China regulator bans TV advertisements during dramas

Post by **klr** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 7:37 pm

Now here's something I can agree with:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-15933297

China has ordered a ban on advertisements during TV dramas as part of its reform of cultural activities.

Adverts will not be allowed in the middle of programmes lasting for 45 minutes from 1 January next year.

The authorities said this was in line with the "spirit" of a recent Communist Party meeting.

Senior leaders said then that they wanted to develop a "socialist culture", although they did not elaborate on exactly what that means.

TV stations are clear about what this latest move means for them though - they say it will result in a loss of revenue.

The latest announcement was made by China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) on its website.

It said the regulation was being introduced as part of a new attitude towards culture, outlined at the party's Central Committee meeting in October.

"Radio and television are a mouthpiece of the party and the people - an important propaganda front in cultural thought," read the SARFT statement.

An organisation spokesman told Xinhua, the state-run news agency, that the aim was to make TV shows conform to "public interests and aspirations".

"In the long-run, the move will help TV dramas develop in a scientific and healthy manner," said the unidentified spokesman.

Business impact

The Communist Party has always kept close control over cultural activities such as television programming.

A few months ago it told a successful commercial station to stop broadcasting a popular talent contest called Super Girl.

At the recent Central Committee meeting, China's senior leaders appeared to indicate they wanted to keep an even closer eye on broadcasters.

This latest move will have an effect on the money made by these companies though.

"The government could really take our lives if it bans all commercial breaks during the most-watched TV series," one unidentified executive with a mainland TV station is reported to have said.

A spokeswoman for Hunan Satellite TV said this new regulation came after most advertising deals for next year had already been signed.

"TV stations bosses around the country will be having many sleepless nights," she said.

China's TV advertising industry was worth nearly 500bn ($78bn, £50bn) yuan last year.

The rights for one top slot before the main evening news on China Central Television - the nation's top broadcaster - cost 440m yuan for eight months at a recent auction.

Post by **Drewish** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 7:42 pm

The fact that China seems to be trying to control it's media to promote it's ideology is smart (from the party leaders' perspective.) We'll see if it works out.

Post by **klr** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 7:51 pm

They may also have an ulterior motive in cutting the revenues of the media outlets.

Post by **Xamonas Chegwé** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:06 pm

Adverts in TV dramas?

Oh, right - some of you guys don't have teh BBC! That filthy, left-leaning, trotskyist organisation that produces shamelessly unbiased programming, uncluttered with adverts.

Post by **Svartalf** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:09 pm

And once again, China shows that under the veneer of barbarous greed and oppression, it is at heart a deeply civilized country.

Post by **klr** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:11 pm

Xamonas Chegwé wrote:Adverts in TV dramas?

Oh, right - some of you guys don't have teh BBC! That filthy, left-leaning, trotskyist organisation that produces shamelessly unbiased programming, uncluttered with adverts.

BBC mentioned no later than 3rd reply. The world can continue to spin on its axis.

Post by **Robert_S** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:46 pm

My guess is that the party leaders got sick of having a tense moment in the drama abruptly cut to an obnoxious ad. I don't particularly blame them.

Post by **Xamonas Chegwé** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:52 pm

It's when the jingles in the obnoxious ads are suddenly 5 times louder than the subtle mood music i the drama you are trying to watch that pisses me off - BASTITS!

Post by **Audley Strange** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:10 am

Xamonas Chegwé wrote:Adverts in TV dramas?

Oh, right - some of you guys don't have teh BBC! That filthy, left-leaning, trotskyist organisation that produces shamelessly unbiased programming, uncluttered with adverts.

What BBC is this? The one I watch plugs its own shit all the time AND foments the extermination of the Imperialist running dogs with agitation propaganda directed at the pre-verbal, on Cbeebies. If you can't see the class struggle subtext in Rasta-mouse nor the strong Collectivist doctrine of Octotots, not to mention the overt hatred of the bourgeoisie inherent in every scene of "In the Night Garden" then you're blind man, BLIND!

Still it beats the Neo-Feudalist Court and Peasantry antics of ITV, that I'm not joking about.

Post by **Xamonas Chegwé** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:20 am

Audley Strange wrote:
Xamonas Chegwé wrote:Adverts in TV dramas?

Oh, right - some of you guys don't have teh BBC! That filthy, left-leaning, trotskyist organisation that produces shamelessly unbiased programming, uncluttered with adverts.
What BBC is this? The one I watch plugs its own shit all the time AND foments the extermination of the Imperialist running dogs with agitation propaganda directed at the pre-verbal, on Cbeebies. If you can't see the class struggle subtext in Rasta-mouse nor the strong Collectivist doctrine of Octotots, not to mention the overt hatred of the bourgeoisie inherent in every scene of "In the Night Garden" then you're blind man, BLIND!

Still it beats the Neo-Feudalist Court and Peasantry antics of ITV, that I'm not joking about.

It plugs its own shit all of the time... but NEVER in the middle of a program! Watch a film on BBC and you watch it from titles to credits with no fucker trying to sell you in-game betting or small family cars every 20 minutes. One could argue for days on end (and get nowhere) about their political agenda but (overtly) they are obliged to balance any appearance by a proponent of any political view with equal airtime for th opposing view (assuming the opponent deigns to appear - sometimes they don't.)

The BBC is NOT perfect - but it is better than anything else I have seen anywhere!

Post by **Schneibster** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:31 am

Errrrmmm,

TiVO?

Post by **Audley Strange** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:33 am

Xamonas Chegwé wrote:
The BBC is NOT perfect - but it is better than anything else I have seen anywhere!

I begrudgingly agreed wholeheartedly.

Post by **Don't Panic** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:23 am

Xamonas Chegwé wrote:It's when the jingles in the obnoxious ads are suddenly 5 times louder than the subtle mood music i the drama you are trying to watch that pisses me off - BASTITS!

A little trick involving impedance matching IIRC.

Post by **Schneibster** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:27 am

It's called a "compander."

Post by **amused** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:46 am

But ads in comedies are okay? If so, look for 24/7 comedy programming and no dramas.

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