Foreign culture crackdown targets cartoons, satellite TV

In a two-pronged assault on the influence of foreign culture, the mainland will ban television stations from airing foreign cartoons during prime time while the capital will crack down on illegal viewing of foreign satellite television.

Municipal authorities in Beijing are planning a month-long crackdown on all illegal satellite business, including the import, production, sale and installation of equipment to receive signals, the Beijing Morning Post reported yesterday.

The mainland restricts foreign television programmes beamed by satellite to luxury hotels and homes mainly inhabited by foreigners and overseas Chinese. However, illegal satellite dishes have proliferated nationwide, prompting periodic crackdowns.

Companies and individuals violating the restrictions will be punished, as well as advertising services that help provide foreign satellite television.

Separately, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television issued a directive ordering cartoon channels and channels aimed at children and young people to stop showing foreign cartoons between 5pm and 8pm, the Shanghai Youth Daily reported. The rules will take effect on September 1.

Government officials have previously expressed concerns about the dominance of Japanese, South Korean and US cartoons on national television. The first foreign cartoon aired on the mainland was Japan's Astro Boy starting in 1981. Many other popular Japanese cartoons have since been shown, including Doraemon and Slam Dunk.