No SpongeBob allowed in Chinese prime time

Published 11:54 pm Wednesday, February 20, 2008

BEIJING — SpongeBob SquarePants, Mickey Mouse and Pokemon are officially cartoona non grata on Chinese prime time.

China is extending a ban that virtually locks out all foreign cartoons from airing between 5 to 9 p.m. in a bid to protect its fledgling domestic cartoon industry.

According to a ruling Wednesday by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, no foreign cartoons or programs introducing foreign cartoons can be shown during “the golden hours” on all domestic cartoon channels and children’s channels starting May 1.

Only domestic cartoons approved by SARFT can be aired, according to the regulations.

The new regulation expands an earlier ban, imposed in August 2006, that kept foreign cartoons off the air between 5 and 8 p.m. Domestic cartoon programming increased 38 percent, SARFT said.

In recent years, foreign cartoons, especially from Japan, have flooded the airwaves, becoming popular with Chinese children.