CCTV pulls NBA China Games broadcast in response to Adam Silver’s support for Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s right to free speech
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Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has announced that it will not broadcast the upcoming NBA China Games between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers.
NBA head Adam Silver had told press in Tokyo, where the Rockets are playing the Toronto Raptors, that the league supported Morey’s right to free speech.
“There are the values that have been part of this league from its earliest days, and that includes free expression,” Silver told Japan’s Kyodo news agency.
CCTV has taken issue with this statement, saying they are “strongly dissatisfied” and opposed to Silver’s claim.
“We believe that any speech that challenges national sovereignty and social stability is not within the scope of freedom of speech.”
In response the channel announced that they would not broadcast either of the NBA China Games and that they would “immediately investigate all cooperation and exchanges involving the NBA”.
CCTV had earlier announced that they would no longer broadcast games involving the Houston Rockets but they have quickly re-evaluated their position as the row rumbles on.
Silver had also told the media that he understood the reaction in China to Morey’s tweet as much as his right to make it.
“I accept that it is also Chinese governments’ and Chinese businesses’ right to react to those words and, at least from my long-time experience in the NBA, it will take some time to heal some of these issues.”
The NBA China Games have been played regularly since 2004, becoming annual preseason fixtures on the NBA calendar since 2014.
