NEW YORK—In a landmark deal with Paris-based Eutelsat, New York-based New Tang Dynasty Television quietly announced a radical change in the status quo of the well-controlled Mainland Chinese airwaves.
According to NTDTV, Eutelsat's Hotbird 5 and W5 satellites will begin transmitting 24-hour direct-to-home programming across China.
Previously, television signals in China have been dominated by the Chinese Communist Party owned China Central Television or have been strictly censored by the CCP. Other broadcasters wishing to reach Mainland Chinese viewers, such as U.S.-based Viacom, have been forced to make strict content concessions for the right to air programming. NTDTV's arrangement claims to provide an uncensored, unblockable signal across the whole country, available to any household with a satellite dish.
China is the world's largest authoritarian state and one that French-based advocate for worldwide journalists, Reporters Without Borders, ranked 248th on a list of 249 for press freedom in 2002.
"We are excited about our new international launch," said Zhong Lee, president of NTDTV. "We are proud to contribute to pluralism in Chinese-language media, and to promote the free flow of information and ideas via satellite. We hope our programs will bring the best in traditional Chinese culture and 21st century communications to Chinese communities worldwide."
NTDTV was named for the dynasty considered to be the most glorious era in Chinese history. "The second king during the Tang dynasty was very open minded and allowed different religions," Lee said. "Christianity was spread in China during that time." According to NTDTV staff, the "New" Tang Dynasty TV is a renaissance of that which made China great.
In January, Taiwan's Vice President Annette Lu gave a speech with a message of "human rights, democracy, peace, and love" at a New Tang Dynasty TV New Year's Gala to show support for the television network. The Gala performance, held in Taipei's Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, was the first major public event put on by NTDTV.
[First published April 4, 2004]
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