CGTN (TV channel)
{{Short description|International Chinese news channel}}{{For|the media company|China Global Television Network}}{{About|the English-language television channel|other channels in other languages|CGTN (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}{{EngvarA|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = CGTN
| logo = CGTN.svg
| logo_size = 230px
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1997|9|20|df=yes}}
| picture_format = 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 576i/480i for the SDTV feed)
| network = China Global Television Network
| owner = {{flagicon|CHN|noredlink=yes}} China Media Group
{{small|(Government of the People's Republic of China)}}
| type = State media
| country = China
| language = Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese (via SAP)
| area = Worldwide
| headquarters = CCTV Headquarters, Beijing Central Business District, Beijing, China
| sister_channels = CGTN documentary,CGTN,CCTV-9,CCTV-13
| former_names = CCTV-9
{{small|(1997 - 2010)}}
CCTV News
{{small|(2010 - 2016)}}
| website = {{Official URL}}
| terr_serv_1 = Digital TV (DTMB)
{{small|(China)}}
| terr_chan_1 = Digital channel number varies by area.
| terr_serv_2 = Digital TV
{{small|Hong Kong}}
| terr_chan_2 = Channel 35 (HD)
| terr_serv_3 = Digital TV
{{Small|(Macau)}}
| terr_chan_3 = Channel 73
| terr_serv_4 = Digital terrestrial television
{{small|(United States)}}
| terr_chan_4 = Channel 13.4 (Chicago)
Channel 32.2 (Santa Barbara)
| terr_serv_5 = Oqaab (Afghanistan)
| terr_chan_5 = Channel 31
| terr_serv_6 = UHF Colombo-FTA (Sri Lanka)
| terr_chan_6 = Channel 29 (SD)
| terr_serv_7 = DStv (Sub-Saharan Africa)
| terr_chan_7 = Channel 409
| terr_serv_8 = Zuku TV (Kenya)
| terr_chan_8 = Channel 550
| terr_serv_9 = AzamTV (Africa)
| terr_chan_9 = Channel 238
| terr_serv_10 = True Visions (Thailand)
| terr_chan_10 = Channel 794
| online_serv_1 = CGTN Live
| online_chan_1 = {{Official URL}}
}}
CGTN is the English-language news channel of state-run China Global Television Network, based in Beijing, China. It is one of several channels provided by China Global Television Network, the international division of Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), under the control of the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party.{{Cite news |last=Bandurski |first=David |date=22 March 2018 |title=When Reform Means Tighter Controls |work=China Media Project |url=https://chinamediaproject.org/2018/03/22/when-reform-means-tighter-controls/ |access-date=3 December 2022}}{{Cite news |title=The TV network at the forefront of Beijing's foreign propaganda offensive |last=Holtz |first=Michael |publisher=The Christian Science Monitor |date=January 9, 2017 |access-date=April 14, 2021 |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2017/0109/The-TV-network-at-the-forefront-of-Beijing-s-foreign-propaganda-offensive |archive-date=5 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205095811/https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2017/0109/The-TV-network-at-the-forefront-of-Beijing-s-foreign-propaganda-offensive |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/china/2018/06/14/china-is-spending-billions-on-its-foreign-language-media|title=China is spending billions on its foreign-language media |date=2018-06-14|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=2019-08-22|issn=0013-0613|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820163045/https://www.economist.com/china/2018/06/14/china-is-spending-billions-on-its-foreign-language-media|archive-date=20 August 2019 |url-status=live}}
CCTV-9 was launched on 25 September 2000, rebranded as CCTV News on 26 April 2010. On 6 February 2012, CGTN America. On 8 October 2019, CGTN Europe was launched, with a schedule of daily programming originating from a production center in Washington, D.C.[http://cctv.cntv.cn/lm/cctvamerica/01/index.shtml About CCTV America] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210045552/http://cctv.cntv.cn/lm/cctvamerica/01/index.shtml |date=10 February 2014 }} CCTV America On 11 January 2012, CCTV Africa was launched in Nairobi, Kenya.[http://cctv.cntv.cn/lm/cctvafrica/01/index.shtml About CCTV Africa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220091816/http://cctv.cntv.cn/lm/cctvafrica/01/index.shtml |date=20 February 2012 }} CCTV Africa All channels and divisions in the CCTV International group were rebranded as CGTN on 31 December 2016.
