According to a report in AmCham’s China Wire newsletter, China will extend its ban on the airing of foreign cartoons during prime time by one hour, its latest initiative to “spur the domestic cartoon industry”, said a circular by the country’s TV watchdog. According to the circular issued by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), no foreign cartoons or programs introducing foreign cartoons can be shown from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the “golden hours”, on all domestic cartoon channels and children’s channels starting May 1. The original ban, imposed by SARFT in Aug. 2006, required airing of foreign cartoons to be only before 5 p.m. or after 8 p.m. The airing of cartoons co-produced by domestic and foreign producers will require approval from SARFT for the 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. time slot starting May 1. Only domestic cartoons approved by SARFT can be aired during “golden hours.”

The ‘Regulations on Internet Video and Audio Program Services’ which took effect January 31, 2008, were approved by both the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the Ministry of Information Industry. Under the new policy, web sites that provide video programming or allow users to upload video must obtain government permits, and applicants must be either state-owned or state-controlled companies.

AmCham-China members can read notes from a recent roundtable discussion about the regulations sponsored by AmCham’s Media and Entertainment Forum.

Chinese and Americans generally hold favorable views toward each other and most people in both countries believe bilateral trade benefits both economies, according to a new survey released in Washington on Monday (Dec. 10). The survey, entitled American and Chinese Attitudes Toward Each Other, was released by the Committee of 100, a nonprofit organization made up of well-known Chinese Americans. It found that 60% of the Chinese people surveyed have a favorable impression of the US, while 52% of the Americans give a favorable rating to China. Both American and Chinese respondents have very positive feelings about Beijing’s hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games, agreeing that the event will help improve China’s economy and global image. Get the full report.

This fall, AmCham-China was a promotional sponsor for the Committee of 100’s “BRIDGE TO CHANGE (II)” conference held in Beijing.  Prominent journalists, business leaders, Chinese scholars and politicians addressed hot-button issues including Corporate Social Responsibility: The Strategic Imperative, China’s Capital Markets: Going Global,  Energy Security and Environmental Responsibility: Two Sides of the Same Coin and Brainstorm China: The Drive for New Ideas, New Media and New Talent.

Author Debbie Weil gets it right

Thirty AmCham-China members received insights on Internet communications during an event featuring Debbie Weil, author of ‘The Corporate Blogging Book: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know to Get It Right’, on October 16 at the Beijing American Club.

Weil discussed why CEOs should blog, who is doing it successfully, and some of the challenges of posting online. She said there is a social media revolution in corporate communications, branding and imaging, and that blogs allow for authentic feedback, making it an attractive way of CEOs to keep in touch with stakeholders. She also noted that blogs can be an effective tool for crisis communications. The Q&A session afterwards covered areas ranging from the use of blogs as internal communication tools to the frequency with which CEOs should blog.

The event was co-sponsored by the Media and Entertainment Forum and the PR Forum. Weil’s China book tour is sponsored by Edelman. AmCham-China President Mike Barbalas moderated the event.