Broadcast watchdog cleans up reality programming

The State Administration of Radio, Film & Television has slapped a ban on reality programs that broadcast live plastic surgery and sex change operations.China's broadcast watchdog issued a statement on Friday banning the live broadcast of programs with "indecent" and "explicit" scenes.The ban applies to both television and radio programs.The ban is believed to have stemmed from the reality program A New Date with Beauty after community uproar.SARFT said the ban is effective immediately."All levels of television broadcasters must not plan or produce sex change or plastic surgery programmes involving public participation... effective immediately," a notice on the SARFT website said."(Such programs) currently being screened or in production must stop at once," it added.