Category Archives: TV

Narrow Dwellings: a TV series that slipped through SARFT’s guidelines

The series has drawn a lot of criticism as well as recommendation. The former for its poor script and one dimensional characters, and the latter for its social commentary, which focuses on people of different social statuses, nailhouses, corrupt officials and mistresses, all wrapped up in the setting of a consumerist metropolis. There are edited versions of Narrow Dwellings on Youku and broadcast on TV, and lines that have been deleted for its “bone-baring” (露骨) directness.

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Upgrade rather than cancellation for CCTV’s concert series

Bad journalism leads to nasty rumors about the state broadcaster.

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The Same Song canceled: CCTV dumps another flagship program

The popular, touring concert broadcast will come to an end as part of the station’s programming shake-up.

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CCTV cancels a talk show and shifts its focus toward entertainment

CCTV cancels Tell It Like It Is (实话实说). Hecaitou comments on ratings and journalistic independence.

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China TV trade fairs and festivals

TV Trade Fairs & Festivals in 2009: an excerpt from CMMI’s China Media yearbook and directory.

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Chinglish Monkey King

A Chinglish version of the theme song to the much-loved 1986 TV serial of Monkey King (西游记).

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The curious case of the disappearing TV drama

The quality of TV dramas is way down. China Media Monitor investigates.

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Shanzhai Gala insiders tell all

Two participants in the failed Shanzhai Gala experiment describe what went wrong.

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Ministry of Education says “TV” is against the rules

The Ministry of Education replaces the CETV logo with 中国教育, and wants twenty other cable stations to follow suit.

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Spring Festival crosstalk and the reform era

Crosstalk and comic sketches at the Spring Festival Gala are pretty lack-luster. Pan Caifu explains that it’s because they’re expected to be uplifting, not satiric.

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