CCTV, China’s state television network, said it would be suspending the broadcast of the NBA’s preseason games after Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for free speech protests.
“We are strongly dissatisfied and we oppose Silver’s claim to support Morey’s right of free expression. We believe that any speech that challenges national sovereignty and social stability is not within the scope of freedom of speech,” CCTV said in Chinese statement translated Tuesday by CNBC.
The suspension includes the Chinese firm Tencent, the company that owns NBA streaming rights in China.
Morey tweeted out Friday an image that said “Fight for Freedom. Stand for Hong Kong.” China, which is behind efforts to squelch pro-Democracy protests in Hong Kong, announced it was suspending business with the Rockets.
The NBA initially responded by saying it was “regrettable” that their general manager had “deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China.” The league also said the tweet “does not represent” the NBA.
After swift bipartisan condemnation of the league’s response, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a new statement in which he backed up Morey.
“I recognize our initial statement left people angered, confused or unclear on who we are or what the NBA stands for,” Silver said in a Tuesday statement.
The commissioner said in an interview with Kyodo News in Japan that he wanted “to make it clear … that Daryl Morey is supported in terms of his ability to exercise his freedom of expression.”
