About the ban on American dramas in China
On 1st, April, 2009, the National Broadcast& TV General Bureau announced that it would put a ban on the American dramas on the Internet. It means that since that day, there will not be any American dramas for mainland China any more. This causes a great shock among the netizens. Some of them even say that it is a present given by our country by the April Fools’ Day.
This makes me think about the condition of foreign TV shows in China. On one hand, it is right to prohibit Chinese watching the dramas online, because we do not have the copyright. Some famous American dramas, such as “Prison Break”, are translated into Chinese by some unknown people. After the translations, they upload the dramas to some websites like youku and youtube. Such behaviors are great violations of laws about intellectual property. In terms of laws, China is right to ban the dramas, which also shows respect for the American companies.
On the other hand, I am more or less suspicious to think that the decree is just a protection for the Chinese dramas. It is universally known that the National Broadcast& TV General Bureau has declared that the TV stations are only allowed to broadcast the homemade cartoons. This action is said to protect the domestic cartoons. I have another question. Is it necessary to do so? Actually, I do not think the cartoons made in China, which are too childish or meaningless, are good enough to educate children. In terms of the American dramas, is the decree issued intended to protect the Chinese TV series which are becoming more and more boring? If so, the decree is going to make the life dull.
In my opinion, the decree will not stop civilians to watch the TV series. Although the problem of copyright exists, it is still a good idea to watch the American dramas. Otherwise, the life in China will be more boring, which we cannot bear.