China's local television channels have "better taste" after being ordered to cut excessive prime-time entertainment shows bordering on "vulgarity," a senior official with the country's broadcasting watchdog has said.
The number of shows classifiable as "entertainment" on China's 34 provincial-level satellite TV channels has dropped to 38 a week from a high of 126 before the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) ordered the cut on January 1 this year, SARFT deputy director Li Wei told a media forum in the central city of Wuhan on Sunday.
"The situation of evening TV programs being monotonous has been fundamentally changed," Li said. "We have reserved only some 'very influential' entertainment shows and have added a number of new programs with healthy themes, creative content and popular forms."
Attentions have turned to news and "virtues-promoting" programs, which provincial satellite channels are now required to air weekly, according to Li.
The rapid rise to mass popularity of the Super Girl shows, modeled after American Idol, on Hunan Satellite TV in 2004 prompted a number of China's provincial TV channels to cash in with similar entertainment shows.
The broadcast watchdog issued a regulation late last year that ordered provincial channels to curb the airing of entertainment shows during prime time, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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