Thursday 19 November, 2009Banned: Sex, breast ops, crying and suggestive noises on TV

CHINESE censors have banned sexually explicit radio and television programmes, birth-control advertisements and even crying on talent shows as part of a campaign to restore a "socialist spirit" to the airwaves before the country's all-important 17th Party Congress in October.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has banned at least 13 radio talk shows this month and warned "pornographic" or "vulgar" television programmes would face harsh penalties.

"All levels of television broadcasters must not air any vulgar content involving sexual experiences or functions of sex toys and birth control devices", SARFT announced.

The crackdown also targets advertisements for sexual enhancement drugs, contraceptives and breast implants, along with commercials featuring scantily dressed women and suggestive noises. Celebrity endorsement of products was also banned.

Over £132 million worth of advertising has been pulled off air since August.

Censors are trying to reign in not only sexual content, but bad taste.

Musical talent shows fashioned after Britain's X-Factor are wildly popular in China, where young girls dream of becoming pop stars and karaoke is a national pastime.

The runaway success of Super Girls, whose first-season finale attracted over 400 million viewers, prompted a number of copycats. Hosts push losing contestants to cry on-air while close-ups show parents hanging their heads in shame.

"Programmes should keep a healthy, high and pleasant atmosphere and avoid scenes like singers shedding tears, relatives and friends hugging and crying bitterly, and the crazy cries of fans," said a recent SARFT statement criticising the talent show, Happy Boy Voice.

SARFT has issued a directive stating judges should not give contestants excessive praise or make comments that might embarrass or hurt their feelings.

Super Girls' first season winner, a lesbian with spiky hair and masculine clothing, inspired a legion of lookalikes when she graced the cover of Time magazine and launched a successful singing career.

"Contestants' demeanor, language, hairstyles, clothing and accessories must conform to mainstream conceptions of good taste", the statement said.

According to new SARFT rules, talent shows will no longer air during prime time and audiences will not be allowed to vote for their favourite contestant by internet or telephone, a major source of revenue.

Other shows recently banned include Beautiful Makeover, a popular reality show from Guangdong province that showed live plastic surgery and sex-change operations, First Heartthrob, a Chongqing talent show, and Red Question Mark, a racy detective drama featuring women drawn into crime.

SARFT has called these shows "detrimental to the establishment of an harmonious socialist society".

New programmes will have to be vetted by four different government bodies before being allowed to air.

China's integration in the global economy has invited an onslaught of western pop-culture influences, causing alarm among more conservative elements and prompting periodic government morality campaigns. But these campaigns have their limits.

Television shows that have been officially banned can easily be bought on the street or downloaded free from file-sharing websites. Younger audiences are moving to the internet for content the censors will not let them see. In recent years, exhibitionists like Hairong Tiantian, who was catapulted to fame when she began posing nude on her blog and solicited photographs of penises from her readers, have flaunted mainstream sensibilities.

But Wendy Yang, a 27-year-old estate agent, does not think this latest campaign will change much. "They just want to do the face-saving thing to show everyone they have taken some kind of action."