BEIJING, Aug. 24 -- China's broadcasting watchdog has ordered a television station in Guangdong Province to stop showing a reality TV show that included live scenes of doctors performing plastic surgery, saying it was too gory and included too much nudity.
"2007 MyLike Date with Beauty," which was produced by Guangdong Television Station, advocates extravagance, waste and low tastes, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said in a statement yesterday.
Broadcasters are banned from designing, producing or broadcasting any similar programs in any form, including news, feature and talk show, it said. Any similar programs should be canceled at once.
The program, sponsored by a plastic surgery hospital in Guangzhou City of Guangdong Province, awarded free plastic surgery and then broadcast scenes from the operations, some of which showed naked breasts.
The program began selecting contestants in late April, with seven women finally winning free plastic surgeries, including breast augmentations, double-eyelid surgery, liposuction and nose jobs.
Since the show went on air early last month it has drawn numerous complaints from viewers.
Broadcasters are not allowed to design, produce or broadcast programs or events that run against common ethics and morals, that blaspheme science and culture, or that infringe upon individual privacy, said the statement.
Those who breach the regulation will be severely punished.
He Yi, a senior official with Guangdong TV Station, told the Beijing Times yesterday that the station understood the administration's decision and it would rectify and improve the show in accordance with the statement.
Meanwhile, he said only a small part of the show was live, with most scenes edited before broadcast.
The program was the second live show suspended by the administration within a week.
A talent show in Chongqing Municipality, "First Crush on You," was cancelled due to its low taste and rude judges last week.
(Source: Shanghai Daily)
