China Cracks Down On ‘Excessive Entertainment’

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 January 1st.

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

However, as The World’s Mary Kay Magistad explains, savvy Chinese youth are simply turning away from their televisions, and switch on laptops and pirated western DVDs instead.