The China Global Television Network has often been criticised for allegedly sharing misinformation and making false allegations against opponents of the Chinese government.
CGTN’s most high-profile controversies include:
Peter Humphrey
Ofcom launched an investigation into CGTN – previously CCTV – following broadcasts which showed former British journalist Peter Humphrey appearing to confess to a criminal offence, and reported his conviction and an apology.
Mr Humphrey, 64, was jailed for more than two years by a court in Shanghai in 2014, in connection with a corruption case involving pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.
The two reports from CCTV identified Mr Humphrey but his face was blurred. The 2013 footage was broadcast across Chinese media as well as – astonishingly – in Britain.
China’s star TV presenter James Chau, a Cambridge-educated journalist who counts the Duchess of Sussex among his friends, solemnly introduced the shocking footage to viewers.
But according to Mr Humphrey, the entire broadcast was a lie.
Hong Kong protests
The network has previously been investigated by Ofcom for its coverage of the Hong Kong protests, which took place in 2019 until late 2020.
The media watchdog said the channel often focused on violence by protesters against police officers while ignoring attacks by the authorities on members of the public.
It said the output echoed the views of the pro-Beijing Hong Kong government without providing sufficient balance from those with alternative views, the Guardian reported.
However, CGTN claimed it was ‘particularly challenging’ to air pro-democracy views on the Hong Kong protests because those demonstrating were reluctant to talk on camera.
Simon Cheng
In November 2019, CGTN aired a video of a UK consular employee in captivity appearing to ‘confess’ to consorting with prostitutes.
A week later, he filed a complaint with Ofcom.
Nick Pollard
In September 2019, the British TV executive resigned from his post as consultant and advisor to CGTN.
He explained he was leaving due to CGTN’s failure to comply with Ofcom’s rules on impartiality regarding coverage of the Hong Kong protests.