The Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film and Television issued an order last month to all local governments to ban "illegal" foreign satellite programs. According to mainland Chinese residents, even the pro-Communist Hong Kong based Phoenix Satellite TV is listed as "illegal," and banned in many areas.
When The Epoch Times phoned the Beijing office of Phoenix Satellite TV inquiring about the matter, an employee said that the impact is small and limited to certain local areas. However, the Southern China Morning Post in Hong Kong quoted the station’s management saying, "The Phoenix Satellite TV has become the major victim of this regulation. So far, it has lost at least 4 million customers in mainland."
Phoenix Satellite TV is a company listed in Hong Kong stock market and the only overseas Chinese television media in the mainland TV market. Experts believe that the fact that even the pro-Communist Phoenix Satellite TV is targeted shows that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is losing its sense of security. It does not even trust its own people.
Tight Control over Phoenix Cable News
According to viewers Mr. Leung and Ms. Yang of Dongguan, Guangdong Province, they have not been able to receive the Phoenix News channels since August 1. The local cable company claimed they were acting on orders by the authorities.
A cable service provider in Guangzhou said that they received orders from upper authority requesting them not to supply major programs by Phoenix Satellite including news on current affairs, finance, and other news. However for the time being they can broadcast entertainment programs. She also mentioned that there are many local cable service providers. Not all of them have been notified and not all of them followed the orders right away.
A cable service provider in Shenzhen said that they received the notice and the core meaning is "to prevent the infiltration of the enemy’s knowledge and culture."
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