Illegal broadcasting report doubted

Official admits existence of private TV stations but questions number

SHANGHAI - Officials in the Anhui Provincial Administration of Radio, Film and Television admitted on Monday that a large number of unauthorized broadcasting stations have been able to make illegal profits but said the misdeeds are not as serious as reports allege.

Guangzhou Daily reported on Monday that nearly 1,000 unauthorized broadcasting stations had been found to be operating in the central and northern parts of Anhui province. Most of them had earned huge profits by broadcasting, without permission and in defiance of Chinese laws, violent and pornographic programs to residents in rural areas.