China shuts door on new foreign TV channels
By Joe McDonald in Beijing
Friday August 5, 2005
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,7369,1542827,00.html
China will bar new foreign television channels and step up censorship of
imported programmes, the culture ministry announced, adding to efforts to
tighten the communist government's control over popular culture.
To "safeguard national cultural safety", the government will also tighten
controls over the 31 foreign satellite broadcasters which hold licences to
operate in China, the ministry said on its website.
Beijing will also ban new licences for companies to import newspapers and
magazines, electronic publications, audiovisual products and children's
cartoons, the ministry said. New limits will be imposed on the number of
foreign copyrighted products Chinese companies are allowed to publish.
Over the past two years there have been increasing efforts to control
popular culture and keep out material that communist leaders fear is
spreading politically and socially dangerous influences.
The latest steps are meant to "strengthen management of imported cultural
products, improve intellectual property protections and safeguard national
cultural safety", the ministry said.
"No more licences for foreign satellite channels will be issued," it said.
Regulators will "conscientiously strengthen management of foreign satellite
channels that already have licences".
The statement did not give details of what new content guidelines might be
applied to foreign broadcasters.
The measures are a step back from more liberal rules announced late last
year to open China's media market. They are likely to be a disappointment
for broadcasters hoping for access to China's 400m television sets.
Chinese radio and television stations are eager for foreign investment and
programmes as many lose government subsidies and have to compete in a
crowded, fast-changing market.
Some foreign companies such as News Corp's Hong Kong-based Star Group have
been granted rights to broadcast over cable systems in small areas of the
mainland. Viacom's Nickelodeon and others have formed joint ventures with
Chinese partners, while some sell blocks of programming.
But communist leaders are reluctant to give Chinese broadcasters free rein
to form foreign ties, concerned it might erode official controls over what
censors refer to as "political standards" of broadcasts.
Regulators frequently cite foreign culture as a source of unwholesome
influences.
Last year, the government prohibited the use of English words on
television, and foreign programmes that promote "western ideology and
politics". It also banned content featuring crime or violence in primetime
in order to promote a "healthy environment" for children.
Last month, the government announced a ban on Chinese television and radio
stations forming partnerships with foreign companies or leasing channels to
foreign companies.
The culture ministry also said the government will launch a new crackdown
on illegal satellite dishes. Most private ownership of satellite receivers
is banned in China.
Authorities will also try to stamp out unlicensed broadcasting of foreign
programming over telecoms networks.
================================
George Antunes, Political Science Dept
University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204
Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927
antunes at uh dot edu
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