Ofcom has revoked the United Kingdom broadcast licence for China Global Television Network (CGTN) and refused its application to transfer that licence to a proposed new operator, citing links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
CGTN is an English-language international satellite news channel and, to operate in the UK, must comply with British broadcasting law. UK rules require licence holders to have full editorial control and independence from political organisations.
In its investigation, Ofcom concluded that the licence holder, Star China Media Limited (SCML), did not exercise editorial responsibility for CGTN’s output. Ofcom previously ruled against CGTN in 2020 for breaching impartiality rules in its coverage of the Hong Kong protests.
“None of the employees involved in CGTN’s decision-making, or day-to-day running of the channel, appear to be employed by SCML,” Ofcom said, noting that the regulator had given CGTN substantial time to meet statutory requirements but the channel did not come into compliance.
CGTN acknowledged that SCML did not control the service and indicated it intended to separate from China Central Television (CCTV). Ofcom says CCTV is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which under UK law cannot hold a broadcast licence.
An Ofcom spokesperson explained:
“Our investigation showed that the licence for China Global Television Network is held by an entity which has no editorial control over its programmes.
We are unable to approve the application to transfer the licence to China Global Television Network Corporation because it is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which is not permitted under UK broadcasting law.
We’ve provided CGTN with numerous opportunities to come into compliance, but it has not done so. We now consider it appropriate to withdraw the licence for CGTN to broadcast in the UK.”
CGTN applied in September 2020 to transfer its licence to a proposed entity called China Global Television Network Corporation (CGTNC). Ofcom said the transfer application omitted key information, failed to answer important questions and, in correspondence, indicated that CGTNC would be controlled by CCTV, which the regulator regards as CCP-run.
Given its findings, Ofcom determined that approval of the transfer would be inconsistent with UK broadcasting law and therefore revoked CGTN’s right to broadcast within the UK.
The regulator’s decision underscores the UK’s legal requirement that broadcasters demonstrate clear, independent editorial control free from political party influence. Broadcasters operating in the UK must satisfy these transparency and governance standards to hold and transfer licences.
(Photo by Pascal Bernardon on Unsplash)