CGTN
China Global Television Network, the international English-language satellite news channel of Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Last refreshed: 28 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
How does CGTN shape global narratives about the Iran conflict outside Western media?
Timeline for CGTN
Mentioned in: Yeltsin Library, not Kremlin, hosted Araghchi
Iran Conflict 2026Mentioned in: GL-V opens a 24 May Iran deadline
Iran Conflict 2026Mentioned in: 168 children among 1,045 dead, five days
Iran Conflict 2026- What is CGTN and who controls it?
- CGTN is China Global Television Network, the international broadcasting Arm of China Central Television. It is controlled by the Chinese state via China Media Group and its editorial positions reflect Chinese government policy.
- What Iranian casualty figures did CGTN report at the start of the conflict?
- The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society told CGTN that 168 of 787 people killed in the first five days of strikes were children. Iran's Foundation of Martyrs put the total at 1,045 over the same period.Source: CGTN via Iranian Red Crescent Society
- Is CGTN banned in the UK?
- Yes. Ofcom revoked CGTN's UK broadcasting licence in February 2021, finding that editorial control rested with the Chinese Communist Party, which is prohibited under UK broadcasting law.Source: Ofcom
Background
CGTN (China Global Television Network) is the international Arm of China Central Television, broadcasting in six languages to over 160 countries. It is state-owned and its editorial positions align with Chinese government Foreign Policy.
CGTN broadcast Iranian casualty figures from the Iranian Red Crescent Society in the early days of the conflict, reporting 168 children among 787 killed in the first five days of strikes . It also reported on Araghchi's meeting with Putin at the Yeltsin Library , positioning it as a key distribution channel for Chinese and Russian-aligned narratives of the conflict.
