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SBS pulls China’s CGTN & CCTV

SBS has launched an investigation into the allegations after the human rights group.

SBS has suspended broadcasts from Chinese state media channels China Global Television Network (CGTN) and CCTV, pending a review into human rights complaints.

The broadcaster has launched an investigation into the allegations after the human rights group Safeguard Defenders raised concerns about CGTN and CCTV airing 56 forced confessions between 2013 and 2020.

“Given the serious concerns it raises and the complexity of the material involved, we have made the decision to suspend the broadcast of the overseas-sourced CGTN and CCTV news bulletins,” an SBS spokesperson confirmed.

SBS normally airs a 15-minute CGTN English news service and 30-minute CCTV Mandarin bulletin.

Safeguard Defenders is a human rights NGO that was founded in 2016 with the mission of protecting the rule of law, civil society and human rights in “some of the most hostile environments in Asia.”

But the move comes at a time when the Chinese Foreign Ministry has registered its concern regarding increasing acts of discrimination against people of Chinese ethnicity and other Asians in Australia.

Last month UK regulators pulled the broadcasting license for China Global Television Network.

Media regulator Ofcom said it had withdrawn the Chinese state-owned channel’s license after an investigation “concluded that the license is wrongfully held by Star China Media Limited.”

Source: Yahoo, Guardian

7 Responses

  1. Why do we even need the SBS? Almost all of their broadcast content is from overseas sources. If people want to watch CGTN and CCTV it’s freely available online. No need to even watch it on the SBS.

  2. These are apparently allegations and should be substantiated, especially now that they have taken the stance to suspend the imported news bulletins. The allegations possibly should have been substantiated before suspending them.

    1. I agree, but China is a communist regime, the recent negative political issues China has with Australia reveals that, it’s fair to say that all information coming from China is now strictly controlled.
      Having said that, the SBS has made an issue for themselves too as many Chinese speakers living in Australia will feel like their right to information is being politically censored by this government owned Australia broadcaster as well.

      1. ‘Information’ that’s strictly agitprop from the CCP, remembering that an Australian citizen who worked for CCTV is currently in the hole awaiting processing in the Chinese ‘justice’ system, See this weeks’ ep of ‘4 Corners’ for more on the general subject. Now if we could only be rid of the Kremlin’s mouth piece RT…

        1. Fair enough the regards concerning the CCP. But ultimately, the actions of SBS have been based on unsubstantiated information by the NGO. Without reply from CGTN and CCTV or verification from the claims by Safeguard Defenders. It is not known yet if the NGO has a political agenda or are actually acting upon genuine concerns. Ultimately the allegations should be substantiated to eradicate true doubt about the allegations and actions.

          1. But without access and transparency – claims can’t be substantiated.

            It’s the same as the CCP strategy of denying/crying about access to investigate origins of Covid, denying access to Xinjiang (or Tibet for decades for that matter).

            A propaganda mouthpiece for CCP had no place on our public broadcaster. Well done SBS.

          2. @Brendos74 There are two sides to access and transparency for organisations and media. There can be prevention of media or organisations if they are reporting based on bias and agenda that might not be truthful. Or there can be prevention of access and transparency to deny or conceal. It could also be said that how would the NGO know without access and transparency either. Assumptive media and claims doesn’t sit comfortably with me.

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