MCLC: Guangdong TV moving to Putonghua

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: kirk (denton.2 at osu.edu)
Subject: Guangdong TV moving to Putonghua
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Source: SCMP (7/11/14):
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1552398/guangdong-tv-news-channel-qu
ietly-changing-cantonese-putonghua

Guangdong TV news channel quietly changing from Cantonese to Putonghua
By Mimi Lau in Guangzhou

Most original programmes on the news channel of Guangdong TV will be
produced and broadcast in Putonghua from September, sources inside the
network said, a move that is causing outrage among Cantonese speakers in
Guangzhou.

At least four Cantonese anchors had been replaced with Putonghua
presenters on GDTV's news channel, the sources said.

The channel has endured lower ratings than its competitors in the city.
While preparations are underway for programmes to switch from Cantonese to
Putonghua, GDTV's hourly news bulletin has been presented in Putonghua
since the end of last month. It was the first Cantonese programme at the
channel to be replaced by a Putonghua version.

"This is being done quietly, without any official promotion or
notification to audiences," said one source, who declined to be named for
fear of retribution.

The broadcasting language in Guangdong has been a sensitive topic since
the summer of 2010. That's when thousands of protesters took the streets
on July 25 and August 1 to express their vocal support for the local
dialect following reports of a plan to change television content to
Putonghua from Cantonese for part of each day.

Industry sources outside the network said GDTV decided to switch to
Putonghua without consulting the public.

The move has sparked an outcry online, with internet users questioning the
motives of GDTV, but no official response has been made.

Zhang Xingdian, executive director of GDTV's news channel, declined to
comment when contacted by the South China Morning Post yesterday.

Dr Jack Chan Wing-kit, an associate professor at Sun Yat-sen University's
school of government, said the switch in broadcasting language was another
symbolic move to marginalise Cantonese.

"This is worse than what happened in 2010 as that involved a proposal that
was eventually withdrawn. But today we are talking about an actual
implementation without notice," Chan said.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as
GDTV news shifting to Putonghua