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🇭🇰 Hong Kong /Culture & Society

CNBC latest to pull back from Hong Kong as local office closes and shows are axed

From Hong Kong Free Press · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • CNBC will close its Hong Kong bureau and cancel several shows as Versant Media Group restructures its programming and production operations.
  • The broadcaster said international editorial coverage will continue from London, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Beijing, with Hong Kong reporting folded into its wider Asia coverage.
  • The move follows a broader retreat by international media groups from Hong Kong amid layoffs, relocations, visa difficulties and concerns over press freedom.

CNBC is the latest international media outlet to retreat from Hong Kong. Its owner, Versant Media Group, is closing the broadcaster’s local bureau as part of what it calls “programming and production restructuring.”

Several daily programs, including “Inside India,” “The China Connection” and “Europe Early Edition,” have been cancelled. “CNBC Meets” and “Built for Billions” will also reportedly end.

International editorial coverage will continue to be led from London, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Beijing.

· CNBC spokespersonThe broadcaster’s explanation of how it will organize international coverage after closing its Hong Kong bureau.

A CNBC spokesperson said, “International editorial coverage will continue to be led from London, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Beijing.” The spokesperson added, “As part of these programming and production changes, the Hong Kong bureau will close, while editorial coverage of Hong Kong and the wider region will continue as part of our Asia reporting.”

As part of these programming and production changes, the Hong Kong bureau will close, while editorial coverage of Hong Kong and the wider region will continue as part of our Asia reporting.

· CNBC spokespersonThe company’s statement on the bureau closure and regional reporting.

The broadcaster has seen more than a dozen layoffs this year, following Comcast’s spin-off of CNBC and its sister network MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, into Versant Media Group.

The closure adds to a steady stream of international media pullbacks from Hong Kong. Yahoo began reducing its local presence in April after 27 years, laying off most of its full-time news staff. The Wall Street Journal moved its Asia headquarters to Singapore in 2024, while Radio Free Asia closed its Hong Kong operation, citing the security law. The New York Times shifted a third of its Hong Kong staff to South Korea in 2020, also citing security-law concerns.

In the pocket

· John LeeHong Kong’s chief executive’s description of press freedom in the city.

Bloomberg, the Financial Times and the Associated Press have reported visa difficulties affecting their staff. Press-freedom watchdogs say Hong Kong’s standing has fallen sharply since the 2020 and 2024 security laws, citing journalist arrests and imprisonment, newsroom raids and the closure of outlets including Apple Daily, Stand News and Citizen News. More than 1,000 journalists have lost their jobs, while many others have emigrated.

Nobody is above the law.

· John LeeHis comment accompanying his statement about press freedom.
About this summary

Originally published by Hong Kong Free Press in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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