CAEN, FRANCE—On June 16, 2008, satellite transmission company Eutelsat terminated New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV)’s Asian broadcast through its W5 satellite, citing a power generator subsystem anomaly. While no technical problem could be substantiated, Eutelsat’s real motive was in satisfying Beijing’s precondition of major business proposals for the satellite company.
On October 8, Eutelsat shareholders at the well-known Vinci building enterprise had a share holders’ meeting in Caen, France. During the meeting they discussed the NTDTV’s broadcast termination earlier this year.
On July 10, 2008, Reporters Without Boarders (RSF) released a transcript of a recorded telephone conversation between a Eutelsat employee and a caller the employee thought was a Chinese Propaganda Department official. In substantial and convincing detail, the transcript revealed Eutelsat’s behind-the-scenes technical manipulations to shut down NTDTV to satisfy Beijing’s request. While they have received evidence of this recording, Eutelsat has never offered an explanation.
During the shareholders’ meeting, the issue of NTDTV’s termination was raised again after Vice President of Eutelsat, Mr. Brillaud and President of Vinci, Mr. De Silguy delivered their presentations.
Later, another Eutelsat shareholder also requested that Brillaud offer an explanation for cutting off NTDTV’s Asia broadcast. He cited the issue of benefit losses as the company’s reputation might be ruined because of this incident.
Before, during and after the shareholders’ meeting, NTDTV and many of its supporters held a press conference outside the conference building, distributing flyers to revealed the facts of the incident. The flyer described how Eutelsat sought to gain business from the Chinese Communist Party, depriving millions of Chinese citizen’s their rights to know the truth of the CCP in the process.
The shareholders also received these flyers and asked NTDTV supporters for further details of this incident. Many shareholders claimed that they support freedom of the media and will do anything they can to help NTDTV.
