Prime time TV to be more anti-Fascist

By Jiang Jie Source:Global Times Published: 2014-8-15 0:53:01

SARFT scheduling order comes ahead of National Day


China's prime time TV shows in September and October are expected to be filled with the themes of patriotism and anti-Fascism, according to the latest order by China's TV and film watchdog.

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) recently said that all satellite TV stations should broadcast TV shows with either patriotic or anti-Fascist themes during prime time in September and October, reported the news portal NetEase on Thursday.

"We are asked to start broadcasting those TV series in a time period between September 3 and the end of October, but every TV station can decide the date to start broadcasting," an anonymous employee with the Shanghai-based Dragon TV was quoted by NetEase as saying.

The employee said current TV series can finish their runs before the ordered shows begin, as long as the new shows  start within the time period.

Although many provincial TV stations have confirmed the order, SARFT could not be reached for comment as of press time.

Meanwhile, the "Chinese Dream" themed broadcast exhibition still goes on in accordance with the administration's order in May. TV stations were then required to choose to from 127 recommended TV series, including those on late president Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese navy in the Gulf of Aden and migrant workers in Beijing, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

"Anti-Fascist themed TV series obviously referred to those on the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45), while patriotism can be a much broader theme. It can involve revolutionary wars, military life or model officials. There is no specific definition on patriotism, so TV stations may have more choice," Ying Xiaoqiang, a Hangzhou-based media observer, told the Global Times.

Ying noted that it has become a routine way to celebrate National Day, which falls on October 1, but it is also an administrative order that many TV shows producers often see as "annoying."

"It feels like another spur for historical and political shows but suppression of the creativity of writers. Meanwhile, patriotic themed shows are somewhat monopolized by some companies, as it requires closer connection with related authorities to help with shooting," said Ying.

However, observers also pointed out the necessity to broadcast the so-called mainstream shows as one way to remember history and to protect their position amid the popular shows.

"TV shows are one of the best ways of remembering. However, many shows have depicted the war in a shallow way in order to attract an audience," Xiao Feng, a director of several movies on the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45), told the Global Times.

SARFT ordered a stop to the broadcasting of shows that mis-portrayed the resistance war in 2013.

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