The NBA and GDP have become the latest subjects of mainland media controls, with authorities now banning broadcasters from using the English acronyms and requiring them to use the full Chinese phrase.
China Central Television and other local channels received an order not to use English acronyms last week, the Today Morning Express reported yesterday.
The new regulation means popular phrases such as F1 (Formula One racing) and WTO (World Trade Organisation) must disappear from public broadcasts, at least for now. The report did not say why the new policy had been introduced or which agency ordered it.
A presenter with Jilin TV told the newspaper that according to the notice he received last week, if the English acronyms had to be used, the phrase had to be explained in Chinese.
The policy prompted criticism, with many complaining of the inconvenience it could cause. 'If the relevant authorities are serious about the new policy, they should also ban the reference to CCTV from now on,' Netease Sports quoted an internet user as saying.
