China bars airing of BBC World News, says channel 'seriously violated' regulations

China has barred the airing of television channel BBC World News a week after the UK's media regulator revoked the UK broadcast licence for China's state television, Reuters reported.

The report said: "China’s National Radio and Television Administration said an investigation found BBC World News’ China-related reports had 'seriously violated' regulations, including that news should be 'truthful and fair', had harmed China’s interests and undermined national unity. The channel, therefore, did not meet requirements for foreign channels broadcasting in China and its application to air for another year would not be accepted, it said."

Soon after, Hong Kong's public broadcaster, Radio Television Hong Kong, said it was "suspending the relay of BBC news programming".

In response, BBC said it was "disappointed" in this course of action.

On February 4, UK regulator Ofcom had concluded that the channel China Global Television Network was "ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which is not permitted under UK broadcasting law".