CGTN currently has four studios: Beijing (headquarters), Nairobi, Washington and London as well as 70 bureaux around the world.
History
CCTV began considering English-language international news programming on 1 January 1979, at the start of the Chinese economic reform period. English news bulletins began on CCTV-2 in 1986 and became available to overseas viewers when they moved to CCTV-4 in February 1991. CCTV-9 began broadcasting across China on 25 September 2000, becoming the country's first all-English television station.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}
On 1 January 2003, CCTV-9 entered the United States cable market, as part of a deal that allowed AOL, Time Warner, and News Corporation access to cable systems in Guangdong.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} In its early years, CCTV-9 broadcast English language news bulletins and cultural interest shows for most of each day, and aired mostly reruns during the overnight hours in China. One of its biggest projects was covering the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Until 26 April 2010, CCTV-9 was a mixed general interest channel featuring news, travel programming, and language training. On that date it was rebranded as CCTV News, a 24-hour English-language news service.{{Cite news |url=http://english.cctv.com/english/about/index.shtml|title=About CCTV News|access-date=2009-08-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113193304/http://english.cctv.com/english/about/index.shtml|archive-date=13 November 2007|url-status=live}}
=Relaunch=
The channel name of CCTV-9 was changed to CCTV News on 26 April 2010.[http://english.cntv.cn/20100426/104481.shtml CCTV News, Your Link to Asia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512133051/http://english.cntv.cn/20100426/104481.shtml |date=12 May 2010 }} CCTV Press Release, 26 April 2010 Some shows were rebranded while other new programs were added. The English website is managed by China Network Television (CNTV), a web streaming service of CCTV. On 1 January 2011, the channel's former name CCTV-9 was taken over by CCTV's two documentary channels.{{cn|date=October 2022}}
=CGTN=
On 31 December 2016, the channel was rebranded again as CGTN.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
== Ofcom license revocation ==
On 4 February 2021, Ofcom withdrew CGTN's UK broadcaster license. Ofcom concluded a company called Star China Media Limited held the broadcast license for CGTN but "did not have editorial responsibility", and thus it did not meet legal requirements. The programming is claimed to be controlled by a company called China Global Television Network Corporation. The regulator said it was unable to transfer the license to that company because it is "ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which is not permitted under UK broadcasting law".{{Cite news |date=2021-02-04 |title=Ofcom revokes Chinese broadcaster CGTN's UK licence |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55931548 |url-status=live |access-date=2021-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320110450/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55931548 |archive-date=20 March 2021}} In most of Europe, distribution of the CGTN channel was permitted because it held a UK license, and unless CGTN obtained a license in another European country it had to go off air across most of Europe.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=2021-02-12|title=Vodafone Germany suspends China TV from cable|work=Reuters|url=https://reuters.com/article/us-germany-china-vodafone-idUSKBN2AC1IX|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-22|archive-date=17 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217072727/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-china-vodafone-idUSKBN2AC1IX}} The channel eventually obtained a new license through the French broadcast regulator CSA in March 2021.{{Cite news|last1=Defranoux|first1=Laurence|last2=Franque|first2=Adrien|title=La télévision chinoise CGTN sous menace de nouvelles sanctions au Royaume-Uni|url=https://www.liberation.fr/international/la-television-chinoise-cgtn-sous-menace-de-nouvelles-sanctions-au-royaume-uni-20210308_TX2J7QWAXZEKHFVBB53AZ3BXGE/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Libération|language=fr}}{{Subscription required}} In response to the Ofcom revocation, China banned BBC World News from airing in mainland China, which was soon followed upon by RTHK withdrawing distribution of BBC's content in Hong Kong.{{Citation|title=China bans BBC News after UK pulls CGTN's license - CNN Video|date=12 February 2021 |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2021/02/12/bbc-news-banned-china-cgtn-uk.cnnbusiness|access-date=2021-02-17|archive-date=16 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216005823/https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2021/02/12/bbc-news-banned-china-cgtn-uk.cnnbusiness|url-status=live}}
