BEIJING (Reuters) - China has banned commercials for feminine hygiene products and hemorrhoid ointments and other items deemed unappetizing during meal times, local media said on Thursday.
The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) unveiled the restrictions as part of a regime of fresh controls on commercials in China's increasingly market-savvy, decentralized television industry, Xinhua news agency said.
"Television and radio broadcasters' advertisements should respect the customs of the masses...and are not allowed to air commercials likely to disgust audiences, for example medicines for hemorrhoids and athlete's foot, sanitary napkins and other hygiene products," the Beijing Times said.
From January 1, 2004, stations cannot allow commercials to exceed 20 percent of their total daily broadcast time or 15 percent of prime-time programming between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. -- called the "golden" time slot in China. Advertisements can only interrupt episodes of drama serials once every 2.5 minutes, Xinhua said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20030925/od_nm/hemorrhoids_dc
The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) unveiled the restrictions as part of a regime of fresh controls on commercials in China's increasingly market-savvy, decentralized television industry, Xinhua news agency said.
"Television and radio broadcasters' advertisements should respect the customs of the masses...and are not allowed to air commercials likely to disgust audiences, for example medicines for hemorrhoids and athlete's foot, sanitary napkins and other hygiene products," the Beijing Times said.
From January 1, 2004, stations cannot allow commercials to exceed 20 percent of their total daily broadcast time or 15 percent of prime-time programming between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. -- called the "golden" time slot in China. Advertisements can only interrupt episodes of drama serials once every 2.5 minutes, Xinhua said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20030925/od_nm/hemorrhoids_dc