TV affairs face the heat in China

BEIJING: China, witnessing soaring divorces, may restrict the number of soap operas and TV dramas depicting extramarital affairs, the state media reported on Monday.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, is planning restrictions, although no timetable has been set, Beijing-based Legal Evening News reported.

Television series featuring crime and soap operas showing ancient China or marriage and family life used to be the focus of TV popular culture.

However, as it was believed that soap operas about crime could have a negative impact on young people, the government decided in 2004 to withdraw such TV series from prime time slots on major stations.

More soap operas focused on extramarital affairs because the producers thought they would have a larger audience than before, China Daily reported.

But some scholars hit back, saying the market should decide what is suitable content for a TV series, not the government.

An arts professor at Peking University, Zhang Yiwu said that although soap operas on marriage issues have many shortcomings, the government should deal with the issue prudently.

“Many people love to watch such television series. Such operas also give warnings not to break the law,” he said.