Candidates for TV talent contests are now required to exceed the
age of 18, and official approval will be obligatory for contests
organized specially for youngsters below 18, announced the State
Administration of Radio, Film and Television yesterday.
"We used to impose an age limit of 16, according to
international conventions, as youngsters at this age have been
capable of self-determination," said Ha Wen, producer of the
blockbuster TV talent contest "Dreaming China." "We will however
follow the new limit and will seek approval for promising
candidates under 18."
"Super Girls," another TV talent contest, had no age limit when
it became a smash hit last year. "We'll consider the age limit for
this year's show, which will be targeted mainly at college
students," said Hunan Satellite TV station that produces the
program.
The administration also said that while such TV contests are
encouraged, they should not prevail over other programs on TV and
that producers of such contests should provide classiness in the
candidates' costumes, hairstyles and decorations.
"Super Girl", a TV singing contest involving text message votes
by the public, was the country's most popular TV program last
summer. Independent research suggested 10 percent of Chinese
households watched all or some of the competition?-- a massive
figure considering the country's population of 1.3 billion.
(Shanghai Daily March 15, 2006)
