China Media Group, which oversees CCTV, suspended La Liga broadcasts starting October 26, 2026, after Kylian Mbappé’s remarks referencing a meme involving Mao Zedong prompted widespread domestic criticism and commercial pullouts. Real Madrid and La Liga issued apologies, which CMG acknowledged, yet state channels have aired no Spanish league matches since, with digital partners also excluding Real Madrid fixtures in recent rounds. This mirrors prior state-media responses to politically sensitive comments by foreign athletes, such as the extended NBA blackout after 2019. With the 2026 calendar year nearing its end and no confirmed resumption timeline, the trader consensus at 88.5% for “No” on another Real Madrid broadcast reflects the unresolved institutional standoff and precedent for prolonged restrictions on affected content.