The airing of entertainment shows will be suspended between September 1 and 5 to give way to the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, reports said Wednesday. [Special coverage]
Several television stations, including Hunan TV, Zhejiang TV, and Dragon TV, the primary sources of entertainment shows, told the Sichuan-based West China Metropolis Daily on Wednesday that they have been informed by China's top media watchdog that all entertainment shows will be suspended during that time at all satellite channels including China Central Television (CCTV) and local TV channels.
Many popular reality shows such as The Voice of China, Dad, Where Are We Going? and Up Idol will not be aired, along with some soap operas, the report added.
"Between September 1 and 5, we will broadcast special programs on prime time to celebrate the anniversary, including documentaries and cartoons on the War against Japanese Aggression (1937-45). We will also air classic TV dramas themed on the war at 10 pm every night. We will also provide commentary in news programs and make special plans for the anniversary," an anonymous staff member at Hunan TV told the newspaper.
Xu Jifeng, a deputy director of Zhejiang TV, said that the television station has been airing stories on war history since August and will broadcast classic TV dramas themed on the war on prime time starting August 25, to "set the tone."
Xu said that The Voice of China, which was scheduled for airing on September 4, will be moved to September 6, according to the newspaper.
Dragon TV also said that they will broadcast a spy drama set during the war against Japanese aggression starting September 1, while Beijing TV said that they have been preparing anti-fascist-themed programs and documentaries.
According to Youth Times, those television stations have been ordered to broadcast TV dramas on the anti-Fascist war from August to October. Several television stations have confirmed their schedule for airing anti-Fascist TV dramas in the next two months.
