Entertainment programs in China to be limited in 2012
October 25, 2011
The Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) recently announced that they will be restricting entertainment programming beginning January 1, 2012. Xinhua reports that the new regulations limit all of China's 34 satellite channels to 90 minutes of entertainment content during prime time hours, and they will only be allowed to air two shows per week that fall into the entertainment category. This includes game shows, talk shows and reality shows.
Not only will the channels have to limit their entertainment programming, but they will be required to air at least two hours of news programming between 6 a.m. and midnight and at least two 30-minute news programs will need to be shown between 6 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., according to the news source.
The AFP reports that the SARFT officials want to replace entertainment programs with programs that promote "harmony, health and mainstream culture." They will also require channels to create and air shows that focus on socialist values and traditional virtues.
People can use international phone cards to make calls to China to talk to their friends about the new restrictions or to fill them in on all of the shows they will soon be unable to watch.