CGTN, the Chinese language news channel found by Ofcom to be controlled by the Chinese Communist party, is seeking a new licence with the French authorities.
The Financial Times reports the CSA was approached in December 2020 to establish whether it would be acceptable to hold a French licence given that CGTN already uplinks from the country. The French regulator has stressed that its conversations have related solely to the technical points.
Unlike the UK, France does not prohibit broadcasts with political affiliations. Should CSA grant CGTN a new licence it would enable the Chinese channel to resume transmissions into the UK, under international agreements.
But CGTN will also have to deal with operators that may be unwilling to carry the channel. Already Vodafone has dropped CGTN from its cable network in Germany.
Ofcom’s decision earlier this month resulted in BBC World News being banned by China’s broadcasting regulator, the State Film, TV and Radio Administration.
The regulator says it plans to continue with separate sanctions proceedings against CGTN for due impartiality and fairness and privacy breaches.