Summary
19 September 2011
The authorities in China have told a TV station to stop broadcasting a popular show called Super Girl. The government often bans programmes it considers to be unsuitable.
Reporter:
Michael Bristow
Super Girl: a popular show but banned
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'Super Girl' is one of the most popular shows on TV. It's a talent contest where women of all ages blast out their favourite tunes.
But regulators have now told the programme maker, Hunan Satellite Television, not to film another series next year. Officially, they say the show's too long: some episodes last three hours.
But many believe the authorities simply don't like the programme's lowbrow tone or the fact that it's extremely popular and so financially successful.
The authorities regularly get themselves worked up about TV shows. They've just taken a channel off air for a whole month for showing a programme that had a negative impact on society, as they put it.
In future, the makers of 'Super Girl' are promising to put on programmes that promote moral ethics.
Information about public safety and housework are two suggested topics. That might please the regulators, but it's unlikely to attract the viewers.
Michael Bristow, 大象传媒 News
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Vocabulary
- talent contest
TV competition for people who don't already work in show business but consider themselves to have the skills to become a famous performer
- blast out
sing powerfully
- tunes
songs
- regulators
people whose job is to make sure certain standards are met
- lowbrow tone
feeling which is not intelligent or sophisticated
- get themselves worked up
become upset
- taken a channel off air
stop a TV station from broadcasting
- as they put it
as they explain
- moral ethics
a good standard of behaviour
- housework
tasks which need to be done in the home, like washing up and cooking