==CGTN Africa==
{{main|CGTN Africa}}
CGTN Africa is CGTN's African news productions center which was launched in Kenya on 11 January 2012. CGTN Africa produces daily news, business and culture shows, including Africa Live, Talk Africa, Global Business Africa and Faces of Africa, which are broadcast through CGTN's English news channel.{{Cite news|title=About CCTV Africa|url=http://cctv.cntv.cn/lm/cctvafrica/01/index.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220091816/http://cctv.cntv.cn/lm/cctvafrica/01/index.shtml|archive-date=20 February 2012|access-date=2021-09-26|website=}}{{Cite news|title=Homepage, Global Business (Africa)|url=http://cctv.cntv.cn/lm/globalbusinessafrica/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-26|website=CCTV.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829090013/http://cctv.cntv.cn:80/lm/globalbusinessafrica/ |archive-date=29 August 2014 }}
==CGTN America==
{{main|CGTN America}}
CGTN America is the Americas division of CGTN that began broadcasting on 6 February 2012.[https://archive.today/20120707130334/http://cctv.cntv.cn/lm/cctvamerica/01/index.shtml About CCTV America] It is based in Washington, DC and runs bureaus in North and South America. The service employs American and Chinese journalists and produces Americas-based programs for CGTN and CCTV.
The United States Department of Justice ordered CGTN America to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), which CGTN America did on 1 February 2019.{{Cite news |last=O’Keeffe |first=Kate |last2=Viswanatha |first2=Aruna |date=2019-02-05 |title=Chinese State Media Giant CGTN Registers as Foreign Agent in U.S. |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-state-media-giant-cgtn-registers-as-foreign-agent-in-u-s-11549387532 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-07-05 |issn=0099-9660}} Registration requires CGTN America to disclose information about its annual budget and ownership structure, and to include disclaimers on broadcasts, published materials and social media identifying itself as a registered foreign agent. On 8 March 2019, after CGTN America registered under FARA, its director general Ma Jing and a dozen other staffers were recalled to Beijing.{{Cite news|title=CGTN recalls staff from US - report|url=https://www.teletrader.com/cgtn-recalls-staff-from-us-report/news/details/47068373?ts=1552491934449|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525165049/https://www.teletrader.com/cgtn-recalls-staff-from-us-report/news/details/47068373%3Fts%3D1552491934449|archive-date=25 May 2020|access-date=27 May 2020}}
==CGTN Europe==
CGTN Europe is CGTN's European division, mainly covering European business and politics. Its offices are at the Chiswick Business Park in west London. CGTN first moved into the office in January 2018 and planned to begin broadcasts by the end of the year, although issues which included "obtaining visas for top managers and setting up technology" eventually delayed its launch to October 2019.{{Cite news|last=Briel|first=Robert|date=18 June 2018|title=Chinese state TV CGTN to set up European hub in London|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2018/06/18/chinese-state-tv-cgtn-to-set-up-european-hub-in-london/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412155514/https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2018/06/18/chinese-state-tv-cgtn-to-set-up-european-hub-in-london/|archive-date=12 April 2021|access-date=12 April 2021|publisher=Broadband TV News|location=Europe/London}}{{Cite news |last=Nilsson |first=Patricia |date=29 August 2019 |title=China's state broadcaster set for UK launch |work=Financial Times |publication-place=London |url=https://www.ft.com/content/71d0e972-c998-11e9-a1f4-3669401ba76f |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=12 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412155514/https://www.ft.com/content/71d0e972-c998-11e9-a1f4-3669401ba76f |archive-date=12 April 2021}}
Despite Ofcom's revocation of CGTN's broadcast license, a person briefed on the channel's strategy said it "would not impact the production centre, [CGTN] would just need to reorientate itself to produce more content for Europe."
