In the not too distant future, NTD Television will be expanding its English programming.
“NTD’s rapid growth is a reflection of the growing diversity in the U.S., and the demand for independent information in Chinese language media,” stated Samuel Zhou, NTD Television’s Senior Vice President of public relations and development.
Many Chinese immigrants from the Mainland and Taiwan rely on Chinese language programming to get their news. Often recent immigrants lack the English skills to watch and enjoy English programs. Unfortunately, most Chinese language media in the United States are controlled or heavily influenced by the current Chinese regime. NTD Television fills a vital need of providing Chinese, who are limited to Chinese language programming, an independent source of community news and information.
Zhou said, “We are happy to partner with WDCW to serve the audience in the DC metropolitan area with a wide range of wonderful Chinese programming, as well as English news Asia Brief that brings exclusive stories from China to our audience on a daily basis.”
Mr. Zhou told The Epoch Times that NTD will increase its English programming that “will bring accurate, reliable, and timely news about China to our audience.”
Filling a need for independent news
Perhaps no one was more delighted by the news of NTD Television broadcasting on WDCW, 24/7 in the Washington metropolitan area than Dong Xiang, Executive Director of the Washington Bureau of NTD. He was interviewed recently by The Epoch Times.
“I think New Tang Dynasty Television’s biggest feature is to tell the truth, because we are registered in the U.S. independent media, and work according to the Western mainstream media, providing factual reports. The audience can judge this for themselves. We are not beholden to any government,” said Mr. Xiang.
“Several years ago, [my research team and I] predicted the disastrous consequences that are now gradually emerging: environmental pollution, aging, inflation, inferior goods, corruption, the wealth gap, acute social conflicts. Now other media are reporting about these phenomena more and more, but [in my program] we had foreseen these troubles for several years,” said Mr. Xiang.
Mr. Xiang said that there are many other news media that report on the Chinese mainland, especially the China’s official media, but they are unwilling to report the truth. The other Chinese media, even abroad, too often are not completely independent of the Chinese government, and sometimes their content and source of funds comes, at least in part, from the Chinese regime.
“Another unique quality of NTD is that it does not allow violence or sexual content, a standard which many other media companies cannot match,” said Mr. Xiang. He said that New Tang Dynasty TV hopes to boost its ratings, but will make no concessions as a matter of principle, to include violence and sex.
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Weekly Economic Review
Viewers of WDCW can now see the popular New Tang Dynasty Television flagship program, “Weekly Economic Review.” Mr. Xiang, who also serves as the host of this show, provided some history on how it came to birth.
“I lived through June 4 [of the Tiananmen Massacre in 1989]. I was a witness of June 4th. After I left Beijing and went back home, I told family and friends the truth of what happened, but they did not believe me; the state-controlled media was so deceptive at that time. Later, I came to the United States, and for a long period of time I was very disappointed, very disgusted with the Chinese communist regime using deceit and violence to rule the country; I have not been back to China.”
Mr. Xiang continued to be disappointed in China despite the apparent economic development in the 1990s.
“The Chinese Communist Party has fundamentally not changed from the June 4th experience. People who value freedom of speech, freedom of belief are always under pressure. The Party will demonize people, ruin your reputation, deprive you of freedom and even take your life,” Mr. Xiang said.
Mr. Xiang said following the Tiananmen Square Massacre, he did not want to face reality. However, after 10 years, he felt that he had to do something “to counter Communist China’s news blackout, to challenge the CCP mouthpiece.” There were a number of like-minded Chinese like him. They decided to become part of a new television station forming, which is now the New Tang Dynasty Television.
Headquarters of NTD Television does not emphasize combating the CCP, but rather boasts “how well it is providing needed programming services to the Chinese communities abroad and the Chinese audience inside China,” said NTD spokesperson Carrie Hung.
Regarding starting up his program, Mr. Xiang said, “In our infancy, we had to work under very difficult conditions. We had no experience; we went to the local television stations to learn the basic skills, editing, lighting, directing, and photography. In the beginning, our programming was very minimal, and we had no money to purchase ready-made programs. I was basically by myself.”
Mr. Xiang said, “At that time, a friend recommended a comprehensive economic-based report, once a week, and to call the program ‘Weekly Economic Review.’ And he recommended me to be the host.” Since then the program has become a big hit.
Other NTD Television viewing
In addition to the Weekly Economic Review, NTD provides World News, which covers international news seven times daily, with updates on breaking stories from NTD’s over 60 reporting bureaus around the world, including inside mainland China.
Zooming In explores the current affairs with a focus on China. This weekly program “is known for never shying away from controversial material,” says the NTD description of this program. Through well-researched reports, good story-telling and engaging visual presentation, Zooming In producers from around the globe strive to deliver documentaries that address the critical social/political issues of our time, according to NTD’s programming information.
Chinese herbalist Doctor Naiwen Hu from Shanghai Tong De Tang Clinic presents a series of programs on traditional Chinese medicine, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Qigong.
Focus Talk is NTDTV’s daily live call-in talk show. The show discusses community affairs, international events, and Chinese politics, business and entertainment, in a “no-holds-barred” format, exposing the people and events that shape the Chinese community.
The above is just a sample of the more serious programs on NTD. There is also ESTAR, an entertainment show that covers fashions, new trends, movie previews, celebrity interviews, and the latest Asian pop star MTVs.
NTD has also developed strong ties with the overseas Chinese communities through shows that help immigrants assimilate into the mainstream society by bringing in guests who are experts in the areas of immigration, education for children, accounting, real estate, energy savings, and other daily life questions.
NTD also helps new immigrants by providing English teaching programs, children’s programs, and programs that talk about Western government systems and societies.
Established in 2001, New Tang Dynasty (NTD) Television is a non-profit television broadcaster and the only independent Chinese-language television station that sends uncensored information into China. It is headquartered in Manhattan, New York.
With additional reporting by Lisa Fan
