NTDTV

New Tang Dynasty Television (NTD Television) is a multilingual American television broadcaster, founded by adherents of the Falun Gong new religious movement and based in New York City. The station was founded in 2001 as a Chinese-language broadcaster, but has since expanded its language offerings; in July 2020, it launched its 24/7 English channel which now broadcasts nationwide in the U.S. and UK. It is under the Epoch Media Group, a consortium which also includes the newspaper ''The Epoch Times''.

History

NTD was founded in 2001 by practitioners of the Falun Gong new religious movement. 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.Chen, Kath
Chinese Dissidents Take On Beijing Via Media Empire
''Wall Street Journal'' November 15, 2007 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."

NTD's content offerings include news and analysis, arts and culture, travel, entertainment news, health and lifestyle, and children's programming. NTD has correspondents in dozens of cities worldwide.

The station's critical reporting on the Chinese Communist Party has prompted censorship by the Chinese government. NTD also alleged that the Chinese government interfered with its reporting and business operations. Since its founding, some of NTD programs has expanded to include English, Spanish, Japanese, French, Russian, and several other language editions.

NTD began broadcasting its Chinese programming via satellite in North America in February 2002. At present, the station's satellite coverage reaches Asia and Europe reaching 100 million of population. NTD's Chinese programming is also available on Spectrum 1416, Verizon FiOS 478, Optimum 1151, and WMBC63.5 in New York, Spectrum 1416 and KXLA 44.7 in Los Angeles, KCNS 38.5 in San Francisco and KYAZ 51.4 in Houston. Viewers in Canada, France and other countries can also watch NTD's Chinese programming via local cable service providers; more information can be found a
its website

In July 2020, NTD launched its 24/7 English Channel. It's carried by major cable service providers in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Francisco and Chicago and is now available to 23 million cable homes. It also reaches 150 Million population in the U.S. through over 65 digital over-the-air channels (see rabbitears.info). Meanwhile, NTD's English programming is streamed 24/7 as well as on demand via Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Sony Smart TV and Online.

It has started broadcasting to the UK on Sky TV on 22 February 2021 on channel 190 (previously used for MyTV channel), and subsequently on Freeview channel 271. This follows Ofcom revoking the broadcast license for CGTN, another Chinese channel that was broadcasting in the UK.

''The Christian Science Monitor'' in 2004 called NTD "the first independent Chinese-language TV station in the US". ''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".

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.

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.

Historiography

Relationship with the Falun Gong

NTD, along with ''The Epoch Times'' and Sound of Hope, was founded by Falun Gong practitioners who had immigrated to the West. Many of its staff are Falun Gong adherents who volunteer their time and services. In an interview with the ''Wall Street Journal'', the former president Zhong Lee stated that the company's original purpose was to "speak as the voice of Falun Gong", but that "media can also play a big role pushing democracy in China".

NTD is one of the organizations that Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi has referred to as "our media", along with ''The Epoch Times'' newspaper and the Shen Yun dance troupe.

Television programs

NTD broadcasts 24/7, and offers a variety of original and syndicated programming, including news, arts and culture shows, travel, entertainment news, health and lifestyle, and children's programing in both English and Chinese.

The station is best known for its news and analysis segments, which typically contain criticism of the Chinese government, particularly over human rights abuses, including the persecution of Falun Gong.

The ''Wall Street Journal'' reported that the station broke news of SARS in 2003, three weeks before the Chinese government admitted publicly that there was an epidemic. (It went on to cause at least 774 deaths.) The station offered extensive coverage of democratic elections in Taiwan, and the death of purged former Chinese General Secretary Zhao Ziyang. The Chinese-language station regularly airs a video version of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, an editorial series offering a strong critique of Chinese Communist Party rule, which is often used against the Chinese Communist Party.

Online programs

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''.

In 2019, NTD released a docudrama produced by Steve Bannon, the former Breitbart News chairman and advisor to Donald Trump. The film, ''Claws of the Red Dragon'', is about the telecom company Huawei and the Chinese government. Bannon said that, in his dealings with NTD, the group was always able to provide enough funding when he asked for it. "Ben Smith contributed reporting. Jack Begg contributed research."

Snopes and NBC News reported that TruthMedia had ties to the NTD and ''Epoch Times'', but Stephen Gregory, publisher of ''The Epoch Times'', denied this. NTD and ''Epoch Times'' also contributed to a COVID-19 documentary on YouTube which features the researcher Judy Mikovits. The video promoted claims about COVID-19, saying it was created in China as a bioweapon.

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. ^{verification_needed''.html" ;"title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">verification needed''">Wikipedia:Verifiability">verification needed''/sup> 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. ^{non-primary_source_needed''.html" ;"title="Wikipedia:No original research#Primary%2C%20secondary%20and%20tertiary%20sources">non-primary source needed''">Wikipedia:No original research#Primary%2C%20secondary%20and%20tertiary%20sources">non-primary source needed''/sup>}

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.

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.

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".

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,Reporters Without Borders
European satellite operator Eutelsat suppresses independent Chinese-language TV station NTD to satisfy Beijing
, July 10, 2008, retrieved on 2009-01-19 and 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". 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.
, January 15, 2009, retrieved on 2009-01-19 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.International Federation of Journalists
IFJ Calls on Eutelsat To End Bar on Chinese NTDTV Broadcasts
, August 20, 2008, retrieved on 2009-01-19

NTD Canada

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

On July 25, 2012, NTD Television officially launched NTD Canada, a local Canadian channel for Chinese viewers in Canada. 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.Susan Delacourt
"Harper helps Hu keep critics away"
, Fri Jun 25, 2010

See also

*Falun Gong-related groups:
:*The Epoch Times
:*Shen Yun Performing Arts
:*Sound of Hope

References

External links

*

NTD English

NTD Canada

NTDAPTV

{{DEFAULTSORT:New Tang Dynasty Tv
Television stations in New York (state)
Television stations in New York City
Falun Gong propaganda
Television channels and stations established in 2001
2001 establishments in New York City
Anti-communist organizations in the United States