TV regulation may hurt profits

BEIJING - A regulation to cap the number and limit the length of entertainment shows in China is not likely to reshuffle the country's satellite channel rankings, but it could hurt profits, experts say.

Aimed at curbing TV shows of "excessive entertainment" and "low taste", the regulation, issued on Oct 25 by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), limits each of the country's 34 satellite channels to two entertainment programs each week, while more news, moral education programs and documentaries are encouraged.

The regulation allows a maximum of 90 minutes of entertainment content from 7:30 pm to 10 pm every day for each channel. During the same period, the 34 channels can show only nine entertainment programs in total.