Communist China cuts entertainment on tv by 2/3, says too much 'western culture'

Baseball games if any will have to last no more than 90 minutes in prime time.

• 1/4/12, "China campaign cuts entertainment TV by two-thirds," BBC

"Satellite broadcasters in China have cut entertainment TV by two-thirds following a government campaign, state news agency Xinhua has reported.

An order by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) to curb ''excessive entertainment'' came into effect on 1 January.

The number of entertainment shows aired during prime time each week has dropped to 38 from 126, said the watchdog body.

The news came as the president warned of the influence of Western culture.

In the piece published in a Communist Party magazine, President Hu Jintao also urged efforts to boost the country's own soft power, said Xinhua.

The order, which was issued in October 2011, limits each of the country's 34 satellite channels to two entertainment programs each week and a maximum of 90 minutes of entertainment content every day from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Broadcasters are also required to air at least two hours of news programming between 6 a.m. and midnight. They must each broadcast at least two 30-minute news programs between 6 and 11:30 p.m.

• The country has the most television viewers in the world - an estimated 95% of its 1.3 billion people."

3/16/2008, "Selig: 'This is where it started', Commissioner believes baseball will soon be big in (Communist) China," MLB.com

Tweet Stumbleupon StumbleUpon