CCTV says Spring Festival Gala is still on, despite rumors

China Central Television (CCTV) denied previous speculation that the famous Spring Festival Gala will be cancelled in 2015 on its official Sina Weibo on Monday night.

"Not only has the 2015 Spring Festival Gala not been cancelled, but it will be a fantastic one. CCTV is getting ready for it and welcomes everyone's advice," said the statement.

CCTV's four-hour Spring Festival Gala was launched in 1982 and has provided an incomparable stage for many performers due to its massive audience and unparalleled reach.

Speculation about its cancellation was widespread recently. While the production team for each year's gala is typically revealed in July or August, the names of the individuals working on this year's gala have not yet been released.

Last year on July 12, CCTV announced that renowned film director Feng Xiaogang would be the general director for the 2014 Spring Festival Gala.

An employee from CCTV told the Global Times on condition of anonymity that the gala will not be cancelled and that the postponed publicity campaign might be due to reasons of thrift in the midst of China's anti-graft campaign.

At least 10 employees in CCTV have been probed in recent months, including channel directors and popular anchors.

Celebrity anchor and business journalist Rui Chenggang was taken away by prosecutors on July 11 together with Li Yong, deputy director of business channel and another unnamed producer. This came close on the heels of the detention of Guo Zhenxi, director of CCTV business channel, on suspicion of taking bribes in early June.