China bans BBC World News

[Magical Mudcrab]

In a move that likely shocks no one, China has decided to ban the BBC from broadcasting within China. It is currently thought that this is because of the BBC's coverage of China's handling of the COVID-19 crisis, such as noting how Chinese infections in Wuhan may have topped 500,000, and consistent coverage of the ongoing Uighur genocide, such as their recent interviews with Uighur victims; however, while the BBC focuses on their coverage and criticism of China, other reporting seems to suggest that the BBC may actually be a casualty of the politics between China and the U.K. The ban follows U.K. regulators banning CGTN for "fil[ing] misleading ownership statements" and is "ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party", meaning China may simply be responding in kind to actions taken against their state-owned media that is operating in foreign countries.

China has banned BBC World News from broadcasting in the country, its television and radio regulator announced on Thursday.

China has criticised the BBC for its reporting on coronavirus and the persecution of ethnic minority Uighurs.

The BBC said it was "disappointed" by the decision.

It follows British media regulator Ofcom revoking state broadcaster China Global Television Network's (CGTN) licence to broadcast in the UK.

Separately, the broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) said it would stop relaying BBC World Service programming in the region, prompting condemnation from the BBC.

'Curtailing freedom'
China's National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) said that BBC World News reports about China were found to "seriously violate" broadcast guidelines, including "the requirement that news should be truthful and fair" and not "harm China's national interests".

It said that the BBC's application to air for another year would not be accepted.

The BBC said in a statement: "We are disappointed that the Chinese authorities have decided to take this course of action. The BBC is the world's most trusted international news broadcaster and reports on stories from around the world fairly, impartially and without fear or favour."

The commercially funded BBC World News TV channel broadcasts globally in English. In China it is largely restricted and appears only in international hotels and some diplomatic compounds, meaning most Chinese people cannot view it.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called the move an "unacceptable curtailing of media freedom".

The US State Department condemned the decision, calling it part of a wider campaign to suppress free media in China.

In Hong Kong, the publicly-funded broadcaster RTHK said it was suspending the relaying of BBC World Service radio. It had previously aired it daily from 23:00 to 07:00. It also removed a weekly Cantonese programme from the BBC's Chinese Service from its schedule.

BBC World News TV channel broadcasts, however, are still available in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, is expected to retain certain rights and freedoms, including freedom of press, until 2047, as part of a handover agreement between China and Britain.

Hong Kong Journalists Association chairman Chris Yeung Kin-hing told the South China Morning Post that RTHK's decision was "disturbing and worrying", amid questions about whether RTHK was instructed to act by the authorities.

The RTHK union also called the decision "extremely regrettable", adding: "Under the policy of One Country Two Systems, we've never seen Hong Kong being required to follow decisions of China's State Film, TV and Radio Administration before".

Hong Kong's Office of the Communications Authority said it "did not set boundaries" and that decisions were up to individual operators.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We condemn this decision by the Chinese authorities. Access to accurate and impartial news is a fundamental human right and should not be denied to the people of Hong Kong and mainland China, millions of whom rely on BBC News every week."

The corporation rejected accusations of bias and said it would make every effort to bring the news to its audiences, who would "still find ways to access the BBC".

The actions in China and Hong Kong follow Ofcom's revoking of the CGTN licence after it found it was wrongfully held by Star China Media Ltd.

CGTN was also found in breach of British broadcasting regulations last year, for airing the allegedly forced confession of UK citizen Peter Humphrey.

CGTN can now also no longer be broadcast in Germany following Ofcom's decision, Deutsche Welle reports, as the licence in Germany had been approved by Ofcom as part of a sharing initiative.

- Source

[PC2]

Dang there needs to be a way to get past CCP censorship. Starlink should put up satellites above China that way Chinese people would have a way to get free internet and bypass the Great Firewall.

[Bryntrollian]

It will be here soon

[lagiacrux]

It will be here soon

the bbc? it think you already get that in the us.

[ParanoiD84]

Was surprised it wasn't already banned there lol.

[Adam Jensen]

Has the Chinese government ever considered "just stop being shitty?"

[Frolk]

Lets remember that Activision/Blizzard support the CCP and their actions.

[TigTone]

Has the Chinese government ever considered "just stop being shitty?"

What is Chinese main Goal any ways?

Grind down it’s citizens into thoughtless “well behaved” bots?

