Beijing steps up TV censorship

The Chinese government has stepped up censorship of local television in a sign of the broadening of a political crackdown that has landed many dissidents in jail.

Hunan Broadcasting System, the most commercially successful state broadcaster which also has ambitions to expand overseas, is overhauling its programming to comply with new government censorship demands. The Chinese broadcasting regulator recently warned TV stations not to focus exclusively on “entertainment”. While the order was vague, it was seen as a crackdown as Chinese censors often mix campaigns against political dissent with those against vulgar content. The tougher line comes as the government tries to strengthen its grip on power in the face of increasingly open dissent and power struggles within the party. Liberal and hardline members of the party are jockeying for position ahead of the 2012 leadership transition when the party will select members for the politburo.