Spring Festival Gala to reject problem artists

The dust has settled as China's most anticipated annual television event, the Spring Festival Gala, has finally found a director. Meanwhile, top executives of TV networks say they will not allow problem performers on the show, China.org.cn reported today.

China's biggest TV network, China Central Television, finally revealed that the work team for the 2015 Spring Festival Gala has been formed on its official micro-blogging account Thursday. Rumors circulating online recently speculated that the event might be canceled since preparations for the Gala typically start before the end of August. The Gala's general director will be the veteran TV producer Ha Wen, who directed the Spring Festival Gala in 2012 and 2013.

To breathe some fresh air into the decades-old event, 2014's Gala was helmed by famous movie director Feng Xiaogang. However, critical reviews and public feedback about the quality of Feng's work on the annual event were mixed.

The 2015 Gala will once again draw together a group of professionals and advisors to the TV network from the backbone of the industry. Each team member has two years of experience creating shows for past Spring Festival Galas.

Hu Zhanfan, the president of CCTV, also said the new Gala will execute "three rejections." "We will make sure that low-quality, vulgar, and kitschy performances will be rejected; performances in poor taste will be rejected; and any performers with criminal records or who are known to have immoral flaws will be rejected," he said.

Hu also noted they will keep an open mind for the Spring Festival Gala and will recruit performances from all over China through Internet. Organizers plan to use fewer well-known stars, leaving more space for grassroots entertainers and professional and award-winning actors.

The Spring Festival Gala was first held in 1983. It is viewed by over 700 million viewers annually and is one of the most-viewed television events in China and in the world. Chinese families often stay home every year to watch it as part of their celebration to welcome in the new lunar year. The show features various performances, such as opera, acrobatics, dance, music and comedy.

Despite its 30 years of history, the Gala has gradually been losing its appeal, particularly among younger viewers. According to a poll by China Youth Daily this January, more than half of the 102,791 people polled, 55.4 percent, think the Gala's content over the past few years has been outdated.

But its position in the industry and in national history remains unshaken. In January, news reports said the Gala has been upgraded to "national project" level.