President Xi Jinping of China is seen on a CGTN archive program as it plays on a computer monitor in London. The U.K. s Ofcom says Star China Media Limited, which holds the license for China Global Television Network (CGTN) doesn t have day-to-day editorial control over the channel, which is against its rules. Leon Neal / Getty Images
The U.K. s Office of Communications revoked a Chinese media company s right to broadcast Thursday, after finding that the license holder had no editorial control over the state-owned China Global Television Network. The agency says the Chinese Communist Party is ultimately in charge of the satellite news channel.
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Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin. [Photo/Agencies]
China s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged the United Kingdom to reconsider the revocation of broadcast rights for China Global Television Network, or CGTN, saying that the move was based on ideological prejudice and political reasons .
UK broadcast regulator Ofcom banned CGTN from British airwaves on Thursday following a dispute over which entity has editorial control over the Beijing-based media organization.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin hit back on Friday, saying the decision was politically motivated. China urges the UK to immediately cease political manipulation and correct its mistakes, Wang said at a press briefing.
UK regulator revokes licence of China’s CGTN news channel Published on Share
British regulators on Thursday revoked the licence of Chinese news network CGTN after finding its state-backed ownership structure broke UK law, and warned of punishment ahead for airing an alleged forced confession.
The move by Ofcom, which takes immediate effect, means UK broadcast providers must stop offering the channel to British audiences or face an unlimited fine.
The regulator said CGTN’s licence holder, Star China Media Ltd, had failed to show it had editorial oversight over the network and that a proposed transfer to another media group would still keep it tied to the Chinese Communist Party.