In its latest crackdown on indecent broadcasting, China's central radio and TV regulator has criticized another provincial radio station for airing sexually explicit programs despite earlier ban.

The Anhui Provincial Radio Station (ARS) in eastern China continued to broadcast "obscene sexually-explicit programs" even though the Guizhou Radio Station had been criticized publicly on February 19 and penalized for airing similar content, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) said in a circular posted on its Web site on Wednesday.

The ARS ignored the ban and the social responsibility it was supposed to shoulder, which was a very serious problem, SARFT said.

The administration ordered provincial regulators to cancel the show and investigate and punish the staff involved at the Anhui station. It also criticized the local regulator, the Anhui Provincial Administration of Radio, Film and Television, for inadequate supervision.

The incident came amid an ongoing campaign against indecent content.

The administration issued circulars in July and September 2007, banning radio and TV commercials and programs involving drugs, sex-related health supplements, drugs for sexually transmitted diseases, sex toys and "vulgar" ads for breast enhancement and female underwear.

On September 13, 2007, SARFT banned 13 local radio stations from airing sexually suggestive programs in five central and southern provinces: Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Hainan.

SARFT also ordered local broadcasting administrations to follow the rules and strictly supervise local stations, warning that anyone who violated the regulations would be punished.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2008)