Ofcom has imposed a financial penalty of £100,000 on Star China Media Limited in relation to its services CCTV News and CGTN for failing to comply with our broadcasting rules. CCTV News was renamed as China Global Television Network (CGTN) on 31 December 2016, and the service continued to operate under the same licence.
News Desk, CCTV, 17 January 2016
On 17 January 2016, CCTV News broadcast the news programme, News Desk, which reported on Mr Minhai Gui, who, after being a “fugitive” for over ten years, had apparently voluntarily returned to China to serve a two-year prison sentence for a drink driving offence. The programme included footage of Mr Gui appearing to express regret for his actions.
The World Today, CGTN, 11 February 2018
On 11 February 2018, CGTN broadcast the programme, The World Today, which reported on Mr Gui’s voluntary return to China in relation to the drink driving offence and on the arrest of Mr Gui in connection with a different offence. The programme included footage of Mr Gui where he described his time after he had been released from prison and prior to his arrest.
Mr Gui’s daughter complained to Ofcom on his behalf about unjust or unfair treatment in the programmes and unwarranted infringement of privacy in connection with the obtaining of material included in the programmes and in the programmes as broadcast.
In Ofcom’s Adjudication published on 8 March 2021 in issue 422 of the Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin, we found that the programmes had breached Rules 7.1 and 8.1 of our Broadcasting Code.
Ofcom has imposed a sanction on Star China Media Limited of a financial penalty of £100,000.
Decision – Star China Media Limited 144 (21) (PDF, 340.1 KB)
Ofcom has imposed a financial penalty of £100,000 on Star China Media Limited in relation to its service CGTN for failing to comply with our broadcasting rules.
China 24, CGTN, 21 November 2019
On 21 November 2019, CGTN broadcast the news programme, China 24, which reported on the release by the police in China of CCTV footage of Mr Cheng which it said showed him “soliciting prostitutes and of his trial [i]n August”. The programme reported that Mr Cheng had claimed in a BBC interview that he had been “tortured” while in police detention in China and included footage of Mr Cheng, with faint audio, which it said showed that he “acknowledged his violations of the law”. The programme also included the CCTV footage of him.
Mr Cheng complained to Ofcom about unjust or unfair treatment in the programme and unwarranted infringement of privacy in connection with the obtaining of material included in the programme and in the programme as broadcast.
In Ofcom’s Adjudication published on 8 March 2021 in issue 422 of the Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin, we found that the programme had breached Rules 7.1 and 8.1 of our Broadcasting Code.
Ofcom has imposed a sanction on Star China Media Limited of a financial penalty of £100,000.
Decision – Star China Media Limited 145 (21) (PDF, 357.3 KB)