Foreign news anchors
In addition to Chinese anchors, CGTN employs foreigners as news presenters, some of whom have extensive experience, such as Edwin Maher (a former newsreader and weatherman from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation), while others may be recent university graduates just embarking upon their careers.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
Former comptroller Jiang Heping defended the policy of putting foreigners on air, arguing that "we feel international on-air personalities boost the credibility of CGTN and befit its image as an international channel. In this regard, CGTN will not restrict the origin of its employees and choose to build its unique identity through its programming."{{cite book |last=Jiang Heping |editor=Sucharita S. Eashwar |title=Asia Media Summit 2005: Promoting Peace and Prosperity in a Globalised World |chapter-url=http://download.aibd.org.my/books/AMS_05_Promoting_Peace_and_Prosperity.pdf |access-date=2007-09-13 |year=2005 |publisher=Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development |isbn=983-41053-3-9 |pages=173–75 |chapter=Window on China and the World: CCTV News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129114254/http://download.aibd.org.my/books/AMS_05_Promoting_Peace_and_Prosperity.pdf |archive-date=29 November 2007}}
Another prominent personality in CCTV-9's first decade was Mark Rowswell, otherwise known as Dashan. He hosted Travel in Chinese on CCTV News and has been honored for his work in promoting cancer awareness in China.{{cite web|access-date=2007-05-04|title=China's Most Famous Foreigner to Receive Prestigious – Mark Rowswell ("Dashan") to be Honoured for Raising Awareness of Cancer in China|first=Sophie|last=Welter|url=http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/mediareleaselist/0,,3543_434465_288488355_langId-en.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050910215404/http://cancer.ca/ccs/internet/mediareleaselist/0,,3543_434465_288488355_langId-en.html|archive-date=10 September 2005|url-status=dead}}
On 18 September 2019, Nick Pollard, a veteran British TV executive, resigned from his post as consultant and advisor to CGTN, giving his reason for leaving as being CGTN's failure to comply with Ofcom's rules on impartiality in connection to its coverage of the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests.{{cite news |last1=Nilsson |first1=Patricia |date=18 September 2019 |title=Former Ofcom director quits Chinese state broadcaster |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b28991be-da12-11e9-8f9b-77216ebe1f17/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=2020-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823231533/https://www.ft.com/content/b28991be-da12-11e9-8f9b-77216ebe1f17 |archive-date=23 August 2020}} He had joined CGTN in December 2018.{{cite news |last1=Yan |first1=Sophia |date=11 July 2019 |title=Chinese state broadcaster hires former Ofcom director amid investigation |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/11/chinese-state-broadcaster-hires-former-ofcom-director-amid-investigation/ |url-status=live |access-date=2020-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504025646/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/11/chinese-state-broadcaster-hires-former-ofcom-director-amid-investigation/ |archive-date=4 May 2020}}
= Detention of Cheng Lei =
{{Main|Cheng Lei (journalist)}}
In mid-August 2020, Cheng Lei, an Australian journalist who since 2012 worked for CGTN as an anchor for a business show, was detained by Chinese authorities and charged in February 2021 with sharing state secrets, with no further information being provided.{{Cite news |date=8 February 2021 |title='She's a mother with two young kids who really need her': Family of Cheng Lei speak out |website=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-08/china-confirms-cheng-lei-is-accused-of-leaking-state-secrets/13127488 |url-status=live |access-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208162025/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-08/china-confirms-cheng-lei-is-accused-of-leaking-state-secrets/13127488 |archive-date=8 February 2021}} Soon after Cheng was detained, two Australian journalists working in China fled the country after being questioned by authorities on national security grounds, leaving Australia's media without any journalists working in China for the first time in nearly 50 years.{{Cite news |last=Griffiths |first=James |date=8 February 2021 |title=China arrests Australian TV host on suspicion of spying |website=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/07/media/china-australia-cheng-lei-cgtn-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310145629/https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/07/media/china-australia-cheng-lei-cgtn-intl-hnk/index.html |archive-date=10 March 2021}} CGTN has deleted all reference to Cheng from its website and social media, and has not made any report or comment on Cheng's detention.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}
