BBC World News barred from airing in China (updated)

Nelco

11/02/2021 16:57

(Adds U.S. State Department)
    Feb 12 (Reuters) - British television channel BBC World News
was barred on Friday from airing in China, a week after
Britain's media regulator revoked Chinese state television's
licence to broadcast in the United Kingdom.
    China's National Radio and Television Administration said an
investigation found BBC World News' China-related reports had
"seriously violated" regulations, including that news should be
"truthful and fair," had harmed the country's national interests
and undermined national unity. 
    The channel, therefore, does not meet requirements for
foreign channels broadcasting in China and its application to
air for another year would not be accepted, it added.
    English-language BBC World News is not included in most TV
channel packages in China, but is available in some hotels and
residences.
    Two Reuters journalists in China said the channel had gone
blank on their screens.
    China’s move was condemned by British Foreign Minister
Dominic Raab and the U.S. State Department, while the BBC said
it was "disappointed".
    "China’s decision to ban BBC World News in mainland China is
an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom," Raab said.
    "China has some of the most severe restrictions on media and
internet freedoms across the globe, and this latest step will
only damage China’s reputation in the eyes of the world."
    At a regular news briefing, U.S. State Department spokesman
Ned Price condemned the decision, adding: 
    "It's troubling that as (China) restricts outlets and
platforms from operating freely in China, Beijing's leaders use
free and open media environments overseas to promote
misinformation."
    Earlier this month, the State Department said it was "deeply
disturbed" by reports carried by the BBC of systematic rape and
sexual abuse against women in internment camps for ethnic
Uighurs and other Muslims in China's Xinjiang region and said
there must be serious consequences for atrocities there.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2K93KO
    China denies accusations of abuses in Xinjiang and said the
BBC report was "wholly without factual basis".  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2K93KO
    The BBC said it was disappointed by the decision of the
Chinese authorities to bar BBC World News from broadcasting.
    "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 BBC said.
    On Feb. 4, British media regulator Ofcom revoked China
Global Television Network's (CGTN) licence to broadcast in the
United Kingdom after an investigation found the licence was
wrongfully held by Star China Media Ltd.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nFWN2KA0L5
    China criticised the ruling as politicised and warned it
reserved the right to make a "necessary response".  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2KB0M7

 (Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Bengaluru and Tom Daly;
additional reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and William James in
London and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Catherine
Evans and Toby Chopra)
 ((Bhargav.Acharya@thomsonreuters.com))