中國歌唱選秀節目末日來臨

For some broadcasters, it was the day the music died.

對中國一些廣播電視公司來說，音樂選秀節目的末日來了。

China's major media regulator and censor last week put a stop to the slew of new singing competitions soon to hit China's airwaves. In a statement, the clumsily named State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television postponed ready-to-run shows and adjusted broadcast time of the current shows so that they no longer took up big blocks of primetime viewing.

中國主要的媒體監管和審查機構國家廣播電影電視總局上週叫停即將開播的一系列新的歌唱類選拔節目。廣電總局在一則聲明中說，尚未開播的節目將推遲播出，已開播的節目將調整播出時間，錯時安排播出，避免同類節目扎堆播出。

They also asked for a little less glitz. TV producers were asked to abstain from 'extravagance, putting on dazzling packaging and playing up sensational elements' in TV program productions, according to the statement. The reason, it said, was to avoid having too many similar TV programs and to 'provide more viewing options for audiences.'

廣電總局還要求降低節目的華麗程度。據這份聲明稱，電視媒體要力戒鋪張奢華，力戒炫目包裝，力戒煽情作秀。聲明稱，此次調控是爲了避免電視節目形態單一雷同，爲觀衆提供更多的收視選擇。

The statement didn't name 'The Voice of China,' the reality show broadcast by Zhejiang province's satellite broadcaster and based on the Dutch program 'The Voice of Holland.' But then, it didn't have to. The immensely popular TV show has spawned a slew of imitators since it premiered last year. The show has broken records and, according to the government broadcasting agency's research center, has been watched online over 2.6 billion times.

聲明未提到浙江衛視播出的真人秀“中國好聲音”(The Voice of China)。但也沒有點名的必要。這檔廣受歡迎的電視節目自去年開播以來已經吸引了大批模仿者。據廣電總局研究中心的數據，該選秀節目已經打破紀錄，網絡總點擊量超過26億。這檔節目源於荷蘭節目“荷蘭之聲”(The Voice of Holland)。

The moves angered viewers who have mocked previous efforts to tamp down on time travel, dating shows and general whimsy. 'All TV channels nationwide put on the same news program at 7 p.m. every night,' said one Sina Weibo user, in a reference to state broadcaster China Central Television's sober evening news broadcast. 'So bored, you know? Please restrict it!'

此舉引發觀衆不滿，此前廣電總局打壓穿越劇、相親選秀節目以及搞怪節目的做法已經廣受詬病。一位新浪微博(Sina Weibo)用戶說，全國電視臺還每天7點整播同一個節目（新聞聯播）呢！早厭煩了好麼，求限制！

The crackdown on pizzazz -- framed by the regulator as part of China's austerity push -- was also questioned. 'This is ridiculous,' said Peng Kai, consulting director of Legend Media, a Beijing-based media company, adding 'how can you attract audiences without a dazzling stage set and quality shows?'

對節目華麗程度的限制（廣電總局稱之爲中國節儉行動的一部分）也受到質疑。北京媒體公司樂正傳媒（Legend Media）的諮詢總監彭凱（音）說，這太荒謬了，沒有炫麗的舞臺和高品質的表演，你怎麼吸引觀衆？

Still, the latest measure found some industry support. While summertime often ushers in talent shows, the singing competition scene seems to be a bit crowded this year. Nine major provincial satellite channels have singing competitions on air, with three more lining up to run, according to local media reports.

不過，監管部門出臺的最新措施獲得了一些業內人士的支持。儘管電視臺常常在夏季推出選秀節目，但今年的歌唱選秀市場似乎有點擁擠。據中國當地媒體報道，九大省級衛視都在播出歌唱選秀節目，另有三家衛視正準備加入這個行列。

'The curb can boost the variety of TV programs. Otherwise, the huge TV program market will be wasted,' said Lu Wei, deputy general manager of Shanghai Canxing Culture & Broadcast Co., producer of 'The Voice of China.' Its second season is running as usual.

“中國好聲音”(The Voice of China)的製作公司上海燦星文化傳播有限公司(Shanghai Canxing Culture & Broadcast Co.)的副總經理陸偉說，這樣的限制措施可以擴大電視節目的種類。否則，龐大的電視市場將白白浪費掉。“中國好聲音”第二季正在正常播出中。

Fierce competition makes producers more risk averse, which makes echoing the successful 'The Voice of China' a safe bet. 'Hit TV shows in China are usually those concerning people's daily life while not requiring much to join or watch,' said Liu Yuzhe, director of brand promotion department of the satellite TV channel of Jiangsu province. 'Dating shows and singing competitions normally do well on China's TV screens.'

激烈的競爭使製作公司的避險情緒增強，這使跟風效仿大獲成功的“中國好聲音”成爲一種安全的做法。江蘇衛視品牌推广部門負責人劉宇哲說，中國的熱播電視節目通常與人們的日常生活有關，而不要求太多的參與或收看。相親節目和歌唱選秀節目在中國電視屏幕上通常反響不錯。

Celebrity Battle, a singing competition show that Jiangsu had hoped to run next month, is among those halted. 'It really affects the competitiveness of my channel, since we took so much effort to create and prepare this show,' said Mr. Liu. 'But all of a sudden, the efforts are wasted.'

江蘇衛視曾希望下個月能夠播出的歌唱選秀節目“全能星戰”(Celebrity Battle)是被叫停的節目之一。劉宇哲說，這確實影響了江蘇衛視的競爭力，因爲我們爲創作和籌備這個節目付出了很多努力。但突然一切努力都白費了。

The latest regulation is in accordance with the regulator's efforts last year to control the total number of entertainment shows, including dating shows, talent shows and reality shows, in favor of news programs and documentaries.

最新的規定與監管部門去年出臺的控制娛樂節目總量的努力相符。當時限制了包括相親、選秀和真人秀等在內的娛樂節目，鼓勵更多地播出新聞節目和紀錄片。

'The limitation does not affect TV program production that much, but it challenges the viewing habit and [viewing] time of the audiences,' said Mr. Liu. The rule limits the daily broadcasting of entertainment shows to 90 minutes per satellite channel during primetime.

劉宇哲說，限制措施不會給電視節目的製作造成太大影響，但會挑戰觀衆的收視習慣和收視時間。新的措施規定各衛視每日娛樂節目的黃金檔播出時間不得超過90分鐘。

Other countries regulate broadcasting to varying degrees. But Mr. Peng, of Legend Media, said too much could hurt the industry. 'Interference with TV program production will limit the creative space of producers and hinder the industry's development,' he said.

其他國家對電視節目播出的監管程度不一。但樂正傳媒的彭凱說，過多的監管可能損害電視行業。他說，干涉電視節目的製作會限制製作人的創作空間，阻礙行業的發展。