SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese state television will censor advertisements featuring pigs in order not to offend Muslims in the Year of the Pig, a media company said on Friday. "Originally they didn't want pig images in ads on TV, because they worry about conflicting issues with Muslims in China," said Lisa Wei, managing director of media investment firm GroupM China Trading.An official at the censorship department of China's Central Television denied knowledge of the advertising ban. The new regulations would kick in as the Year of the Pig begins on February 18, CCTV had told Wei's firm last week, prompting clients to request longer time to prepare for the new rules.
Marketing of Procter & Gamble's Nanfu-brand batteries had been affected by the new censorship rules, as had commercials for products made by Nestle, the world's largest food group, industry sources said. There are an estimated 20 million Muslims in China, mainly living in the central and western provinces.
"I feel that when CCTV decided to do this, it is for the purpose of ethnic harmony and unity. This is a good thing," Bai Runsheng, the chairman of the Shanghai Islamic Association, told Reuters.
Best to remove the Pig entirely from your astrological mix. Best be safe and you know banning pigs in ads won't be enough for them. Year of the Camel - there's a good donkey.