New Tang Dynasty Television

From Justapedia, unleashing the power of collective wisdom
Jump to navigation Jump to search
NTD Television
E-NTD logo2.jpg
TypeGlobal Television Network
Broadcast areaUSA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, China, Taiwan and more
Headquarters229 W. 28th Street, Suite 700, New York, NY 10001
Programming
Language(s)Multiple, mainly Chinese and English
History
LaunchedDecember 3, 2001
Links
Websitewww.ntd.com
Availability
New Tang Dynasty Television
Traditional Chinese新唐人電視台
Simplified Chinese新唐人电视台

New Tang Dynasty Television (NTD Television) is a multilingual American broadcaster based in New York City. It was founded in 2001 by a group of Chinese-Americans who fled under threat of persecution by the ruling Chinese Communist Party because of their religious beliefs.[1][2] NTD has since become a multilingual network, and in July 2020, they launched a 24/7 English channel which now broadcasts nationwide in the U.S. and UK. NTD retains a unique strength on mainland China, despite being outspent by the CCP's international propaganda. Some have likened the latter to the biblical underdog scenario of David and Goliath.[3][4] and became a major voice for human rights abuses and religious persecutions in China, including Falun Gong practitioners, underground Christians, Tibetan monks and common Chinese people. NTD is a product of the Epoch Media Group, a consortium which also includes The Epoch Times, available in both print and online.

History

Along with The Epoch Times and Sound of Hope, NTD was founded by a group of Chinese-Americans who fled persecution by the Communist Party of China (CPC) because of their religious beliefs. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the former president Zhong Lee stated that the company's original purpose was to speak up about the persecuted Falun Gong, but that "media can also play a big role pushing democracy in China".[5] NTD's content offerings include news and analysis, arts and culture, travel, entertainment news, health and lifestyle, and children's programming.[6]

The station has a regular focus on the promotion of traditional Chinese culture and western classical arts, and devotes extensive news coverage to Chinese human rights issues, scrutinizing abuses of power by the Chinese Communist Party.[6][5] The name was chosen to invoke the ancient Tang dynasty that the company considers "the golden age of Chinese spirituality and civilization ... known for its high moral standards and unparalleled cultural achievements."[7]

Some media outlets have attempted to fabricate an affiliation between NTD and Falun Gong religious practices, and have also attempted the same for The Epoch Times and other products of the Epoch Media Group. It is important to distinguish between the religious practice of Falun Gong and news organizations, even though there may be some overlap in personnel or shared perspectives on certain issues. In response to such claims about The Epoch Times, AP reporter Nahal Toosi said it would be deemed "technically inaccurate" to make the assertion that The Epoch Times is owned by Falun Gong. Many in mainstream media have claimed that "Falun Gong uses the newspaper as part of a public relations campaign and that it is connected with the group and carries sympathetic coverage of it."[8][9] An article in The Wall Street Journal titled Falun Gong Fields Media Weapons (04-14-2004)[10] inspired Zhong Lee, former president of NTD, to submit a critical response to the WSJ titled We're Not Media Arm for the Falun Gong (05-06-2004).[11] He succinctly stated, "In fact, NTDTV neither teaches the doctrines of the Falun Gong movement nor attempts to represent a Falun Gong viewpoint. NTDTV is an independent, nonprofit Chinese-language media company. It is the expression of independence and pluralism by Chinese-Americans in a media market that seriously needs an independent voice."[11]

The station's critical reporting has prompted censorship by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017, as well as the Chinese government.[12] NTD also reported that the Chinese government interfered with its business operations as well as its reporting.

The Christian Science Monitor in 2004 called NTD "the first independent Chinese-language TV station in the US".[13] The Wall Street Journal said in 2007 that NTD "serves as a platform for China's pro-democracy dissidents, who have been torn by internal squabbling and lack of organization".[14]

In 2009, NTD had income of $5.3 million, including $2.4 million from 3,000 donations. In 2011, NTD had a staff of 80, nearly all volunteers.[15]

By 2016, NTD's revenues were $7.4 million. In 2017, they more than doubled to $18 million, according to reports from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.[16]

Televised and streaming programs

NDT offers Epoch TV, a streaming service that offers a variety of original programming, including news, documentaries, and talk shows. Epoch TV is available on a variety of devices, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV. Some of the most notable programs on Epoch TV include:

