JF
I currently live in Shanghai and for the past 2 years of me living here, the BBC website and app are blocked. Of course most people who want to access it can readily use a VPN to access it.
Similarly, the BBC World News channel is not broadcast widely here before the ban. You would only really find it in hotel rooms of western-brand chains. Most people watch BBC World News on dodgy IPTV boxes that are very common in China, and these won’t be affected by the ban. I sat here happily watching it this morning over breakfast.
The attitude towards the BBC is an interesting one here. My landlord came over to check on something and I had BBC News on the TV and he just said ‘wow’ and asked to watch for sometime.
As mentioned by other posters above, the more significant and impactful move will be if China expels journalists. I think it’s to be expected considering the number of foreign journalists who have been removed in the last few years as well as the increasing hostility towards foreigners in the last year in light of COVID and the situation in HK.
Edit: just noticed how long this post is... sorry! Also to note this is my first post on the forum in 6 years! No idea it had been that long...
The BBC World News Thread
While BBC World News being banned in China may feel like a big, bold move, in real terms it will have very little impact. It’s all for show.I currently live in Shanghai and for the past 2 years of me living here, the BBC website and app are blocked. Of course most people who want to access it can readily use a VPN to access it.
Similarly, the BBC World News channel is not broadcast widely here before the ban. You would only really find it in hotel rooms of western-brand chains. Most people watch BBC World News on dodgy IPTV boxes that are very common in China, and these won’t be affected by the ban. I sat here happily watching it this morning over breakfast.
The attitude towards the BBC is an interesting one here. My landlord came over to check on something and I had BBC News on the TV and he just said ‘wow’ and asked to watch for sometime.
As mentioned by other posters above, the more significant and impactful move will be if China expels journalists. I think it’s to be expected considering the number of foreign journalists who have been removed in the last few years as well as the increasing hostility towards foreigners in the last year in light of COVID and the situation in HK.
Edit: just noticed how long this post is... sorry! Also to note this is my first post on the forum in 6 years! No idea it had been that long...