Awards
The channel's Washington, DC–based broadcast center, CGTN America, has won a News & Documentary Emmy for Jen Bricker: When Can't is a Four-Letter Word, as well as multiple New York Festivals medals and White House News Photographers Association awards.{{Cite news |title=Winners at the 37th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards |url=https://emmyonline.com/news_37th_winners |website=Emmy Awards |publisher=National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences |access-date=30 August 2020 |date=21 September 2016 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809075828/https://emmyonline.com/news_37th_winners |url-status=live }}
Reception
{{Further|China Global Television Network#Reception}}
=Bias and censorship=
{{Further|Censorship in China}}
Observers have noted that the "aim [of CGTN] is to influence public opinion overseas in order to nudge foreign governments into making policies favourable towards China’s Communist party" through subtle means.{{Cite news|last1=Lim|first1=Louisa|last2=Bergin|first2=Julia|date=2018-12-07|title=Inside China's audacious global propaganda campaign|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/dec/07/china-plan-for-global-media-dominance-propaganda-xi-jinping|url-status=live|access-date=2019-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310193251/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/dec/07/china-plan-for-global-media-dominance-propaganda-xi-jinping|archive-date=2020-03-10|issn=0261-3077}} Researchers Thomas Fearon and Usha M. Rodrigues argued that CGTN has a "dichotomous role as a credible media competing for audience attention on the world stage, and a vital government propaganda organ domestically."{{Cite journal|last1=Fearon|first1=Thomas|last2=Rodrigues|first2=Usha M.|date=2019-07-31|title=The dichotomy of China Global Television Network's news coverage|url=https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/pacific-journalism-review/article/view/404|journal=Pacific Journalism Review: Te Koakoa|volume=25|issue=1&2|pages=102–121|doi=10.24135/pjr.v25i1.404|issn=2324-2035|doi-access=free|access-date=2021-04-08|archive-date=2021-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202065758/https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/pacific-journalism-review/article/view/404|url-status=live|hdl=10536/DRO/DU:30128822|hdl-access=free}}
According to James Palmer at Foreign Policy, the contrasting aims of RT (formerly Russia Today) and CGTN, "mirrors wider strategies: Moscow wants chaos it can exploit, while Beijing wants a stable world order—on its terms".{{Cite news |last=Palmer |first=James |date=October 1, 2018 |title=China's Global Propaganda Is Aimed at Bosses, Not Foreigners |work=Foreign Policy |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/10/01/chinas-global-propaganda-is-aimed-at-bosses-not-foreigners/ |url-status=live |access-date=February 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108203651/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/10/01/chinas-global-propaganda-is-aimed-at-bosses-not-foreigners/ |archive-date=January 8, 2020}} While RT doesn't mind whether it goes to the far-left or the far-right, Chinese state media is permitted to "act from a very narrow, officially approved scope, and the risk of the political extremes is too much," according to journalist Hilton Yip. On the contrary to CGTN's investments in studios and numerous overseas bureaus, "the actual content is a mix of brutally tedious propaganda and bland documentaries. The audience is always the bosses in Beijing, not the average viewer overseas". Yip also noted the growing disillusionment of journalists in China who "are allowed to do little more than parrot the official line", citing a viral video of a journalist rolling her eyes at another reporter's softball question during a ministerial press conference, which "seemed to speak for many in the country who are tired of the charade that local media has become".
