China cuts two-thirds of popular television shows

China cuts two-thirds of popular television shows

www.telegraph.co.uk

An order to curb "excessive entertainment" on television came into force on Jan 1. In response, the number of scheduled entertainment programmes has dipped sharply from 126 a week to just 38...

...Xinhua added that "vulgar" and "low taste" broadcasting was being removed from the schedules, in the latest example of government interference in China's private sector.

(visit the link for the full news article)


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China has suddenly slashed entertainment programming. It seems to be a big step to me, reducing this many shows all at once. I wonder what happend to make them make this decision now?

In the West, peple tend to be deeply opposed to government interference in the content industry...at least overt and admitted interference. There are other more subtle forms of interference that often go ignored, but even so, the whole idea seems counter to ideals of freedom.

And yet the West has failed to address the corrosive effects of cultural decay, how public morality has broken down, how TV negatively influences people. It's almost taboo to even think about censoring TV in the west the way China does, but I think its a conversation the West needs to have, because the effects of TV on society in terms of matierialism, alienation, sexualization, corruption of the mind, etc. are strong and negative.



I thought this was especially interesting:

"International forces are trying to Westernise and divide us by using ideology and culture," said Mr Hu, in an October speech that was reprinted in Qiushi, a party magazine. "We need to realise this and be alert to this danger," he added.

I know a lot of you will disagree violently, but I think China is smart to pay attention to culture and to try to aviod excessive Westernization and Materialism. They look at culture as a war, which it is, and they respond in a way that seems smart and effective.

See also:


www.telegraph.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by Never Despise


I'm sure this will be a big plus for the chinese pornographers

Heck more than two-thirds of our TV in the west is utter rubbish, maybe they are going to put on programmes which teach their populace? wouldn't that be better for the people? instead of putting stupid talent shows involving people with no talent.
I agree with the OP on this one, China has done the right thing.

I wonder if this is a money issue as well as a "cultural" issue?

It's something that we may want to mimic here in the west. cultural decay as the OP says is indeed related to the tv programming contents and quality, It's true that a lot of shows are rubbish.
That's why I avoid to watch tv anyways.
Good for china and the culture.

reply to post by boymonkey74


The right thing ?How is taking away personal choice the right thing,Luckily most people agree with me and will not tolerate it.Remember the Nazis?

Agreed, China is actually taking the proper step forward. Our constant need for entertainment in the West has created an army of zombies. Now, if China would replace said programs with Science programs and other programs that help instead of hinder.

A good thing would be if China did replace the TV Shows with education. But this also now has a dangerous hole to fill the void with government propaganda and of course communist rhetoric.

So right now no, it's not a good thing. If China was truly democratic it wouldn't be allowed to tell the people what they can watch or what it considers "too much entertainment"

reply to post by Never Despise


Once the Chinese gain full control over our government here in the US. (Probably not long from now). What shows do you think they will cancel first?

My guess would be Jersey Shore, all things Kardashian and desperate housewives. That would be doing us a favor, but what else needs to go?

reply to post by Never Despise


I am skeptical of this news release. China seems to be in the sights of the propaganda machine lately. Obama said today that the Pentagon will be increasing its presence in the Asia Pacific, and specifically mentioned monitoring China.

Any news out of foreign countries risks context being lost in translation. Couple this with a biased and corrupt media, and it is almost assured we're not being told the truth. China isn't what most Americans think it is.

Maybe Xinhua was removing shows to free up spectrum?

Are there private cable companies that supply entertainment?

reply to post by Never Despise


Very interesting - looks like something's up. True, the entertainment media is used for brainwashing, pushing agendas, social engineering and yada yada. But - looks like there just might be more to this story.

Remember the incident in China a while ago? - a toddler was hit by a car in the street and nobody helped, for two hours. She died. ...It was a national scandal and disgrace - everyone talked about how Chinese peoples' values were changing and everyone was becoming selfish.

...It could be that this entertainment crunch is a response to this and similar events - but more likely that the issues are being framed to justify more censorship and prep for some kind of crisis. Not sure.

Well, I would say it is only good if they are allowing meaningful shows to stay.

I wouldn't be surprised if they cut out all the brainwashing "entertainment" but left the information which gave more power to China's government. Kind of like if cartoons were abolished over here in The States but all the biased MSM was left.

reply to post by Never Despise

For a country with more than a billion people this probably means that they maybe cut a channel or two and show a few more "repeats". I wonder how well The A Team dubs into Chinese?

oh boy censorship being held up by people who claim censorship is wrong. lol
it's wrong to censor....well..accept the stuff i don't agree with, then it's okay. lol

Originally posted by soficrow
reply to post by Never Despise

 

Very interesting - looks like something's up. True, the entertainment media is used for brainwashing, pushing agendas, social engineering and yada yada. But - looks like there just might be more to this story.

Remember the incident in China a while ago? - a toddler was hit by a car in the street and nobody helped, for two hours. She died. ...It was a national scandal and disgrace - everyone talked about how Chinese peoples' values were changing and everyone was becoming selfish.

...It could be that this entertainment crunch is a response to this and similar events - but more likely that the issues are being framed to justify more censorship and prep for some kind of crisis. Not sure.

sofi! i'm shocked that you saiid that considering it has been part of their culture for thousands of years, to treat females as mistakes in nature!

oy, i'm pissed at ya now. i 'll get over it. gimme a few.

'High Five' for China. It's the right move.
Of course I deplore the censorship - but somehow censorship just doesn't seem the right word let's say if 'Dancing with the Stars' was cancelled. I'd call that more - good taste.

peace

Originally posted by silo13
'High Five' for China. It's the right move.
Of course I deplore the censorship - but somehow censorship just doesn't seem the right word let's say if 'Dancing with the Stars' was cancelled. I'd call that more - good taste.

peace

i love dancing with the stars! what gives you or anyone else the right to tell me that i shouldn't and censor my viewing?

reply to post by undo

I apologize if using your show as an example hit a nerve, I meant no slander to the show or the viewers. And yes, you're right, no one has the right to censor what you want to watch. Within reason of course.

Funny though, I still agree China made the right move. A juxtaposition for sure.

peace

they have probably seen what those types of programmes have done to western society, and are making a cut back quickly to avoid having the same population that are unable to live in an alert state, they probably want workers who are alert enough to do jobs properly, rather than spending most their time sending eachother e:mails and texts about what went down in the latest episode on the T.V.

or maybe they are getting sick of the conversations around the water cooler, going on and on about the soaps like they are real life. i know i am.