China: Entertainment TV Cut Back

Econintersect:  BBC News China reports (January 4) that satellite TV broadcast channels will cut entertainment programming in prime time from 126 hours per week to just 38.  This is being done to increase news broadcasting during prime time and to offer programs that emphasize “traditional virtues and socialist core values.  According to the BBC, talent shows and reality TV will be the hardest hit.  BBC also reports that China has the world’s largest TV audience of about one and a quarter billion people, 95% of its population.  If there is little TV watched by children under two then it is likely that only 20 or 30 million people in China over the age of two do not watch TV.

From BBC China News:

An order by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) to curb ”excessive entertainment” came into effect on 1 January.

The president of China, Hu Jintao, has issued a warning about the influence of western culture.

However, some popular dating shows and soap operas will remain on the air, according to BBC.  Meanwhile a popular singing contest “Super Girl”  (see caption photo for picture of a contestant) was taken off the air more than three months ago because censors ruled it was “too long.”

Source:  BBC China News

Hat tip to Sanjeev Kulkarni.