NewCCTV graft scandal forces international film forum to move venue to Hong Kong

A major international conference on documentaries supposed to be held in Beijing in November has had to relocate to Hong Kong after an anti-corruption crackdown hit the event’s host – state-run China Central Television (CCTV) – this summer.

The World Congress of Science and Factual Producers, a conference that attracts worldwide broadcasters, producers and distributors, was going to hold its annual convention in the Chinese capital, hosted by CCTV-9, the documentary channel of the state broadcaster.

However, a deepening corruption probe and multiple detentions of senior executives at the station have thrown a wrench in the organisers’ plans.

“CCTV was slated to act as host broadcaster for the event in Beijing, but we mutually agreed it may not be the best time for them to fully perform that role,” the conference’s spokesman Jonathan da Silva told to the South China Morning Post.

The congress is now scheduled to take place at Kowloon Shangri-La hotel in Hong Kong from November 18 to 21.

Some 20 officials and staff from CCTV have been placed under investigation in the last few months.

Guo Zhenxi, director of advertising and head of CCTV-2, the financial news channel, along with his deputy Li Yong, and producer Tian Liwu have been taken into custody on allegations of corruption.