Press Conference: Latest Evidence Shows Eutelsat Shutdown of NTDTV Politically Motivated July 14, 2008

Press Conference: Latest Evidence Shows Eutelsat Shutdown of NTDTV Politically Motivated

Before Olympic, Another Free Window to China Shut Down

-- Latest Evidence Shows Eutelsat Shut Down of NTDTV Politically Motivated

Who: NTDTV Alberta Branch and Epoch Times Alberta Branch

What: Urgent Press Conference on NTD Broadcast to China

When: Monday July 14th, 2008 12:00 pm - 1: 00 pm

Where: Calgary Chinese Consulate - 1011 6th Ave. S.W.

Why:

On June 16, 2008, New Tang Dynasty Television’s (NTDTV) broadcast to China via Eutelsat Communications’ W5 satellite was abruptly terminated.

On July 10, 2008, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released a statement exposing the real reason behind NTDTV’s broadcast discontinuation to be a politically motivated decision by Eutelsat Chairman and CEO Giuliano Berretta to curry favor with the PRC regime, which has steadfastly sought to shut out all media beyond its censorship control.

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=27818

Since the shutdown, the only explanation provided to NTDTV by Eutelsat was “an anomaly to part of its [W5's] power generator subsystem.” To date, there has been no update or additional explanation from Eutelsat to the continued service blackout.

With the Beijing Olympics mere weeks away, Chinese people’s need for uncensored news has never been greater. Yet at this critical juncture, Mr. Berretta’s decision closed the only window of free information to millions of Chinese people. What the PRC regime has not been able to accomplish for years, Mr. Berretta has delivered by the flip of a switch.

NTD invites our media colleagues and supporter to come find out the latest development and its impact on China’s press freedom.

Official Website: http://www.ntdtv.com