Season 2 | 加油！向未来第二季 | CCTV's first scientific experiment program |
| 2017-01-20 | 2017 Network Spring Festival Gala | 2017网络春晚 | Theme: Filial Piety |
| 2016-10-30 | Beyond The Edge Season 2 | 挑战不可能第二季 | CCTV inspirational challenge program |
| 2016-09-01 | The First Lesson 2016 | 开学第一课2016 | Theme: Pass the Long March Spirit |
| 2016-07-03 | Forward To The Future Season 1 | 加油！向未来 | CCTV's first scientific experiment program |
| 2016-02-07 | 2016 CCTV Spring Festival Gala | 2016中央电视台春晚 | Theme: Chinese Dream, Building a Well-off Society |
| 2015-09-04 | The First Lesson 2015 | 开学第一课2015 | Theme: Heroic Immortal |
| 2015-08-02 | Beyond The Edge Season 1 | 挑战不可能 | CCTV Inspirational Challenge Program |
| 2015-07-02 | Perhaps Love Season 2 | 如果爱第二季 | Star love reality show |
| 2015-03-01 | Brilliant Chinese Season 2 | 出彩中国人第二季 | CCTV large inspirational reality show |
| 2015-02-18 | 2015 CCTV Spring Festival Gala | 2015中央电视台春晚 | Theme: Home Is Everything |
| 2014-12-21 | Dream Star Partner Season 2 | 梦想星搭档第二季 | CCTV large TV public music program |
| 2014-09-01 | The First Lesson 2014 | 开学第一课2014 | Theme: Parents Teach Me |
| 2014-02-09 | Brilliant Chinese Season 1 | 出彩中国人 | CCTV large inspirational reality show |
| 2013-10-25 | Dream Star Partner Season 1 | 梦想星搭档 | CCTV large TV public music program |
| 2013-09-01 | The First Lesson 2013 | 开学第一课2013 | Theme: Take the Wings of Dreams |
| 2013-03-31 | Sa's Time | 撒贝宁时间 | Detective reasoning program |
| 2013-02-24 | Fight For You | 为你而战 | CCTV Public Welfare Program |
| 2013-02-09 | 2013 CCTV Spring Festival Gala | 2013中央电视台春晚 | Theme: New Year of China |
| 2012-11-30 | Dream Choir Season 2 | 梦想合唱团第二季 | CCTV large-scale social welfare TV activities |
| 2012-09-02 | The First Lesson 2012 | 开学第一课2012 | Theme: Beauty Is By Your Side |
| 2012-08-27 | Voice | 开讲啦 | China's first youth TV open class |
| 2012-01-22 | 2012 CCTV Spring Festival Gala | 2012中央电视台春晚 | Theme: Going Home for the New Year |
| 2011-11-12 | Dream Choir Season 1 | 梦想合唱团 | CCTV large-scale social welfare TV activities |
| 2011-09-01 | The First Lesson 2011 | 开学第一课2011 | Theme: Where Is the Happiness |
| 2011-08-07 | Shouxi Yehua | 首席夜话 | CCTV studio talk show |
| 2010-09-01 | Show Me First | 我们有一套 | CCTV variety emotional program |
| 1999-01-02 | Legal Report | 今日说法 | CCTV daily legal system program |

## Award records

* 2000 The first prize of the China TV Legal System Host Competition
* 2000 China TV List Newcomer of the Year Award
* 2001 The Most Promising Host Award of the First National College Student TV Festival
* 2001 CCTV Top Ten Hosts Online Awards
* 2001 "Rongshida" TV host contest gold medal
* 2004 CCTV Annual Grade B Moderator
* 2005 The 5th Golden Eagle Festival Best National Host
* 2005 CCTV Annual Grade B Moderator
* 2006 The "Golden Microphone Award" TV broadcast host program award
* 2006 CCTV Annual Grade A Moderator
* 2007 CCTV Annual Grade A Moderator
* 2008 CCTV Annual Grade B Moderator
* 2009 CCTV Annual Grade A Moderator
* 2010 China University Students TV Festival's most popular male host
* 2011 Shanghai TV Festival "Top Ten New Chinese Language Style Hosting"
* 2012 CCTV Annual Grade A Moderator
* 2013 The "Golden Microphone Award" from the 2012 China Broadcasting Host
* 2016 Top Ten Excellent Announcer and Host Award of CCTV