All stations are prohibited from organizing, making or broadcasting TV reality
shows featuring such operations, according to the State Administration of
Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).
All programs, including news, chat shows, special shows on sex change
operations, have been banned by the SARFT.
"A Date with Beauty", aired by Guangdong TV was especially criticized by SARFT
in a notice for its "bloody" and "vulgar" content.
"Vulgar programs" were defined as those depicting violence, crime, pornography
and horror, said Zhang Haitao, deputy director of the SARFT.
Guangdong TV was accused of violating the privacy of the show's participants by
screening operations such as breast implants and liposuction.
Guangdong woman He Xiaoming, 22, said "I felt really sick after watching the
show."
He Yi, the operating officer of the station, said, "We didn't mean to create a
sensational atmosphere with the surgery. Rather we wanted to give the audience
a deeper understanding and remove their fear of plastic surgery through such a
visual display.
"But we will definitely follow the administration's order," He was quoted as
saying by media reports.
The notice said the reality show, "A Date with Beauty", together with other
programs on sex change operations, catered to "low-grade interests" and the
"bloody" scenes, extravagant production and loose supervision seriously damaged
the reputation of television media.
Earlier this year, the SARFT issued rules to uphold moral standards on popular
TV talent contests, warning those stations that failed to monitor the quality
of programs would face severe penalties.
