China's media regulator is to ban "vulgar and damaging" reality television shows and is ordering them to promote decent Chinese values rather than simply aim for cheap entertainment.
Reality shows must uphold socialist core values and repel vulgarity, vanity and the worship of money, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television announced in a circular yesterday.
Such shows must be a force for transmitting "positive energy" and have a "positive educational purpose," the circular said.
Reality shows have been booming in China in recent years, attracting huge audiences. Yet some of them have been too profit-driven and depraved, provoking public criticism, it said.
Some of the shows are merely making a fuss about nothing or agitating extravagance and luxurious lifestyles, the administration said.
An undesirable tendency of excessive entertainment and low taste should be halted, giving way to "healthy socialist values" including honesty, integrity and resilience, it said.
The tone of reality shows should be positive and inspiring, telling right from wrong, and provide constructive solutions to social problems, the circular said.
The shows will be forbidden from amplifying social conflicts and fabricating stories to be more eye-catching in order to increase audience ratings, the circular said.
The administration also said reality shows should break away from heavy dependence on the introduction of foreign formats such as Korean and American variety shows, adding that producers should be confident in China's own culture and create original insights into TV program planning.
The circular says that TV staff are not allowed to invite celebrities who have a record of negative acts, such as drug taking, whoring or drunk driving, to take part in reality shows.
They must desist from false advertising and resolutely put a stop to publicity stunts by celebrity participants during recording, it added.
Reality shows should be based on real life and put more attention on ordinary people, instead of only touting pop stars, and should minimize the participation of minors.
"High-quality reality television shows will get great support. Those which lack values or meaning will be given more controls, and those which are vulgar and harmful will be investigated, dealt with or rectified until they are banned," the circular concluded.
