CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #456
"The government of China has decided that “The Big Bang Theory” is not appropriate for viewing. I have to assume there was some sort of formal process involved in this decision. In all likelihood, a gaggle of communists sat in a darkened room and watched a few episodes. I like to think they took notes that were later used to formulate an official document that detailed the corrosive cultural effects caused by the shenanigans of Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Wolowitz, Koothrappali, Amy and Bernadette. I like to think that during these screenings one of them laughed out loud and was promptly sent to a re-education camp on the outskirts of Urumqi. I like to think one of them was reassured by how often the characters on the show eat Chinese takeout. I like to think there’s a Chinese word for shenanigans. Regardless, the whole affair makes me very happy. The overlords of 1.3 billion people are afraid of our sitcom. Exactly what we were going for!"
Screenshots of the message have been widely shared on social media in China – and just like BBT, the threads have been quickly censored.
China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television hasn't explained why it targeted "The Big Bang Theory," "The Good Wife," "NCIS" and "The Practice." So it's possible that -- for some obscure reason – regulators found something subversive or threatening about those four shows.
But here's another theory that makes more sense: it's just business.
China's powerful state broadcaster CCTV covets the young, educated audiences that watch U.S. shows on online video sites, as well as the small but fast-growing sums of ad money they bring in. And CCTV -- a bastion of traditional, state-approved fare -- might be hoping to edge out the private Internet companies and broadcast more foreign fare itself.
Online video is growing fast in China, generating $2.07 billion in revenues in 2013, up 41.9 % from 2012, according to iResearch. The bulk of that is through advertising.
U.S. shows represent a fraction of shows available online, though they're a targeted way for marketers to reach sought-after consumers, many of whom view the shows on their mobile phones.
Watch "The Walking Dead" on platform Youku this week and you might see pre-roll ads for Honda, Vidal Sassoon and Kindle.
Until now, China regulators have been hands-off about content on streaming portals, creating an odd mismatch: Online video sites have been largely free to air what they want, unlike movie theaters (only 34 foreign films can be screened here each year) and TV channels (China has even limited the number of popular singing competitions and required them to be less showy.)
Online crackdown
This month has brought a campaign by Chinese authorities on "cleaning the Internet": shutting down pornography sites, and punishing internet giant Sina for permitting obscene fare online by taking away several of its licenses for publishing content.
The crackdown on the TV shows, apparently part of the "cleanup," generated a strong reaction online. On Weibo, China's Twitter TV, fans reacted to the news with emoticons that screamed, cried or vomited.
It's uncertain how big the impact will be.......
http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_bang_theory/video/
http://adage.com/article/global-news/real-reason-china-banned-big-bang-theory/292927/
http://www.wnd.com/2014/05/the-big-bang-theory-blasts-china-ban/?cat_orig=world
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chuck-lorre-shoots-back-at-701933
