TVB's streaming service reportedly removes all BBC channels

Local media broadcaster TVB is reportedly removing all BBC channels from its streaming service by the end of the month.

According to HKFP, TVB's myTV SUPER will suspend channels including BBC World News, BBC Earth, CBeebies and BBC Lifestyle on 31 January. 

TVB told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE that it would not comment on individual cases, and stressed that it reviews its programme structure and development on a regular basis in order to provide informative and innovative programmes to the audiences.

A number of BBC channels such as BBC World News, are still available on HK Cable and Now TV. Digital news services are available on bbc.com and bbc.com/Chinese as well as on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, a check by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE saw. This comes as China banned the UK broadcaster’s channels over its reporting on Xinjiang. In 2021, local broadcaster RTHK also suspended its series of BBC World Service and BBC News Weekly.

Back in August last year, TVB has defended its decision to terminate RTHK programmes after a former district councillor accused the broadcaster of being biased and restricting freedom of expression in Hong Kong.

According to the public statement released on 30 August, TVB said that a former district councillor Ho Kai Ming Kalvin published certain false statement regarding the revocation of the mandatory directions for domestic free television programme service licensees to broadcast programmes of Radio Television Hong Kong, asserting that TVB is biased, colluding with the Hong Kong Government to restrict freedom of expression, or otherwise under the influence of the Chinese Government.

TVB then clarified in the statement that the act of terminating RTHK programmes was “purely out of commercial, operational and programming considerations, with the aim to vacate the timeslot to offer the audiences a greater diversity of television programmes”. It also said that RTHK programmes would continue to be aired on RTHK’s own channels, and RTHK does not object to the revocation.

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