CGTN able to resume broadcasts in Europe

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The China Global Television Network, or CGTN, has the right to broadcast across Europe, French authorities have confirmed, despite a recent move by regulators in the United Kingdom to revoke the Chinese media company’s license.

UK broadcast regulator Ofcom banned CGTN from British airwaves in February following a dispute over which entity has editorial control over the Beijingbased media organization.

But France’s media watchdog the Conseil superieur de l’audiovisuel, or CSA, confirmed on Wednesday the CGTN channel falls under French jurisdiction because it has been broadcasting in Europe via a French satellite operator since 2016.

French law gives non-European channels the right to broadcast if French satellites and uplinks are used.

Under a treaty set up by the Council of Europe, which has 47 members including the UK and France, a media organization is authorized to broadcast across the continent as long as it falls under the jurisdiction of one member state and adheres to local regulations.

The CSA said non-European channels such as CGTN can be broadcast freely without prior verification, provided they continue to respect French television and radio laws.

In principle, this could mean that CGTN retains the right to broadcast in the UK, despite the Ofcom ruling.

CGTN said it had proposed transferring its television license, though Ofcom refused to cooperate and seek a “constructive solution”.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Beijing “firmly opposed” the move by the British regulator.

“China urges the UK to immediately cease political manipulation and correct its mistakes,” the spokesman said at a news conference early last month.

Nantong’s regional GDP in 2020 provincial-level or above economic zones in Nantong as of the end of February