TV Censorship in China

China's TV censor has banned a municipal TV channel for one month after one of its programs supposedly misrepresented events, magnified family conflict, and depicted disrespect toward an elderly parent.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) said in a circular that the movie channel of Shijiazhuang TV in north Hebei province had magnified distorted ethics and moral values and caused extremely negative social effects.

On June 29, the channel aired the 36-minute talk show Emotional Codes, which purported to depict real-life scenes among a husband, his wife and the man's elderly father. During the segment, the son treated his father disrespectfully, at one point berating him and threatening to take him to court over money. But in fact, the entire scene was scripted, with all three participants paid for their performances by the show's producer.

The SARFT held Shijiazhuang TV responsible for failing to screen its programs ,misleading the public, and tainting the image of radio and TV in its reckless pursuit of ratings. The channel won't be permitted to resume programming until October 17, and then only if it obtains consent from the SARFT.

Super Girl, a Chinese TV talent show along the lines of Pop Idol, will not return to the screen in 2012 despite phenomenal ratings and popularity.

China Daily reports that the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) claimed that the show violated a cap on screen time. The premiere in July lasted 182 minutes, while SARFT caps shows at 90.

Instead, the channel will air programs that promote moral ethics and public safety and provide practical information for housework, Li Hao, spokesperson for the channel, told China Daily.

Super Girl, which premiered in 2004, allowed viewers to vote for their favorite singer through text messages and phone polls. Kathrin Hill of the Financial Times reports that this Western-style of voting was seen as subversive by some officials. Liu Zhongde, an official with the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told Danwei.com in 2006 that the show was poison for the youth:

The 2005 season finale was watched by 400 million. It is also claimed that public votes cast throughout the last season totaled 1.2 billion.

Matchmaking shows like If You Are The One, have enjoyed immense TV success in China. The show features a jury of 24 single women who decide on whether one hopeful man is an eligible bachelor.

But the TV censors at the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) are increasingly imposing ever more restrictions. The administration has recently banned fake participants who seek publicity, hosts being morally provocative, and sexual references in all entertainment shows.

Wang Gang, the producer of If You Are The One, said he has to be careful, given all the new rules. Since the regulations, the show has been decidedly watered down, much to the disappointment of some viewers.

China will replace popular television entertainment with so-called healthy programming, state media have reported, reflecting regulators' latest move to tighten media control.

The move by the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) comes days after senior Communist Party leaders said cultural reforms were needed to balance the nation's increasingly speedy adoption of a market economy.

It also follows a SARFT edict last month forcing hit talent show Super Girl off the air after a six-year run.

Under the order, SARFT said the nation's leading 34 satellite broadcasters would be barred next year from airing excessive entertainment and forced to show at least two hours of news each evening, the official Xinhua news agency said. Each channel will have a limit of 90 minutes of 'entertainment' programming during prime time between 7:30pm and 10pm.

In September, SARFT posted a related directive offering Advice on Strengthening Management of Satellite TV Channels. In this broadcasters would be encouraged to air programs promoting harmony, health and mainstream culture.

Chinese broadcasters will be banned from airing commercial breaks during TV dramas from Jan. 1 or face being suspended, the country's TV censor has proclaimed.

The ban follows a State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) directive in October warning the nation's main 34 satellite broadcasters that they would be barred from showing excessive entertainment and must air at least two hours of news propaganda nightly, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

SARFT said on its website:

Radio and television are the mouthpiece of the party and the people. Broadcasters that still air commercials during TV series will be ordered to suspend commercial operations.

Broadcasters must cancel television commercials during TV series as an important measure to construct a cultural service system.

Tom Doctoroff, the head of US advertising firm JWT's China operations, said the policy would threaten the creativity of Chinese television:

This policy is draconian. Consumers won't really be angry because no one likes commercials. But they will not be happy when content becomes even more watered-down than it already is.

No doubt good for internet and DVD though.

Satellite broadcasters in China have cut entertainment TV by two-thirds following a government campaign, state news agency Xinhua has reported.

An order by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) to curb excessive entertainment came into effect on 1 January. The number of entertainment shows aired during prime time each week has dropped to 38 from 126, said the censor.

The order, which was issued in October 2011, limits each of the country's 34 satellite channels to two entertainment programmes each week and a maximum of 90 minutes of entertainment content every day from 19:30 to 22:00. Broadcasters are also required to air at least two hours of news programming between 06:00 and midnight. They must each broadcast at least two 30-minute news programmes between 18:00 and 23:30.

Satellite channels have started to broadcast programmes that promote traditional virtues and socialist core values, SARFT said in a statement.

Talent shows and reality TV are among the biggest casualties of the cuts. The list of restricted programmes also included talk shows and emotional stories that were deemed to be of low taste, said the Xinhua news report. However the SARFT statement also said that popular dating shows and soap operas will still be on air during prime time on weekends.

China's TV censor has announced that foreign TV shows will no longer be aired during prime time, state media report.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) says these shows cannot be aired from 19:30 to 22:00. The series also cannot run longer than 50 episodes and should comprise no more than 25% of programming each day. Local TV channels are also not allowed to show too many shows from one particular region, the censor says, without explaining further.

Foreign shows also have to be approved before they are aired and cannot have violent or vulgar content. Stations that violate the new rules face severe punishments, the newspaper reports.

Most foreign TV shows broadcast in China are from Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Thailand.

The move comes after President Hu Jintao told members of the Communist Party last month that officials should remain vigilant against Western cultural influences.