  • American Thought Leaders with Jan Jekielek: a weekly talk show that features interviews with leading conservative thinkers and policymakers.
  • Crossroads with Joshua Philipp: a daily news show that covers the top stories of the day from a conservative perspective.
  • Facts Matter with Roman Balmakov: a weekly news show that debunks myths and misinformation.
  • Kash's Corner with Kash Patel: a weekly talk show that features interviews with conservative commentator Kash Patel.
  • The Epoch Times Tonight: a daily news show that covers the top stories of the day from a global perspective.
  • Truth Over News: a weekly news show that investigates stories often overlooked or avoided by other media outlets.

Epoch TV also produces a variety of documentary specials on a variety of topics, including:

American Goulag: examines the Chinese Communist Party's concentration camp system. China in the Shadows: investigates the Chinese Communist Party's global influence operations. The Battle for America: examines the forces that are threatening American democracy. The Plot to Overturn the Election: investigates the alleged attempts to steal the 2020 presidential election from Donald Trump. No Farmers No Food: Will You Eat The Bugs?: an Epoch Original documentary; an exposé as to why edible bugs are being promoted as a “Global Green Solution.”

NTD broadcasts 24/7, and offers a variety of original and syndicated programming, including news, arts and culture shows, documentaries, travel, entertainment news, health and lifestyle, and children's programing in both English and Chinese. Their news and analysis segments cover a wide range of topics, and are professionally hosted.

YouTube TV

NTD broadcasts programming regularly on its moderated YouTube channels, which include NTD Evening News, NTD Business News, China in Focus, Capital Report, NTD UK News and other shows.[17]

China Uncensored

China Uncensored is a satirical online news program that focuses on sensitive political issues in China with elements of humor. It was broadcast on NTD from 2017 through 2020. Chris Chappell is the host of the series. In April 2017, Apple TV temporarily blocked China Uncensored in mainland China, citing local laws, and also blocked the show in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Chappell also hosts, since October 2017, the YouTube program America Uncovered. In April 2018, he debuted as co-host of China Unscripted, a podcast with Matt Gnaizda and Shelley Zhang.

Cultural outreach

As part of its proclaimed mission to promote "appreciation and awareness of traditional Chinese culture," NTD organizes and produces a variety of cultural outreach programs, including Chinese classical dance, martial arts, and culinary competitions. The station frames these activities within a context of reviving "true Chinese cultural and moral traditions that have been lost under Communist Party rule".

From 2004 to 2006, NTD produced and televised an annual Chinese New Year Spectacular, a performance featuring classical Chinese dance and music. The show's performances contained ethnic and folk dances, dances depicting Chinese legends and moral tales, solo musical performances, and messaging and imagery sympathetic to Falun Gong, and included "artistic representations of the persecution of practitioners" in China. These shows have since been continued as traveling stage productions by a dedicated organization, Shen Yun Performing Arts.[18]

In 2008, the station began organizing a series of annual competitions open to ethnic Chinese participants in fields of classical Chinese dance, martial arts, traditional clothing design, painting, music, photography, and Chinese cooking.[19]

Censorship

In January 2008, the Chinese embassy in the United States discouraged viewers from watching or attending NTD's Chinese New Year galas, and accused NTD of spreading "anti-China propaganda" and "distorting Chinese culture".[20]

In June 2008, the media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) accused Eutelsat, a European satellite operator, of closing down transmissions of NTD to Asia through its W5 satellite to appease the Chinese government.[21] They appealed to Eutelsat CEO Giuliano Berretta to resume the broadcasts. RSF said it possessed a recording of a Beijing employee of Eutelsat revealing a "premeditated, politically motivated decision".[21] Eutelsat responded that the shutdown resulted solely from a technical failure of its W5 satellite, denied the validity of the conversation alleged by RSF, and said that it still broadcast NTD to Europe.[22] The International Federation of Journalists said Eutelsat was capable of resuming NTD transmissions to Asia, and it and members of the European Parliament called on Eutelsat to do so.[23]

NTD Canada

NTD Canada
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Programming
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Ownership
OwnerNTD Canada
History
LaunchedMarch 28, 2012
Links
Websiteca.ntdtv.com

NTD Television Canada officially launched on Rogers Cable on September 30, 2008,[24] on Bell Fibe TV in 2010, and on Shaw Cable on March 28, 2012. It is also available on Novus Entertainment in Vancouver.[25]

On July 25, 2012, NTD Television officially launched NTD Canada, a local Canadian channel for Chinese viewers in Canada.[26] NTD Canada is a multilingual service airing programming in Cantonese, Mandarin, English and French, with the aim of reaching out to second- and third-generation Chinese-Canadians who may not speak Chinese as well as they do English or French.

