Chinese regulators banned BBC World News on Thursday, claiming that the global network was “seriously violating” the country’s broadcasting rights.
The National Radio and Television Administration calls ‘the requirement that news must be true and fair’ and not ‘harm China’s national interests’.
The channel therefore does not meet the requirements for foreign channels broadcast in China, and the application to have it broadcast for another year will not be accepted, he added.
Chinese regulators take BBC World off the air
English-speaking 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 pursue this action,” the BBC said in a statement.
“The BBC is the world’s most trusted international news broadcaster and reports reasonably, impartially and without fear or favor on stories from around the world.”
British regulators ban state-run Chinese TV
China’s move comes a week after British regulator Ofcom revoked the UK license for China’s Global Television Network (CGTN).
An investigation found that an entity bearing the name of Star China Media Limited incorrectly owned the license for the network.
Ofcom said it has no “editorial responsibility” for broadcasting the channel, and therefore does not comply with the legal requirement to have control over the licensed service.
Star acts as the distributor, rather than the provider of the news channel, he added.
British regulators have also rejected a proposal by CGTN to transfer the license to a new entity.
They found that it would eventually still be controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, and therefore disqualified under British law.
UK: ‘It will damage 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 from mainland China is an unacceptable restriction on media freedom.”
“China has some of the strictest restrictions on media and internet freedom worldwide, and this latest step will only damage China’s reputation in the eyes of the world.”
jf / dj (AFP, Reuters)