China on Friday barred British television channel BBC World News from airing in the country, a week after United Kingdom’s media regulator...
China on Friday barred British television channel BBC World News from airing in the country, a week after United Kingdom’s media regulator revoked broadcasting licence of Chinese state-owned channel CGTN, Reuters reported.
China’s National Radio and Television Administration said in a statement that BBC World News’ coverage of the country had “seriously violated” regulations, including that news should be “truthful and fair,” and had harmed the its national interests and undermined national unity.
The statement added that BBC World News does not meet requirements for foreign channels broadcasting in China and its application to air for another year would not be accepted, according to Reuters.
The channel was already not available in China outside of some hotels, businesses and residential compounds for foreigners and it was not immediately clear if the ban would affect reception in those facilities, the AP reported.
BBC responded to the decision saying that it was “disappointed that the Chinese authorities have to take this course of action”. The broadcaster asserted that it reported “fairly, impartially and without fear or favour”.
BBC statement in response to Chinese ban of BBC World News pic.twitter.com/RpLwvW4OzO
— BBC News Press Team (@BBCNewsPR) February 11, 2021
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also criticised the move and termed it as an “unacceptable curtailing of media freedom”.
“China has...
