China tira do ar show de calouros que atraía milhões

The authorities in China have told a TV station to stop broadcasting a popular show called Super Girl. The government often bans programmes it considers to be unsuitable.

Reportagem: Michael Bristow

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'Super Girl' is one of the most popular shows on TV. It's a talent contest where women of all ages blast out their favourite tunes.

But regulators have now told the programme maker, Hunan Satellite Television, not to film another series next year. Officially, they say the show's too long: some episodes last three hours.

But many believe the authorities simply don't like the programme's lowbrow tone or the fact that it's extremely popular and so financially successful.

The authorities regularly get themselves worked up about TV shows. They've just taken a channel off air for a whole month for showing a programme that had a negative impact on society, as they put it.

In future, the makers of 'Super Girl' are promising to put on programmes that promote moral ethics.

Information about public safety and housework are two suggested topics. That might please the regulators, but it's unlikely to attract the viewers.

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talent contest (concurso de talentos, programa de TV para calouros) TV competition for people who don't already work in show business but consider themselves to have the skills to become a famous performer

blast out (cantar com um voz poderosa) sing powerfully

tunes (músicas) songs

regulators (reguladores, pessoas cuja função é assegurar que certos padrões estão sendo cumpridos) people whose job is to make sure certain standards are met

lowbrow tone (um sentimento que não é inteligente nem sofisticado) feeling which is not intelligent or sophisticated

get themselves worked up (ficar chateado) become upset

taken a channel off air (tirar do ar um canal de TV, interromper a transmissão do sinal de um estação de TV) stop a TV station from broadcasting

as they put it (à medida em que eles explicam) as they explain

moral ethics (ética moral, um bom padrão de comportamento) a good standard of behaviour

housework (tarefas domésticas como lavar louça e cozinhar) tasks which need to be done in the home, like washing up and cooking