Two provincial-level TV channels have been ordered to suspend
all commercials as a punishment for repeatedly screening banned
medical advertisements.
The two channels, run by Ningxia Television Station and Gansu Television Station, were ordered to
suspend all commercials from Monday and "earnestly criticize their
mistakes" in written reports, according to a notice issued by the
State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).
This is the biggest clampdown by the SARFT since new regulations
came into vigor last August, banning television and radio
advertisements for medicines, medical equipment, weight loss,
breast enlargement and other beauty products and treatments.
The administration said the two channels were found to have been
airing the banned ads in June during TV shopping programs or during
breaks in TV series, despite four separate notifications and
warnings from February to May.
According to the regulations, a broadcaster found to be airing
such advertisements will receive three orders to desist over a
60-day period before receiving a full commercial ban.
The Ningxia TV channel ran commercials advertising a type of
"magic" slimming product in TV shopping programs, but the
administration did not mention the type of products the Gansu TV
channel was advertising.
The administration said the news of the stiff punishment had
been passed on to all provincial radio, film and television
authorities of the punishment, telling them to take stock of this
warning and to operate by the book.
In recent years, a series of incidents attributed to fake drugs
or exaggerated medical treatment with exaggerated have caused
injuries or even deaths, with areas of the public complaining of a
lack of government supervision.
(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2007)