New Tang Dynasty Television
New Tang Dynasty Television is a multilingual American broadcaster known for Chinese-language news, cultural programming, and coverage critical of the Chinese Communist Party.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
New Tang Dynasty Television, commonly known as NTD Television or NTD, is a multilingual television and digital-media broadcaster headquartered in New York City. It was established in 2001 by practitioners of Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual movement whose followers had moved to Western countries. The service initially focused on Chinese-language broadcasting for overseas Chinese audiences and developed an editorial identity centered on traditional Chinese culture, Western classical arts, Chinese human-rights issues, and criticism of abuses attributed to the Chinese Communist Party. The name refers to the Tang dynasty, which the organization presents as a historical period associated with cultural achievement, spiritual life, and high moral standards. NTD has described itself as an independent Chinese-language broadcaster and has served as a media platform for Chinese dissidents and critics of the Chinese government. Its institutional relationship with Falun Gong is central to how the broadcaster is understood: many employees and contributors have been practitioners, some work as volunteers, and Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi has referred to NTD, The Epoch Times, and Shen Yun as part of the movement's broader media and cultural network. Over time, NTD expanded beyond its original Chinese-language remit. Its programming has included international and U.S. news, business coverage, political analysis, cultural features, documentaries, and online video programs. Notable digital programs include NTD Evening News, NTD Business News, China in Focus, Capital Report, and NTD UK News. In July 2020, the broadcaster launched a 24-hour English-language channel serving viewers in the United States and the United Kingdom. It began distribution in the United Kingdom through Sky in February 2021 and later became available through Freeview. NTD also operates a Canadian service: its Canadian distribution began through cable and telecommunications platforms before the formal launch of NTD Canada in 2012. The broadcaster has attracted both support and criticism. Supporters view it as an outlet for information about Chinese political repression and as a source of cultural programming outside the control of China's state media system. Chinese diplomatic officials have accused it of anti-China propaganda, while press-freedom organizations have reported alleged pressure on satellite and event access connected with the Chinese government. NTD and its associated media ecosystem have also faced sustained scrutiny from fact-checkers and researchers over the distribution of unsupported claims concerning COVID-19, vaccines, QAnon-related narratives, election fraud, and rumors about Chinese political leaders. NTD operates within Epoch Media Group, a media consortium that also includes The Epoch Times. The group has expanded through websites, social-media channels, video distribution, and television programming. By 2022, NTD was reported to reach approximately six million U.S. households. Its present identity combines broadcast television, streaming and social-video publishing, Chinese cultural programming, and an explicitly anti-Communist editorial perspective.
History
NTD Television was founded in 2001 by Falun Gong practitioners in the West. It began as a Chinese-language broadcaster serving overseas Chinese communities and presenting itself as an alternative to media controlled by the Chinese state. Its programming emphasized traditional Chinese culture, Western classical arts, and reporting on human-rights conditions and political repression in China. In 2004, the Christian Science Monitor described it as the first independent Chinese-language television station in the United States. The Wall Street Journal later characterized it as a platform for Chinese pro-democracy dissidents. The broadcaster's relationship with Falun Gong has remained a defining feature. Former president Zhong Lee said the original purpose was to speak for Falun Gong while also using media to promote democracy in China. Many workers have been Falun Gong adherents, and the organization has relied substantially on volunteer labor. NTD operates alongside The Epoch Times and other media organizations associated with Falun Gong practitioners, and became part of the wider Epoch Media Group. NTD expanded its distribution and organizational footprint during the 2000s and 2010s. In Canada, it obtained distribution through Rogers, Bell, Shaw, and Novus, and launched NTD Canada in 2012. Its reach also extended through websites and online video channels. In 2019, NTD released Claws of the Red Dragon, a Huawei-focused docudrama produced with Steve Bannon. By 2020, its digital and broadcast output included news, business, political analysis, and cultural programming in several languages. That year it launched a 24-hour English-language channel for the United States and United Kingdom. UK distribution expanded through Sky in 2021 and later Freeview. The organization has faced political and media-access disputes. In 2008, Reporters Without Borders alleged that Eutelsat had discontinued NTD's Asian satellite transmission under pressure from Beijing; Eutelsat attributed the interruption to a technical problem and denied the political allegation. Chinese diplomatic officials have also discouraged audiences from attending NTD cultural events and have accused the broadcaster of anti-China propaganda. In Canada, the cancellation of a 2010 press conference involving NTD and The Epoch Times during Chinese leader Hu Jintao's visit was reported as an effort to prevent contact with the broadcaster. NTD's editorial output has attracted increasing scrutiny since 2020. Fact-checkers criticized material concerning the origins of COVID-19, vaccines, and Chinese politics. Its associated online channels have been reported to promote QAnon and other conspiracy theories, while social platforms have removed networks that amplified related content. These controversies have shaped public assessments of NTD as both a dissident Chinese-media outlet and a politically aligned broadcaster within the broader Epoch Media Group. As of 2022, the service was reported to reach about six million U.S. households.