Despite a decade of overseas expansion, the redoubling of efforts by CGTN, and to an extension other state media, to push the party's theories and principles abroad is at odds with boosting China's overseas image.{{Cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=James |title=China's Global Propaganda Is Aimed at Bosses, Not Foreigners |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/10/01/chinas-global-propaganda-is-aimed-at-bosses-not-foreigners/ |website=foreignpolicy.com |publisher=Foreign Policy |access-date=10 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108203651/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/10/01/chinas-global-propaganda-is-aimed-at-bosses-not-foreigners/ |archive-date=8 January 2020 |url-status=live }} CGTN, along with other Chinese state media outlets, is still widely regarded as "editorially biased and full of propaganda, and they still struggle to attract large audiences", particularly in the age of widespread internet use with social media and nontraditional forms of media where the public has become "more averse to clumsy state-run propaganda than ever".
Despite its revamp launching of CCTV America, critics have voiced concerns over the level of censorship exercised by the channel, especially on sensitive domestic issues in China.{{Cite news|last=Yip|first=Hilton|date=April 23, 2018|title=China's $6 Billion Propaganda Blitz Is a Snooze|work=Foreign Policy|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/23/the-voice-of-china-will-be-a-squeak/|url-status=live|access-date=June 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217032923/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/23/the-voice-of-china-will-be-a-squeak/|archive-date=17 February 2020}} Philip Cunningham of Cornell University, who has appeared more than 100 times on China Central Television talk shows, noted that sensitive issues such as Tibet and Xinjiang were heavily edited on various programs.{{Cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/world-jan-june12-cctv_03-23 |title=China's Programming for U.S. Audiences: Is it News or Propaganda? |date=22 March 2012 |work=PBS NewsHour |access-date=2 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002141751/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/world-jan-june12-cctv_03-23 |archive-date=2 October 2018 |url-status=live }} Ma Jing, Director of CCTV America defends the channel against such allegations by saying that the channel edits stories the same way other news organizations do. She said: "We uphold the traditional journalistic values. We consider accuracy, objectivity, truthfulness, and public accountability very important, more important than anything else."
In March 2021, CGTN was fined £225,000 by Ofcom for bias in its coverage of the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, which was found to have repeatedly breached fairness and impartiality requirements.{{Cite news |title=Ofcom fines Chinese state broadcaster CGTN £225,000 for biased Hong Kong protest coverage and airing forced confession |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/ofcom-fines-cgtn-225000-biased-hong-kong-protest-coverage-forced-confession/ |website=Press Gazette |date=8 March 2021 |access-date=25 January 2022}}{{Cite news |title=Chinese state TV broke Ofcom rules with biased Hong Kong coverage |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/may/26/chinese-state-tv-broke-ofcom-rules-with-biased-hong-kong-coverage-cgtn |website=The Guardian |date=26 May 2020 |access-date=25 January 2022}}
=Accessory to torture and forced confessions=
{{Further|Forced confession}}
On 23 November 2018, a British corporate investigator named Peter Humphrey submitted a formal complaint{{Cite news|title=British man seeks China state TV ban for forced confession|url=https://apnews.com/6ba64ce1f5294262a05c055dea5c3576|date=23 November 2018|website=AP NEWS|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208165455/https://apnews.com/6ba64ce1f5294262a05c055dea5c3576|archive-date=8 December 2019|access-date=15 April 2020}} to the United Kingdom's government communications regulator The Office of Communications, or Ofcom, maintaining he was forced under duress to confess on air over Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television's (CCTV) network and that, as the confession was subsequently broadcast{{Cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/2174927/uk-watchdog-may-probe-china-state-medias-role-confession-peter|title=UK watchdog may probe China state media's role in extracting 'confession'|date=26 November 2018|website=South China Morning Post|access-date=26 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125200534/https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/2174927/uk-watchdog-may-probe-china-state-medias-role-confession-peter|archive-date=25 November 2018|url-status=live}} over the international arm of CCTV, China Global Television Network (CGTN), CGTN itself should be held culpable by Ofcom and denied the right to operate its broadcast service in the U.K. Humphrey's complaint cited two films produced by CCTV and additionally aired in the UK by CGTN, stating that both were scripted and directed by the Chinese police, the public security bureau, while he was a prisoner, in conditions of duress amounting to torture.