[PC2]

Has the Chinese government ever considered "just stop being shitty?"

The CCP can't stop being shitty if they want to keep existing. If CCP officials didn't censor information, control public opinion, jail dissenters, and demonize democracy then they would be removed from power and could potentially lose a lot of their personal assets.

[Kaleredar]

Lets remember that Activision/Blizzard support the CCP and their actions.

Unfortunately lots of businesses do. They either have a considerable market stake in Chinese markets or rely on China to supply them with cheap labor.

In terms of the former, they know they only function within China at the caprice of the Chinese government. So they can’t ever drive a hard line narrative against them, for fear of finding themselves ousted from the country. Such is the situation with blizzard.

Thankfully the news agencies China has banned thus far seem to value their integrity more than taking to spreading CCP propaganda worldwide.


I also look forward to hearing how a British news agency is “justly banned for spreading false ant-Chinese, pro-American propaganda” from our resident China apologists.

Here’s a thought... when the whole world is saying one thing about a country and the only dissenting opinion is from that country, maybe it’s that one country that isn’t telling the truth.

[Mihalik]

Has the Chinese government ever considered "just stop being shitty?"

That's about it.

[Biglog]

State-sponsored tv propaganda in the West especially is something that's picked up over the past 5-6 years, and especially since the 2016 election. CGTV (China Government TV) is all over Youtube, Twitter, and is carried by major US tv providers such as Dish Network. Same for RT (formerly called Russian Times), the Russian government equivalent channel. Note these aren't just nationalistic private companies like Fox News, these are government paid-for channels specifically for Western propaganda.

That's not to say the US hasn't done the same, VOA has been around forever. But it's scary how many people don't realize that CGTV is the Chinese Government TV channel and Russian Times (RT) is the Russian equal. They are both pretty good about being more much more subtle in the propaganda than Fox News, but it's definitely there. The content is usually either negative stories about current events in the US or EU, or feel good (often scenic nature) programs on China or Russia.

As far as BBC, BBC wasn't even broadcast in China already. The UK banned CGTV for the reasons above, and the Chinese ban of the BBC was just a typical tit-for-tat political response, like kicking out diplomats after a spy is busted. The UK is ahead of the US in this regard, it's pretty incredible that they are allowed to be broadcast in the US. Eventually it will be addressed in the US legally I think, but until then RT and CGTV are free to broadcast in the US, so just know what's in your burger if you watch them.

[Pony Soldier]

Hm, sounds exactly like something the democrats like to do here in the US.

[postman1782]

Hm, sounds exactly like something the democrats like to do here in the US.

Well, you would be wrong.

[Shalcker]

The CCP can't stop being shitty if they want to keep existing. If CCP officials didn't censor information, control public opinion, jail dissenters, and demonize democracy then they would be removed from power and could potentially lose a lot of their personal assets.

Same is true for US (except in US it's "lionize democracy", but effect is the same).

You can see that clearly in (over)reaction to Capitol events.
[Infraction]

[jonnysensible]

Same is true for US (except in US it's "lionize democracy", but effect is the same).

You can see that clearly in (over)reaction to Capitol events.

your brain is getting smoother.
[Infraction]

[pathora44]

your brain is getting smoother.

A steady diet of only turnips does not give the required nutrients needed to keep the body and mind at peak physical condition.
[Infraction]

[Slant]

What's amazing is that people still give a shit what China does. This is literally about China not allowing the BBC to broadcast in China. Who the fuck cares? People have got to stop freaking out over these non-issues or we'll have a bunch of generation X crack hamsters dying of heartattacks because a Kardashian sliped over a banana peel and actually has bruises now...

[Shalcker]

What's amazing is that people still give a shit what China does. This is literally about China not allowing the BBC to broadcast in China. Who the fuck cares? People have got to stop freaking out over these non-issues or we'll have a bunch of generation X crack hamsters dying of heartattacks because a Kardashian sliped over a banana peel and actually has bruises now...

It matters to people because it limits reach of familiar viewpoints - thus weakening (perceived) universality of their viewpoints.

[postman1782]

Same is true for US (except in US it's "lionize democracy", but effect is the same).

You can see that clearly in (over)reaction to Capitol events.

Over reaction? We know you guys are used to assassinations every week over there in Russia, but here, an attempted coup/assassinations of elected officials, just doesn't happen.