Shanghai, Jan 4 - A recent verbal joust involving two of China's best-known television anchors may have prompted the Chinese regulators to clamp down on Internet videos on private websites.During a recording to relaunch Chinese state broadcaster's sports channel CCTV 5 as the Olympic channel on New Year's Day, the invited guests at the studio got more than the share of rabble-dabble they had expected.Zhang Bin, a sports commentator and one of the country's most familiar television faces, was hosting the programme when his wife Hu Ziwei, herself a well-known television personality with a local TV station, walked up to the podium and stunned the audience by telling them that her husband was cheating on her!'Today is a special day for Zhang Bin, a special day for the Olympic Channel ... and a special day for me too. Because just two hours ago, I found out that, besides me, Zhang Bin has been having an improper relationship with another woman,' Hu told the gathered audience during the programme that was being recorded for the big launch.A visibly upset Hu went on to claim that her husband's infidelities would bring shame on the Chinese mainland and the Games.The three-minute clip could be seen on popular Chinese websites for a day and was the subject of massive interest among China's netizens, embarrassing the powers-that-be in this Olympic year. It was blocked later but not before it had made its way to international video websites like YouTube.The damage clearly was done.Even more disturbing for the authorities was Hu Ziwei's reference to a 'French diplomat' (France President Nicolas Sarkozy).'But as a French diplomat once pointed out, if Chinese people don't have any humane values to present to the world ... then what does all the [Olympic] fuss mean?' she asked.On Thursday, China announced new regulations that restrict uploading of Internet videos, including those posted on video-sharing websites, to government-run sites.The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the Ministry of Information Industry approved the regulations, which come into effect Jan 31.It states that websites that provide video programming or allow users to upload video will need government permits.
(c) Indo-Asian News Service