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/db8b9e36-1119-11e8-940e-08320fc2a277|title='I was locked inside a steel cage': Peter Humphrey on his life inside a Chinese prison|newspaper=Financial Times |access-date=2020-04-04|date=2019-11-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308104623/https://www.ft.com/content/db8b9e36-1119-11e8-940e-08320fc2a277|archive-date=8 March 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Waterson|first=Jim|date=2020-05-26|title=Chinese state TV broke Ofcom rules with biased Hong Kong coverage|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/may/26/chinese-state-tv-broke-ofcom-rules-with-biased-hong-kong-coverage-cgtn|url-status=live|access-date=2020-05-30|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=28 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528120850/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/may/26/chinese-state-tv-broke-ofcom-rules-with-biased-hong-kong-coverage-cgtn}} One such confession, staged in August 2013, was filmed by a CCTV crew with Humphrey locked in an iron chair inside a steel cage, wearing handcuffs and an orange prison vest. This was before he had been indicted, tried or convicted of a crime. The second, in July 2014, was once again filmed by CCTV, not in a cage this time, but still in a prison vest and handcuffs, before he had been tried or convicted on the charge of illegal information gathering.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tid79Qv9Fb8 |title=China state TV 'confession': Peter Humphrey & Yu Yingzeng |date=2016-02-07 |last= |publisher=Hong Kong Free Press |access-date=2024-12-12 |via=YouTube}}
Ofcom said it would investigate the complaint and would "take necessary enforcement action" if rules are determined to have been violated.{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Matthew |title=Call to ban Xi's 'propaganda TV' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/call-to-ban-xi-s-propaganda-tv-china-global-television-network-cgtn-39286rcp7 |newspaper=The Times |access-date=10 December 2019 |date=24 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109104308/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/call-to-ban-xi-s-propaganda-tv-china-global-television-network-cgtn-39286rcp7 |archive-date=9 November 2019 |url-status=live }} In November 2019, CGTN aired a video of a UK consular employee, Simon Cheng, in captivity "confessing" to consorting with prostitutes. Within a week, Cheng had filed a new complaint to Ofcom.{{cite news |title=Hong Kong 'torture' victim files Ofcom complaint against CGTN |newspaper=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/0928dcf6-1117-11ea-a7e6-62bf4f9e548a/ |access-date=2020-04-04 |date=2019-11-28 |archive-date=23 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823231532/https://www.ft.com/content/0928dcf6-1117-11ea-a7e6-62bf4f9e548a |url-status=live }} On 8 March 2021, CGTN was fined a total of £225,000 by Ofcom for serious breaches of fairness, privacy and impartiality rules. “We found the individuals (Simon Cheng and Gui Minhai) concerned were unfairly treated and had their privacy unwarrantably infringed,” Ofcom said, adding that the broadcaster had “failed to obtain their informed consent to be interviewed.” It concluded that “material facts which cast serious doubt on the reliability of their alleged confessions” had been left out of its programing, which aired pretrial “confessions” of the two men while they were being detained. Ofcom said it was considering further sanctions.{{Cite news |title=Chinese state broadcaster CGTN fined £225,000 by UK regulator |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/f657400c-a128-4a76-8e92-22307931d705 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211231251/https://www.ft.com/content/f657400c-a128-4a76-8e92-22307931d705 |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=22 May 2021 }}
On 4 February 2021, CGTN had its license to broadcast in the United Kingdom revoked by broadcasting regulator Ofcom after an investigation found that its license was held by Star China Media, which exercised no editorial oversight over CGTN.{{cite news|last=Mathers|first=Matt|date=4 February 2021|title=Chinese state-owned TV network CGTN has UK licence revoked by Ofcom|website=The Independent|url=https://independent.co.uk/news/world/chinese-tv-network-cgtn-licence-revoked-ofcom-b1797693.html|url-status=live|access-date=22 February 2021|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214233040/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/chinese-tv-network-cgtn-licence-revoked-ofcom-b1797693.html}}{{Cite web|date=2021-02-04|title=Ofcom revokes CGTN's licence to broadcast in the UK|url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/features-and-news/ofcom-revokes-cgtn-licence-to-broadcast-in-uk|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Ofcom|language=en|archive-date=22 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222145250/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/features-and-news/ofcom-revokes-cgtn-licence-to-broadcast-in-uk|url-status=live}} Ofcom subsequently imposed fines on CGTN.