- 2022
Reported U.S. household reach
[1]The broadcaster is reported to reach approximately six million U.S. households.
- 2021
UK platform distribution expands
[1]NTD launches on Sky in the United Kingdom and later becomes available through Freeview.
- 2020
English-language 24/7 channel launches
[1]NTD begins nationwide English-language broadcasting in the United States and the United Kingdom.
- 2019
Claws of the Red Dragon is released
[1]NTD releases a Huawei-focused docudrama produced by Steve Bannon.
- 2012
NTD Canada launches
[1]The organization launches a local Canadian service for Chinese-speaking audiences.
- 2008
Asian satellite transmission dispute
[1]Reporters Without Borders and other press-freedom advocates challenge the interruption of NTD's transmission through Eutelsat's W5 satellite.
- 2004
Recognized as an independent Chinese-language broadcaster
[1]The Christian Science Monitor describes NTD as the first independent Chinese-language television station in the United States.
- 2001
NTD Television is founded
[1]Falun Gong practitioners establish the broadcaster in the United States as a Chinese-language television service.
Products and positioning
An independent, multilingual broadcaster for overseas Chinese and international audiences, combining traditional-culture programming with news and commentary critical of the Chinese Communist Party.
Television broadcasting · 2001
Chinese-language television service
NTD's original service provides Chinese-language news, current-affairs coverage, cultural features, and reporting about China for overseas Chinese audiences. Its editorial focus combines criticism of the Chinese Communist Party with programming intended to promote traditional Chinese culture and classical arts.
Television broadcasting · 2020
NTD English-language channel
A 24-hour English-language channel launched in 2020 for viewers in the United States and United Kingdom. It carries news, political analysis, business coverage, documentaries, and cultural programming.
Television broadcasting · 2012
NTD Canada
The Canadian local service serves Chinese-speaking viewers in Canada and is distributed through Canadian cable and telecommunications platforms.
Digital media
NTD digital video channels
NTD publishes moderated programming through online and social-video channels, including evening news, business news, China-focused reporting, political analysis, and UK news.
Controversies
2022
Unsubstantiated Xi Jinping coup rumor
NTD promoted claims that Xi Jinping had been removed from power and placed under house arrest. Fact-checkers and researchers found no supporting evidence, and Xi subsequently appeared publicly.
2021
Taiwan vaccine-death report
A report aired by NTD suggested that COVID-19 vaccines caused more deaths in Taiwan than the virus. Polygraph.info said the cited deaths were predominantly associated with pre-existing conditions or chronic disease.
2020
COVID-19 misinformation and social-platform enforcement
NTD and related Epoch Media channels faced criticism for circulating unsupported claims about the origins of COVID-19, vaccines, and U.S. political events. Facebook removed a large network of accounts and pages associated by outside reporting with promotion of related material, although Epoch Times management denied ties to the operation.
Brand decisions
2020
Launch of a 24/7 English-language channelProduct launchBackground
NTD had historically concentrated on Chinese-language audiences but had expanded its digital and international programming.
Action taken
The broadcaster introduced a nationwide English-language service for the United States and United Kingdom.
Aftermath
The decision broadened NTD's potential audience and was followed by additional UK platform distribution in 2021.
2012
Creation of NTD CanadaStrategyBackground
NTD had already secured distribution through several Canadian cable and telecommunications providers.
Action taken
The organization established a dedicated Canadian local channel for Chinese-speaking viewers.
Aftermath
The Canadian operation became part of NTD's broader North American distribution footprint.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/new-tang-dynasty-television · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled