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China-Japan-Koreas | |
Media Watchdogs Accuse Satellite Operator of Bowing to Chinese Pressure | |
2005-03-15 | |
International media watchdogs on Tuesday accused leading satellite operator Eutelsat of bowing to pressure from Beijing by refusing to renew a contract that allows a U.S.-based Chinese television company to broadcast into China. "The inexplicable decision to suddenly end the contract of an independent broadcaster in this way appears to be a shocking act of censorship," said Aidan White, general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists. Another group, Reporters Without Borders, said Eutelsat was violating European and International conventions by terminating the contract of New Tang Dynasty Television, which it called "the only non-governmental channel freely reaching Chinese viewers via satellite in the Chinese language." Lawyers for the New Tang Dynasty Television and Reporters Without Borders have said they plan to bring a lawsuit in a Paris court Wednesday against Eutelsat. "We opened a historic open satellite window in the great wall of information control that is forcibly maintained by Beijing," NTDTV board director Joe Zhao told a news conference. "Eutelsat is preparing to slam shut the open satellite window this week." Zhao said NTDTV would use the Internet and other unspecified alternative methods to get its broadcasts into China if Eutelsat removes the satellite signal. He estimated the channel's global audience at 200 million. From its Paris headquarters, Eutelsat said it had honored it contract with a London-based company through which it dealt with NTDTV and said its decisions were based on commercial grounds. "Eutelsat is not reacting to pressure from the Chinese authorities or any other authority," the company said in a statement.
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Posted by:Steve |
#2 Headquartered in Paris.. That says it all. |
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-03-15 2:27:24 PM |
#1 Falun Gong? Lol! The ChiCom BS Bogeyman. Wotta load. They trot out this very scary group of Buddhist-inspired folks looking for a little The sucking sound you hear is Eutelsat fellating the ChiComs. I'm sure this will be Eutelsat info: Unofficial Coporate Motto: *Under Construction* (in Beijing) Headquartered in Paris and with a workforce of 450 professionals from 25 countries, Eutelsat operates marketing and sales offices in Germany Italy, Poland, the UK and the USA, as well as a broadband affiliate in Italy called Skylogic. Eutelsat also owns and operates teleports in France and Italy that supply in-orbit satellite control, value-added and hosting services. The corporate governance of Eutelsat is the responsibility of a Board of Directors with 10 members. Giuliano Berretta is Chairman of the Board and CEO. Eutelsat S.A. Limited Liability Company with Management and Supervisory Board. Headquarters: 70 rue Balard, F 75502 Paris Cedex 15, France |
Posted by: .com 2005-03-15 1:23:12 PM |