Chinese regulators banned BBC World News Thursday, claiming the global network had “seriously violated” the country’s broadcasting rules.
The National Radio and Television Administration cited “a demand that news be truthful and fair” and not “harm China’s national interests.”
The channel therefore does not meet the requirements for foreign channels broadcasting in China and its application on the airwaves for another year will not be accepted, it added.
Chinese regulators have shut down BBC World
The English-language BBC World News is not included in most TV channel packages in China, but is available in some hotels and residences.
“We are disappointed that the Chinese authorities have decided to take this action,” the BBC said in a statement.
“The BBC is the world’s most trusted international news channel, reporting honestly, impartially and without fear or favor on stories from around the world.”
British regulators are banning Chinese state television
China’s move comes a week after UK media regulator Ofcom revoked UK license for China’s Global Television Networks (CGTN)
An investigation found that an entity called Star China Media Limited falsely licensed the network.
Ofcom said it had no “editorial responsibility” for the channel’s output and therefore “does not meet the legal requirement to have control over the licensed service.”
Star acted as the distributor, rather than the provider of the news channel, it added.
UK regulators also rejected a proposal from CGTN to transfer the license to a new entity.
They found that it would eventually still be under the control of the Chinese Communist Party and therefore disqualified under British law.
UK: ‘This is damaging China’s reputation’
Later on Thursday, the British government described China’s decision to ban the BBC as “unacceptable”.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Twitter, “China’s decision to ban BBC World News in mainland China is an unacceptable curtailment of media freedom.”
“China has some of the strictest restrictions on media and Internet freedoms around the world, and this latest move will only damage China’s reputation in the eyes of the world.”
jf / dj (AFP, Reuters)