According to the People’s Daily Online, China’s TV watchdog has urged satellite channels across the country to limit air time given to shopping commercials from 2014. Satellite TV channels are allowed to broadcast shopping advertisements, known as infomercials, only once per hour and no more than three minutes every time, according to a circular released by the State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, added the report.
Furthermore, the report adds that the same ad should be aired no more than three times per day, from January 1, 2014, and that infomercials should not include promotional methods such as a news reporting style or having anchorpersons as hosts.
In addition, the administration said that shopping ads should not promote breast firming and slimming products, and TV channels must show Chinese characters “Guang Gao,” or ad, on the top right corner of the screen when an infomercial is being broadcast, according to the People’s Daily Online. The report adds that the administration said it had urged radio and TV administrations at provincial level to strengthen supervision over satellite channels and punish violators.
