One of China's top video sites isn't sure whether it's going to get the chance to stream 'The Big Bang Theory' again. But there's a bigger, government-controlled outlet that might be interested.
一家中国知名视频网站不确定是否还有机会让《生活大爆炸》(The Big Bang Theory)重新上线。但国有传媒巨头中国中央电视台(CCTV)或许有兴趣一试。
Over the weekend Chinese authorities pulled from Youku Tudou, Sohu.com Inc. and other streaming websites a number of hits, including U.S.-made shows 'The Good Wife' and 'The Big Bang Theory.'
在刚刚过去的周末,中国国家新闻出版广电总局勒令优酷土豆(Youku Tudou)、搜狐(Sohu.com Inc.)等视频网站下线多部热播剧,其中就包括美剧《傲骨贤妻》(The Good Wife)和《生活大爆炸》(The Big Bang Theory)。
Speaking during an earnings call Monday, Sohu Chairman Charles Zhang said he believed the watchdog's move was a onetime occurrence and that American-flavored shows weren't necessarily out of favor.
搜狐董事长张朝阳(Charles Zhang)在周一的财报沟通会上说,他认为广电总局此举仅仅是个案,并不一定是不喜欢美剧。
'I believe this does not represent an overall policy change toward American TV shows in China,' Mr. Zhang said. But he added that he doesn't know what prompted the move from officials at China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.
张朝阳说,他觉得这不代表广电总局对美剧在中国播出的总体策略发生变化。但他也表示,不清楚是什么原因促使广电总局做出了这一决定。
Industry insiders say they think the move was meant to rein in a quick-growing industry that potentially steals eyeballs from official channels. There's plenty of precedent. China's media regulators have moved in recent years to tame the airwaves, telling China's popular satellite broadcasters to cut down on dating and talent shows, to show more documentaries and even clamp down on stories involving time travel. But might the move also be a ploy to grab a highly rated show for Beijing's top official TV network?
行业内部人士说,广电总局此举意在遏制增长迅速的视频流媒体行业,因为它们可能威胁到了官方电视频道的收视率。这有大量先例可循。近几年中国媒体监管部门对电视行业进行了整顿,要求各大卫视减少征婚和选秀类节目的播出,播放更多纪录片,甚至对穿越剧下了禁令。但是,此举是否也可能是广电总局的一个计谋,为的是把热门剧集的播映权交给官方电视网络?
Earlier this month, CBM, a company formerly associated with China's state-run broadcaster China Radio International, said on its website it had been hired by state TV broadcaster China Central Television, or CCTV, to create a cleaned up Chinese translation of 'The Big Bang Theory.' In the online statement it said it would do its best to 'retain the humor [in the show] and bring a positive, healthy and clean version of 'The Big Bang Theory' to the audience.'
本月早些时候,CBM影视译制机构(CBM)在其公司网站上称,CCTV决定引进《生活大爆炸》并交由该公司进行译制,公司将“严谨并且最大程度保留《生活大爆炸》的诙谐幽默,把积极向上的、健康的、绿色的《生活大爆炸》带给广大观众”。CBM以前与中国国有广播公司中国国际广播电台(China Radio International)有关联。
A person at CBM who answered the phone at its offices said the translation project was being carried out 'according to the demands of our client, CCTV.'
CBM办公室的一位工作人员接听了记者电话,表示翻译和制作工作正按照客户CCTV的要求有序进行。
China Real Time likes a bit more proof than that. But CCTV didn't respond to request for comment. China's broadcast regulators also didn't respond.
《中国实时报》希望获得与此相关的更多信息,但CCTV和广电总局均未回复记者的置评请求。
We may still be a ways from saying 'The Big Bang Theory' will be joining the placid anchors of Xinwen Lianbo soon, but you don't need to be as smart as the cast of scientists on the 'The Big Bang Theory' to get the message that the government is flexing its muscles.
现在说很快能在CCTV上看到《生活大爆炸》可能还太早,但是我们不需要像《生活大爆炸》里的科学家们那样聪明,就能感受到中国政府展示其“权力”的信号。