CHINA USES BROAD SWORD TO CHOP ENTERTAINMENT TV SHOWS

In one fell swoop, China’s broadcasters have axed more than two-thirds of primetime entertainment shows to comply with new government regulations limiting the number of entertainment programs any broadcaster airs to two each week that are no more than 90 minutes long, the Wall Street Journal said today (Wednesday), citing a report by the state-owned Xinhua news agency. The new regulations were instituted, according to the news agency, to counter “a trend toward low taste.” The new rules were instituted after President Hu Jintao warned in October that “hostile” foreigners were seeking to “Westernize” the country. “We should deeply understand the seriousness and complexity of the ideological struggle, always sound the alarms and remain vigilant, and take forceful measures to be on guard and respond,” Hu said.