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China cracks down on foreign toons China's media regulator is extending its primetime ban on foreign cartoons by an hour, in an effort to build up the country's home-grown animation industry. The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has also demanded that local television stations get the Chinese censor's approval before showing cartoons. From May 1, international hits such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Japanese manga toons will be banned from 17.00 to 21.00 on local channels. This is an extension of the 17.00-20.00 ban on foreign cartoons imposed in 2006. SARFT said the move is part of a campaign to "provide a favourable environment for the innovation of China's cartoon industry." The number of minutes of Chinese-made cartoons aired on local TV rose by 23% last year. The regulator has stepped up its efforts to control popular culture in other areas, banning sexually suggestive audio and video products as well as those in the supernatural or horror genres. The move can be seen as a bid to control culture ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August, when the country aims to display its economic and political clout. Jules Grant 21 Feb 2008 © C21 Media 2008 
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