In June 2010 the Canadian Prime Minister's Office cancelled a press conference that NTD and The Epoch Times would have attended, so that Chinese President Hu Jintao would not come into contact with the broadcaster, allegedly following terms from the Chinese consulate. According to the Toronto Star, such press conferences are usually standard procedure for foreign leaders visiting the Parliament, and the cancellation was seen as an extraordinary measure to keep NTD away from the Chinese President.[27]

See also

  • Falun Gong-related groups:

References

  1. ^ "Falun Gong Fields Media Weapons". Wall Street Journal. 14 April 2004. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  2. ^ Elks, Sonia (2019-06-17). "China is harvesting organs from Falun Gong members, finds expert panel". U.S. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  3. ^ Trotta, Daniel (2011-03-17). "TV channel trying to change China from New York". U.S. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  4. ^ Dubow, Ben (2021-05-26). "China's Communists Flounder in European Information War". CEPA. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  5. ^ a b Chen, Kathy Chinese Dissidents Take On Beijing Via Media Empire Archived August 9, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Wall Street Journal November 15, 2007
  6. ^ a b "NTD". Archived from the original on January 5, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
  7. ^ "NTD About Us".
  8. ^ "Paper Denies Representing Falun Gong". washingtonpost.com. 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  9. ^ Neusner, J. (2009). World Religions in America, Fourth Edition: An Introduction. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. p. 217. ISBN 978-1-61164-047-2. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  10. ^ "Falun Gong Fields Media Weapons". WSJ. 2004-04-14. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  11. ^ a b "We're Not Media Arm for the Falun Gong". WSJ. 2004-05-06. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  12. ^ "Popular US-Based Chinese TV Station Denied Accreditation to Cover the 2017 United Nations General Assembly". Newswire. 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  13. ^ "Network offers free press for Chinese in US". The Christian Science Monitor. April 8, 2004. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  14. ^ Chen, Kathy (November 15, 2007). "Chinese Dissidents Take On Beijing Via Media Empire". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
  15. ^ Trotta, Daniel (2011-03-17). "TV channel trying to change China from New York". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  16. ^ ProPublica, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Ken Schwencke, Brandon Roberts, Alec Glassford (May 9, 2013). "Universal Communications Network Inc - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  17. ^ "NTD - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  18. ^ Rabia, Michela (2012-01-27). "A Greek amongst the Chinese media". NEOS KOSMOS. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  19. ^ NTD, Global Competition Series Archived July 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 6, 2011
  20. ^ "Enjoy the Holidays and Stay away from the so-called "Chinese New Year Gala" of the New Tang Dynasty Television". Chinese Embassy in the United States of America. January 7, 2008. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  21. ^ a b "Bienvenue sur le site de Reporters sans frontières". RSF (in French). 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  22. ^ Clover, Julian (July 28, 2008). "Eutelsat defends NTDTV position". Broadband TV News. Archived from the original on September 1, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  23. ^ {{cite web|url=http://europe.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-calls-on-eutelsat-to-end-bar-on-chinese-ntdtv-broadcasts%7Ctitle=IFJ Calls on Eutelsat To End Bar on Chinese NTDTV Broadcasts Archived July 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine|date=August 20, 2008|access-date=2009-01-19
  24. ^ "NTD Television Canada's official launch on Rogers in September, 2008". October 16, 2008. Archived from the original on July 10, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  25. ^ "New Tang Dynasty Multi-Language Channel Launched on Shaw Cable systems in Western Canada".[dead link]
  26. ^ "New Tang Dynasty Multi-Language Channel Launched on Shaw Cablesystems in Western Canada". Archived from the original on August 14, 2014.
  27. ^ Susan Delacourt, "Harper helps Hu keep critics away" Archived October 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Fri Jun 25, 2010

External links