China Pulls Plug on TV Sex Talk Show
 

(submitted by gekkogecko)

Oddly Enough - Reuters

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has pulled the plug on a new
late-night television show about sex two weeks before
the first episode was scheduled to air.

"The Masks," China's first nationally televised sex
talk show in which everyone was to wear a mask to hide
their embarrassment, was scheduled for a Jan. 1 debut
on more than 50 provincial and city channels.

The order posted on the Web site of the State
Administration of Radio, Film and Television did not
link the ban with the topic, but instead said producer
Beijing Shixi Media had not arranged necessary
permissions.

Attitudes about sex have relaxed since China began
Western-style market reforms in 1978 but even in
booming cities such as Shanghai and Beijing it is
still considered an off-limits topic for most Chinese
families.

The administration also urged domestic television and
radio stations to strengthen management and monitoring
of talk show content.

"(They) should fully realize the importance of keeping
correct direction in every minute of TV or radio
programs," the statement said.

The show is one of a few media products to get the red
flag from Beijing this month.

Last week, the administration banned a Nike ad in
which NBA star LeBron James defeats a kung fu master
and other traditional Chinese characters on charges of
offending "national feelings."

It outlawed a computer sports game that classified
Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Tibet as separate
countries.