{{Cite news|last=Tobitt|first=Charlotte|date=2021-03-08|title=Ofcom fines Chinese CGTN £225,000 for code breaches|url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/ofcom-fines-cgtn-225000-biased-hong-kong-protest-coverage-forced-confession/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-10|website=Press Gazette|language=en-GB|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310070318/https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/ofcom-fines-cgtn-225000-biased-hong-kong-protest-coverage-forced-confession/}} An open letter calling for Ofcom to reverse its revocation decision was signed by the editor of the left-wing Morning Star, Ben Chacko, along with journalists John Pilger, Jonathan Cook and Kerry-Anne Mendoza, film directors Oliver Stone and Ken Loach, rapper and activist Lowkey, and writer and activist Tariq Ali.{{cite news|url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/opposing-ofcom%E2%80%99s-ban-china%E2%80%99s-english-language-tv-channel-defending-free-speech|title=Opposing Ofcom's ban on China's English-language TV channel is defending free speech|date=9 March 2021|website=Morning Star|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309153138/https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/opposing-ofcom%E2%80%99s-ban-china%E2%80%99s-english-language-tv-channel-defending-free-speech|url-status=live}}
In March 2021, Australian public broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service suspended news bulletin broadcasts from CGTN and CCTV due to complaints of forced confessions.{{Cite news|last=Needham|first=Kirsty|date=2021-03-05|title=Australian broadcaster suspends China's CGTN citing human rights complaint|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-china-media-idUSKBN2AX0GJ|access-date=2021-03-05|archive-date=5 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305124905/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-china-media-idUSKBN2AX0GJ|url-status=live}}
= Accusation of antisemitism =
{{Further|Antisemitism in China}}
In May 2021, during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, Israel's embassy in Beijing accused CGTN of "blatant antisemitism" when host Zheng Junfeng speculated on the origins of the Israel lobby in the United States and its connection to wealthy American Jews, which Israel characterized as an antisemitic canard.{{Cite news|date=May 19, 2021|title=Israel accuses Chinese state TV of 'blatant antisemitism'|work=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-israel-race-and-ethnicity-anti-semitism-54fd7d8a6b42c6afcfdb3dc2b16f7e0e|url-status=live|access-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522222342/https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-israel-race-and-ethnicity-anti-semitism-54fd7d8a6b42c6afcfdb3dc2b16f7e0e|archive-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite news|date=May 19, 2021|title=Israel accuses China state TV of 'blatant anti-Semitism'|work=France 24|agency=Agence France-Presse|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210519-israel-accuses-china-state-tv-of-blatant-anti-semitism|url-status=live|access-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523115557/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210519-israel-accuses-china-state-tv-of-blatant-anti-semitism|archive-date=May 23, 2021}}{{Cite news|date=May 21, 2021|title=Israeli embassy in China blasts state TV broadcaster for 'blatant anti-Semitism'|work=Times of Israel|url=https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/israeli-embassy-in-china-blasts-state-tv-broadcaster-for-blatant-anti-semitism/|url-status=live|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524013014/https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/israeli-embassy-in-china-blasts-state-tv-broadcaster-for-blatant-anti-semitism/|archive-date=May 24, 2021}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{CCTV}}
{{World news channels}}
{{European Broadcasting Union Members}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:CGTN World}}
Category:China Global Television Network channels
Category:International broadcasters
Category:24-hour television news channels in China
Category:English-language television stations
Category:Foreign television channels broadcasting in the United Kingdom
Category:Television channels in the Netherlands
Category:Television channels in Belgium
Category:Television channels in Flanders
Category:Television channels and stations established in 1997