China’s government censor has accused some song and dance variety TV shows of “promoting a western lifestyle”, as Beijing seeks to tighten controls on some of the most watched broadcasts in the country.
The new regulations also take aim at programmes deemed “lacking in positive energy, incorrect values and low aesthetics”, according to China’s official news agency Xinhua, and follow a series of scandals that have roiled the airwaves and focus a new light on celebrity obsession among Chinese TV fans.
Originally conceived as wholesome and celebratory, Chinese variety TV has seen its standards slide as it has become a huge business. The roughly 400 variety TV shows on air and online now feature celebrities not only singing and dancing, but also blend reality TV showing performers camping, fishing, running obstacle courses and even dating.