From the Washington Post:

Phoenix is the only private television network in China allowed to broadcast news in Chinese, a privilege that reflects the warm relationship Liu has cultivated with party leaders. But on the phone that day in January, he defied the authorities and quickly approved the Zhao story, recalled the reporter, Rose Luqiu.

While the government barred its own radio and television stations from reporting Zhao’s death, Phoenix led its evening newscast with her brief report. Then the station’s commentators began discussing Zhao’s legacy and whether his death might prompt new calls for political reform.