China's broadcasting watchdog on Tuesday urged radio and
television stations to reject "vulgar" programs in favor of
"healthy" productions.
The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT)
called on radio, film, and television administrative departments
and broadcasting organizations to maintain the "prestige" of radio
and TV stations.
It warned broadcasters against seeking ratings by catering to
"the low-grade interests of a minority" by relying on vulgar
programs. Those stations that fail to monitor the quality of
programs would face severe penalties, said the administration.
However, officials with SARFT on Tuesday refused to give a
definition of "vulgar programs."
At a conference in November last year, SARFT deputy director
Zhang Haitao defined "vulgar programs" as those with contents
depicting violence, pornography, crime, and/or horror.
The SARFT said healthy programs should be excellent in both
"ideological content" and artistic quality.
The SARFT has previously imposed restrictions on TV programs,
including a ban on foreign cartoons during prime time from last
September, and a crackdown on "vulgar reality shows" earlier this
year.
Last week, it issued a list of rules for the talent show "Happy
Boys," a Chinese version of American Idol.
The administration required the program to include only "healthy
and ethically inspiring" songs and try to avoid "gossip" about the
contestants and scenes of fans screaming and wailing.
The administration has sent inspectors to Shanghai Municipality
and Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Hunan and Guangdong provinces
to supervise the work of local radio and TV stations.
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(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2007)