Supplementary memorandum submitted to
the Foreign Affairs Committee by the BBC World Service
1. Update on the position of BBC World in
China, provided by BBC World
BBC World has been granted a licence to broadcast
in China for the first time by the Chinese State Administration
for Radio, Films and Television. Following the granting of the
licence, BBC World has also signed its most significant hotel
distribution deal to date and its first in China with the China
International TV Corporation (CITV). This agreement allows for
the distribution of the BBC World to three to five star hotels,
guesthouses and foreign apartments throughout China. Initially,
the agreement will give BBC World access to around 60,000 hotel
rooms, located in all the country's major cities, with potential
for further expansion in line with the anticipated growth in the
Chinese hotel and tourism industry.
2. Death sentence for BBC journalist in Sierra
Leone
We believe that this refers to a former member
of staff who left the BBC several years ago. He then started a
radio station in Freetown and was arrested when the government
re-took Freetown and sentenced to death. He was freed by the rebels
in a counter-attack and spent some time in the bush. We believe
he has now left the country. The BBC had no connection with him
after he ceased working for us.
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