New Tang Dynasty Television - History

History

NTD was founded as in 2001 as a Chinese language station by a group of professionals who practiced Falun Gong. It was intended to offer an alternative to the Chinese government’s dominance in the Chinese media industry. The station has a regular focus on the promotion of traditional Chinese culture, and devotes extensive news coverage to Chinese human rights issues, taking a critical stance on abuses of power by the Communist Party of China.

Since its founding, NTD has expanded to include English, Spanish, Japanese, French, Russian, Persian, Hebrew and several other language editions. Its content offerings include news and analysis, arts and culture, travel, entertainment news, health and lifestyle, and children’s programming.

The station's critical reporting on the Communist Party of China has prompted censorship and alleged interference with its reporting and business operations by the Chinese government.

NTD began broadcasting via satellite in North America in February 2002, and expanded its audience into mainland China in April 2004. At present, the station's satellite coverage reaches Asia, Europe, and Australia in several languages.

According to the Wall Street Journal, NTD is, along with The Epoch Times and Sound of Hope radio station, part of a media empire founded by and affiliated with Falun Gong practitioners. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2004 that the journal is registered as Universal Communications Network, which names top Falun Gong spokesman Gail Rachlin as one of its three directors. NTD's President Zhong Lee denied that NTD is a Falun Gong TV station, however, and maintained that the station's operation is independent from Falun Gong.

The station's broadcasts can theoretically reach 200 million viewers globally, including 50 million in mainland China, according to the Wall Street Journal.